Doubtful, as that wouldn't make any sense. As I understand it, if you have a shield equipped, tapping the button for that hand allows you to block, while holding it down allows you to do a shield bash, no logical reason why having a spell in the other hand should prevent you from doing that.

Now, it's been said that you can't block with a single handed weapon and spell, I'm not sure if that's true or not, but I could see it being so due to there not being enough buttons for it, but we'll see.

How's this new, exactly? I thought of this the instant second they talked about Dual-wielding. The only thing I'm still thinking about is if Shields will make your spells less effective as they would in OB. Perhaps there will be a shields perk that won't make spells less effective.

There was nothing to say that you cant use a shield and magic at the same time and still block, its a sword and magic. As for shield spell, it will most likely act as normal, while the reintroduced the magic shield spell (last used in daggerfall) which acts like shield against other spells, though resist did the same thing in Oblivion. If its going to be a unique effect, it might be reworked.

Defensively, this sounds better than a lot of alternatives. Get your hands on a nice, big tower shield and your favorite spell.

You're all wrong. The best defensive shield is invisibility!

Esse Non Videri

You can't kill what you can't see! xD

"on touch" spells ftw!

I hope it functions like the block function, draining magicka until you release it. Thats a spell that would be cool if implemented.
But if they don't implement that it will just be a 100% shield for 1-2 seconds. Might have a resist magicka one too for mages.

Actualy todd was rather clear on this issue. They concider magic to be more offensive in nature this time.. so no blocking while using it. Sword and board is one combat style.. 2 weapons anouther... a 2 hander anouther... any magic is a magic combat style and is designed to play differently from any of the weapon weapon/shield playstyles.

But as the game isnt done yet thats as of a few weeks back and may be be completely different by now.

Where did you hear this? The only thing I heard was no blocking with a weapon in one hand and a spell in the other, because you don't have a shield "equipped" thus you can not block. If you equip a shield and a spell, in one hand, you should be able to block. Im pretty sure I even read an article that mentioned using a shield and a spell together...

There were too places todd talked about this.. the first was some interview... and then he made it more clear I think in a french mag interview.

Mind you again this all was awhile back and may have changed if it didnt play well... but the basic stated reason behind it was magic is a more offensive combat style or that thats what they are aiming for.

Pretty sure the Game Informer mag said something about fighting defensively with a shield in one hand and a "crackling ball of electricity" which means magic and sheilds together.

I really didn't feel like digging up where I saw it, but there. According to that, assuming they got their info right, we can use magic and shields.

I expect clearer info will come out within the next 4-5 months but for now id say dont count on blocking when you have a spell handy. It sounds from what todd said on it they want all magic combat to be distinctly different from weapon combat and part of that is no blocking and a much more offensive less defensive combat style.