Can't kill Imperial guards?

[Merzbow]

So I'm on my first playthrough and I've basically focused on stealth and melee skills and such because that's normally my playstyle. I was walking around outside the town near the place you start in and I saw a guard or something on horseback so I caught up to him and tried to fight him but he wouldn't lose any health at all and he took 1/4 my health each hit if I didn't block, so I stole his horse and left. I eventually forgot about him and returned to where I was because there was some stuff I wanted to explore and he came back to take his horse again so I tried fighting him but he still wouldn't lose health and I died. Do I need to level up or anything? I've fought a lot of zombies, skeevers (or whatever they're called, I never saw the names), imps, and troll/goblin thingies so I've leveled up my armor, blocking, conjuration, and one handed pretty well

[Lord Gengar]

Imperial guards typically are 15 levels higher than everyone so I'd suggest increasing your skills and getting better equipment before battling one.

[MeGiant]

Imperial soldiers never ever become easy to kill, because Oblivion uses a mechanic that makes the world level along with you. Not exactly 1:1, but quite a lot. This means that zombies get tougher as you get tougher, and so do imperial guards. So even if you are level [high] they're still very strong.
Better question would be: why kill an imperial guard?

[Merzbow]

Originally posted by MeGiant:

Imperial soldiers never ever become easy to kill, because Oblivion uses a mechanic that makes the world level along with you. Not exactly 1:1, but quite a lot. This means that zombies get tougher as you get tougher, and so do imperial guards. So even if you are level [high] they're still very strong.
Better question would be: why kill an imperial guard?

Originally posted by Lord Gengar:

Imperial guards typically are 15 levels higher than everyone so I'd suggest increasing your skills and getting better equipment before battling one.

Ok, thanks guys, I was really used to Skyrim's guards and how easy they are to kill because I've taken on droves of them at once and beat them all while losing little health. I knew Skyrim was way easier than the other Elder Scrolls, just never guessed it was like tearing paper compared to the others

[br41nd34dpvppyd1s0rd3r]

you're gonna get shreded if you play morrowind.. xD

[Merzbow]

Originally posted by |afk|cozakillz:

you're gonna get shreded if you play morrowind.. xD

Lol, I might, I've mastered the art of grinding though so who knows? XD

[King Nerevar]

LoL, thats OBLIVION
Killi9ng guards is one of the easiest things to do... Take your sword and start... Or just take a bow, attack one in the market district and then have some fun. They are not that difficult

[Brandybuck]

Oblivion guards are always five levels above you at least.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

When I start the game I always get the Unicorn as my horse and lure enemies to the guards so when they try to help me the Unicorn will eat their face off and I can get a silver sword and some armor.

I try to do this in every city so I can get some castle keys from the gate guards, and get some items to sell.

[Brandybuck]

Originally posted by Why So Scorpool-All-:

Originally posted by Lord Gengar:

Imperial guards typically are 15 levels higher than everyone so I'd suggest increasing your skills and getting better equipment before battling one.

Ok, thanks guys, I was really used to Skyrim's guards and how easy they are to kill because I've taken on droves of them at once and beat them all while losing little health. I knew Skyrim was way easier than the other Elder Scrolls, just never guessed it was like tearing paper compared to the others

I never found them easy, but then again I've never gone out of my way to kill them. The game lists them as being level 20-50, scaling with the character. That's nothing to sneeze at, especially since they come in groups. If you're in the end game with level 75+ character and armed with ridiculously overpowered weaponry, then they'll be dissue paper, but for a level 1 character making it to town the first time, they'll tear you apart.