A couple of suggestions regarding the sped-up combat...

[Skyrage]

After having seen the latest version (at least), I kinda felt like there were some things that'd be nice to have:

With combat being raised a few notches, with faster acting and generally quite tougher enemies, I'd not mind seeing a few alterations:

First of all, free weapon control. That is, the player fully controls which direction the swing goes. To be frank, the arrows that show which direction your swing will go suddenly aren't enough anymore, and I find myself making a lot of attacks in directions that I really didn't want to have cause of the fasterpaced combat. The whole "looking at the right direction to get the right swing" has become a bit too disturbing now. Fully controled swings with either mouse + dragging up, down, left and right or mouse + asdf, both work pretty well cause these are used in Daggerfall and Morrowind, but unlike those games, this game actually puts a certain empathy towards which direction you swing which makes it more important.

Then it would be neat if NPC's and the player had a small chance to still complete an attack even if they were hit themselves while attacking. As of now, I find opponents with shields a bit frustrating cause the moment they block a hit from you they counterstrike before you even can begin your second attack, pretty much forcing you into an endless "attack, block" loop. Maybe have this as some sort of skill or something even?

 

[Volkier]

Only problem I see is that actually the 'look where you want to swing' is not really working properly. Or doesnt feel like it is. On countless of times I tried testing it, and it just seems to randomly swing all over the place ::\

 

[Hunter]

the counter attack is not too difficult to avoid. he strikes first cause he have faster weapon. or u could shield yourself.

I dont see the problem whit the arrows thoug since I dont use em, and luckily enough Ive not encountered so many wrong direction swing. but it sounds like a problem that should be solved...........

 

[Talon68]

Heh, how about when you want to attack, you hold left click and drag in the direction you want to swing. This way you get to control EXACTLY where you swing, and it isn't too hard a system to reconcile with.
For people who use stabbing weapons, you can either quickly click, or double click to hold for a stab.