I really doubt they are new. I have never played a swasie before but Syn says above she had the same problems in the past. It must have been like this for ever, I just don't know if the mercs have the same problem with trip. The punch/hit thing wearing one weapon is a swash problem and obviously a bug because you punch/hit depending on your other hand being disarmed/severed respectively.
Here are all the cases:
1) No main weapon (disarmed) and wielding an off-hand -> You are considered to be wielding no weapon thus you punch and you can't disarm.
Quote:
You punch at a large white seal's chest, causing a deep gash.
A large white seal misses you.
A large white seal's slice at your chest is deflected by a flowing white robe.
Overall, a large white seal has some small wounds and bruises.
[HP:100%] [ME: 93%] [PE: 78%]
> You must wield a weapon to disarm.
2) No main weapon (main hand severed) and wielding an off-hand -> You can hit with your off-hand but not disarm with it. Just like the previous case it doesn't make sense since a swasie would use his accurate weapon to disarm.
3) No off-hand (disarmed) -> Hit with the main weapon and disarm normally
4) No off-hand (severed) -> I'm not sure about this but probably the same like 3.
5) And the trip bug: 
Quote:
Group: Feanor's Party
(11:F1)  [      Feanor]   (12:F2)  [------------]   (13:F3)  [------------]   
(21:M1)  [------------]   (22:M2)  [------------]   (23:M3)  [------------]   
(31:B1)  [------------]   (32:B2)  [------------]   (33:B3)  [------------]   
Characters                 Rank    Pos    In room  Follow    HP    ME    PE  
Feanor                     Leader  11:F1  Yes      No      100%   97%   84%
[HP:100%] [ME: 97%] [PE: 84%]
> A snow-white destrier injures a snow hare.
Ok.
[HP:100%] [ME: 97%] [PE: 84%]
> 
A snow-white destrier misses a snow hare.
A snow-white destrier misses a snow hare.
A snow-white destrier misses a snow hare.
A snow hare misses a snow-white destrier.
[HP:100%] [ME: 97%] [PE: 84%]
> Someone is in your way.  <---trip from first row
While none is standing first row you can't trip if someone else starts the battle. You have to type 'kill xxx' first and then trip.