"Come home with this shield, or upon it."
- A Spartan mother arms her son for battle

Real men use shields and swords. Skyrim is the arriving point of men on Tamriel. The only option for any red-blooded Nord warrior is to use the sword and shield.

Although my second and third playthroughs will probably be stealth and magic...

Swords and shields are better than claymores and other two-handed weapons. I'd take a small reduction in damage for speed and protection.

I'll be using a sword and shield combo (What true successor to Pelinal would not? )... although I'm not sure of the race I want to use.

The sword and board hoard! It will have to be done at least once, more if we can actually use the shield as weapon (large metal plate with handholds and I CAN"T SOMEONE WITH IT?)

Pff, swords are boring to me. I'm going to make me a cleric type character. Shield + Mace + Heavy Armor, and some restoration/alteration magic.

Ah same, Mace + shield + heavy armour = win. Though I go for Destruction, Conjuration and Illusion.

Oh, I generally go through with a number of characters using different fighting styles, but my first two are always an ax and shield warrior and a bow-focused rogue. Kinda want to try two shields, hopefully bashing does some damage.