In Oblivion, using a shield to block arrows, only reduced damage instead of preventing it.

It has been hinted bows have gotten a damage buff. I'm wondering whether it;s going to compensated by shields actually stopping arrows.

I would like to see it, anyway. Makes the trade-off from the shield/dual wield/2hander more interesting as well.

Timed blocking will make blocking arrows considerably harder than Oblivion. I don't see any problem with increased damage reduction, even full reduction.

it would only make realistic since that a shield completely negate all damage from an arrow. now if its enchanted and you dont have protection from that enchantment i think you should still receive the damage from the enchantment.

would make fighting shield users more interesting. would mean i would have to aim for the feet/legs or head. and if the head has steel or higher armor covering it there should be a chance of deflection.

In real life a shield doesn't stop an arrow, if youre not carefull you could easily get one lodged in your blocking arm.

But I presume there will be a perk for this.

People often underestimate the power of the bow and arrow.

Where do you base this off?

Also if you were true, wouldn't distance, arrowtype, bow pull, and the material of the shield matter

One of the confirmed Block perks is "deflect arrows" so, yes.

http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Perks

That would be cool. But only if they mean deflect in definition of the word.

A http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZ1Mg0a7Tpw with some "Good ol' Boys," obviously from down south, in the USA, discusing hunting boars with archery equippment.

I'm afraid It will be more of a 25% less damage from arrows! type of thing... let's hope I'm wrong and we can actually defect them. That would be cool.

I remember enchanted arrows in Oblivion that had area effects, and the NPCs would fire them indoors, creating ten-foot in diameter lightning storms and throwing the objects about the room around in a tornado of annoying garbage.