[Alina loves Alexandra]

Could you guys share any of your experience so far, what's the gameplay and is it viable on higher levels?

[Steve Bates]

I'm playing as one, I'm only level 26 so not really a high level, but it is viable. My damage is not as high as it could be (I didn't really plan out my perks) but it's a good mix of defense/offense and some of the fights with harder guys are really close and exciting.

You just have to make good use of your blocking skill and shouts.

[SiLa]

This is -the- most survivable build.. I'm running it as my so-far only goon and he's about level 28 now. Mix in some restoration, a decent smithing level (just started using improved orcish armor and weaponry now) and the ocassional bow usage and you do just fine.

[Jodie Bardgett]

its easy mode.

[kirsty williams]

I'm playing as one, I'm only level 26

I'm glad you said that because I'm level 26 which in Oblivion would be considered quite high but only seems lower to mid level in Skyrim. Phew, thought I was doing something wrong!

I'm really enjoying the sword and shield gameplay - shield bashing just never gets dull! My only problem is that even though I've levelled up both Health and Stamina equally, I still find myself getting tired pretty quickly in a fight. I can shield bash maybe two or three times before fatigue kicks in so I always make sure to favourite a load of stamina and health potions.

[Cartoon]

It is viable.
I recommend getting the shield perks Elemental Protection (50% elemental resist while blocking) Block Runner (faster movement when blocking) and Shield Charge (run into someone with shield up = knockdown), Power bash is nice 2, the disarm on bash perk is nice but not needed.

It plays like single 1 hander or 2 hander in most cases but blocking is stronger. In combat close to melee and block as attacks come in (arrows/spells) if you got shield charge perk run into them while blocking then attack like mad until they get up. While in melee range, if needed do this block ->bash -> bonk on head repeat until they fall over dead.

As for heavy armour well that just gives you more armour than light armour (really only difference apart from that is heavy 50% stagger and 10% melee refection vs light 50% stamina and 10% dodge oh and heavy got 2 extra semi-junk perks needed for Conditioning the faster moment and weightless worn armour perk).

Oh and Stamina is more important than health as it fuels bashes, power attacks (if you dont have enough you do a super weak version of it) and lets you sprint for longer letting you shield charge more!

[Tamara Primo]

I love sheilds, and am playing Mace/Sheild "Paladin" type (have Restoration magic). It's a really fun way to play. Blocking is important, and adds strategy to fighting, which for me I like. I'll have the 50% reduction to spell damage in a level or two, then blocking will be even more uber. Sheild bash is great too, not to mention you get a LOT more armor.

[Robert]

The only trouble I've ever had is being overwhelmed wither by numbers or solo-combat against a dragon, but with a follower, my Orc's Berseker Rage, Dragon Shouts, and potions, I do fine. I'm playing on Adept and I'm using whichever armor is best for my roleplaying as opposed to which gives the best armor. I just gotta keep my follower and some potions handy at all times. And it's good to keep a few weapons for each of the elemental effects. I'd say fire is the most essential, because there are loads of enemies with fire weaknesses, and not many with resistance to it that you can't kill with an unenchanted weapon.

[Mason Nevitt]

I'll be playing this on my next run, hopefully it will be fun.

[Charlie Sarson]

Ive been playing Sword and Board as my main character. Level 28 on master difficulty from the start. The beginning experience was a little difficult. Had to do a lot of foot-work and blocking to keep from getting killed as I found out that enemies can indeed do finishing moves on you. I had 3/4 health and an orc did a power attack on me. It immediately went to a finishing animation death to me.

However, I found out that keeping my shield raised prevented that from happening. I leveled smithing only by a needed bases. I did not powerlevel it. Im currently in flawles orcish armor with a skyforge steel sword as my weapon. Leveled up pretty much five levels health and then five levels stamina. None of my gear is enchanted by myself. The only thing I do have a necklace that increases one-handed damage by 20 percent.

I have no perks in heavy armor, but I took perks in one-hand for the damage and stamina reduction as well as the critical hit multiplier for swords only. The other perks that I have are in blocking. Almost maxed blocking, elemental shield resistance(HELPS TONS - especially on dragon fights) power bash and bashing damage.

One thing that I absolutely love the is bullet-time slow down blocking perk. When they do a power attack, time slows down, but not so much for you. If your quick on your feet, you can side-step or use the opportunity to bash. Makes the melee a whole lot more immersive.

Suffice to say, that regular enemies provide little challenge, but the armored ones can. All of the enemies will hit you for a lot of damage if you dont keep your shield up. Thats the essence of the build. Keep your shield up and consistantly use bash to stun then and attack with your weapon and use foot-work to regain stamina.

Fun.

[vanuza]

I'm glad you said that because I'm level 26 which in Oblivion would be considered quite high but only seems lower to mid level in Skyrim. Phew, thought I was doing something wrong!

I'm really enjoying the sword and shield gameplay - shield bashing just never gets dull! My only problem is that even though I've levelled up both Health and Stamina equally, I still find myself getting tired pretty quickly in a fight. I can shield bash maybe two or three times before fatigue kicks in so I always make sure to favourite a load of stamina and health potions.

This is where i would invest a tad more in Stamina, i have my Stamina 5 or so points ahead of Health, your survivability is great anyway, more so if you play a Paladin style role with Restoration. It's great to have a shed load of Stam.

[dell]

I have a level 30 Sword&Board warrior and I am untouchable on master difficulty. The shield bash is a VERY powerful move that almost always staggers the target, while costing some stamina. But I found that if you make and eat some Venison Stew(Restore Stamina 1pt per second for 720 seconds) you can constantly use your shield bash and power attacks.

[Becky Cox]

This is where i would invest a tad more in Stamina, i have my Stamina 5 or so points ahead of Health, your survivability is great anyway, more so if you play a Paladin style role with Restoration. It's great to have a shed load of Stam.

Good thinking. I sometimes find that without Aranea Lenith as a companion for magic support some fights can be brutally tough.

As for Restoration, I bought one perk from that tree but find I rarely use it - by the time I need healing I can't afford to lower my shield.

[lolly13]

its easy mode.

No it's not, thief/assassin with a bow is easy mode.

[Daddy Cool!]

this is good stuff....

A Paladin type (but more Conan) is what I've been thinking of playing.

[Christie Mitchell]

I'm 48 and I can kill everything, pick the last perk in block and you can just hit them while they're on the ground

Spoiler

And Spellbreaker + block perk with resistance to elemental dmg is awesome against any magical dmg

[Steve Bates]

This is -the- most survivable build.. I'm running it as my so-far only goon and he's about level 28 now. Mix in some restoration, a decent smithing level (just started using improved orcish armor and weaponry now) and the ocassional bow usage and you do just fine.

warior for the win! :toughninja:

[Sabrina Schwarz]

The only trouble I've ever had is being overwhelmed wither by numbers or solo-combat against a dragon, but with a follower, my Orc's Berseker Rage, Dragon Shouts, and potions, I do fine. I'm playing on Adept and I'm using whichever armor is best for my roleplaying as opposed to which gives the best armor. I just gotta keep my follower and some potions handy at all times. And it's good to keep a few weapons for each of the elemental effects. I'd say fire is the most essential, because there are loads of enemies with fire weaknesses, and not many with resistance to it that you can't kill with an unenchanted weapon.

Falmer do that the most but you have the advantage to retreat to a bottle neck position that only allows one of them at a time makeing thier numbers null and void.