Hi folks, after spending the last 2 years playing almost only as an archer/thief or illusionist dagger using assassin I have decided to have possibly one last re-roll as a sword and sheild warrior.

So far finding it pretty good but I have a quick question, if I just hold the sheild up is that enough to be blocking or do I have to time the lifting of the sheild to catch the blows as they come in? It's just such a different play style to what i've done before and I want to give it a good go but I tried the companions quest and in the first dungeon with Farkas I just get flattened in 1 or 2 hits by any silver hand with a 2 handed weapon!

I was level 9 at that point and I've now got up to level 12 with a bit more health and well used perks and am ready to go back so i'm pretty sure i'll be fine in there now but I just want to make sure i'm understanding the actual game play properly.

You can hold the button. If you get quick reflexes it'll slow time when they power attack

Timing makes no difference as far as the damage mitigation, but it will help you stay quick on your feet if you only block when necessary.

Thanks for the quick replies there one more question though

Is the idea when the time slows with quick reflexes that you bash to interrupt or does the time just slow so that you can get the sheild up in time to take some of the damage?

I feel like i'm playing a new game again because this character is so different!

Whenever Quick Reflexes activates when I block, I use that opportunity to go behind the enemy and give 'em a good scratching.

Quick Reflexes essentially slows down time when you are blocking with your shield (or weapon). You can bash them with your shield, dodge the attack for a counter attack, or simply block the attack.

The major benefit to Quick Reflexes is that when you are dodging a power attack in real time, the enemy has locked onto you and no amount of dodging to the side will make them miss. They will hit 9 times out of 10. However, with QR, enemies seem to lose the ability to lock onto you allowing you to sidestep their attacks. They will always miss unless you just stand there and take the hit.