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Updates/changes (in order from most recent to oldest):
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-Added two new optional Spellsword Editions of the mod, allowing spells to be used as well.
-Fixed the issue with the optional version causing the game to CTD at the start menu.
-Slight editing to the conclusion section in the description to elaborate more clearly
the results of the changes.
-Fixed a mathematical error in the description concerning block values with a weapon.
The new values for with and without the Duelist perk are now accurate.


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What it does:
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This mod includes a new perk that is added to the One Handed tree aimed towards the 'fencer' or 'duelist' type of character. When you have a one-handed weapon equipped in your right hand and nothing (or a torch) in your left, you gain the following bonuses:

Duelist (1/2)(25 One Handed skill level required):
Your block effectiveness is increased by 25%.
Your attack damage is increased by 15%.

Duelist (2/2)(50 One Handed skill level required):
Your block effectiveness is increased by 50%.
Your attack damage is increased by 30%.


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Why make this mod?
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When I started playing vanilla the night it was released, I instantly went for a character using a one-handed weapon and having nothing in the off-hand, like a two-handed user but with less range and faster attacks. Unfortunately, this wasn't a viable option, as you were much better off grabbing a shield to accompany your weapon, or another weapon and going berserk on enemies. However, I wasn't fond of shields, and I disliked that you couldn't block when you had a weapon (or spell) equipped in your left hand. Sooner or later I got tired of trying to make it work and went on to make different characters. But the call to playing a duelist eventually came back, and when I didn't see any mods that improved this, I decided to make my own.

With weapon-and-shield being one side of the spectrum (focused on defense), and dual wielding being the other side (focused on offense), I decided that this play style should go in the middle; decent at both, but best at neither. The goal was to make a fighting style that could stand on its own without taking the spotlight from the other two already established styles. Despite the bonuses possibly looking overpowered/under-powered, I did some calculations and I think that these were good values to go with. If you feel something should be increased/decreased/changed, let me know.


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Statistics:
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Block formula (taken from UESP):
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With a weapon: Blocked Damage = (0.30 + (.02 * (1 + Skill/100)/100)) * (1 + 0.1 for each Shield Wall perk)
With a shield: Blocked Damage = (0.45 + (0.27 * ((shield base armor rating * (1 + Skill/100))/100))) * (1 + 0.1 for each Shield Wall perk)


With a block level of 100 and 5 ranks in Shield Wall, the percentage of damage reduction you get from blocking (85% is the cap):
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With a weapon: 0.4506 (45% damage reduction)
With a shield (Daedric Shield (base armor rating 36)): 0.9666 (97% damage reduction, reduced to 85% due to cap)


Weapon block with a block level of 100 and 5 ranks in Shield Wall, and two ranks in Duelist perk (+50% block effectiveness):
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0.4506 * 1.5 = 0.6759 (68% damage reduction)


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Conclusion:
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While 68% is much higher than the original 48%, it is still 17% under the block cap. I feel this will retain the usefulness of shields while still making one-handed weapon fighting an attractive option, since while one-handed weapon blocking will be more effective, shields can easily reach the block cap (making them better at blocking than without a shield) and have perks that allow you to deflect arrows and reduce incoming magical damage. The damage increase of 15%/30% is there to keep up offensively with dual wielding, where with two perks in Dual Flurry, you get a 35% attack speed boost to your attacks, and with Dual Savagery, your power attack damage is increased by 50%, which results in your DPS improving significantly. While your attack speed with a single one-handed weapon will still be normal, your damage will be boosted, making those hits that you land more of a threat. This also makes up for the lack of enchantments you get for having a weapon/shield in your left hand.