To me they would work pretty well in the series.

It can be powerful enough to stop:
-Melee.
-Shotguns.
-Handguns.
-Sub machine guns.
-Non direct explosive blasts at a certain range.
But if a high caliber weapon fires at it. The bullets would go through, but the damage from them would be reduced.

Damage:
Even though it can stop the weapons I listed. It would take damage from them The rounds that are able to go through would cause even more damage to it. You can also use it as a close quarters weapon. Just like in the Elder Scrolls games. But each bash would do damage to it.

Usage:
It would only be useable with one handed weapons. If you hold down the left trigger(Xbox). You would bring the shield up in a protective stance. You would be looking through a small window and your weapon arm would be on the right of the shield. To do a melee bash you just pull and release the left trigger(Xbox).

That actually would work out pretty well for the new Fallout games. It might have to be tweaked a little, but it would still work.

the only way that would work is if the shield was one similar to the ones used by riot police, in which case it COULD go well with the existing riot armor/helmet. what i'm worried about is that it'll turn into something out of MW3 or TES. if shields are going to be done, they'd have to be done in a completely different way.

oh, and before i forget. if you have ideas to suggest, place them here: http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1382363-fallout-4-speculation-suggestions-and-ideas/

I don't want to see any shields because I'm not playing in a medieval setting. But if they were to incorporate shields in then they better be old riot shields on specialized foes from a faction, and they better not be common.

Shields would be cool. tribes would often use shields in Mellee combat.

To me they would have been great for Caesar's Legion.

http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1382363-fallout-4-speculation-suggestions-and-ideas/