[Jason King]

I was thinking about starting a new character with patch 1.3 and an orc warrior sounded pretty fun. I was thinking sword and board style as opposed to dual wielding. How have some of you other sword and board players liked playing that style? I guess I kind of picture an Orc using a shield with his sword and thus it appeals to me from an RP perspective. What other skills might I mix in with it, without getting into magic to much?

[Bloomer]

This is the setup I use, and I've had fun with it. I haven't gotten too far with my character since I'm afraid of running into one of the quest glitches, but my plan was/is to focus on One-Handed (sword), Heavy Armor, Blocking, Smithing, and Enchanting perks. Haven't decided on what to put the leftover perks into yet. I've read that Restoration is a useful perk for this sort of build, and it makes sense, but I don't know why I'd bother with that when I can just chug potions. =P

[NIloufar Emporio]

Absolute blast.

My sword and shield Nord focuses in one-handed weapons, block, and heavy armor. I intended for him to start out with some restoration magic (kind of paladin-like), but pretty much dropped that. It was easier to be an amateur alchemist , picking flowers and dewinging butterflies as he ran from spot to spot, and then making heal and stamina potions. Still playing him, and still having a blast.

Block perks are awesome, and what really make the build "shine".

[Dan Scott]

I pretty much do it exclusively, although I will run off from a fight (if possible) and heal myself w/ magic if there are no health potions around. Blocking with a shield is the [censored] once you get enough shield perks going.

[Astargoth Rockin' Design]

I just find it hard to picture, and RP an Orc that messes with magic, and alchemy.

[Charlotte Lloyd-Jones]

Absolute blast.

My sword and shield Nord focuses in one-handed weapons, block, and heavy armor. I intended for him to start out with some restoration magic (kind of paladin-like), but pretty much dropped that. It was easier to be an amateur alchemist , picking flowers and dewinging butterflies as he ran from spot to spot, and then making heal and stamina potions. Still playing him, and still having a blast.

Block perks are awesome, and what really make the build "shine".

What Block perks do you recommend? I was thinking of picking up the Shield Wall upgrades and Elemental Protection at the very least. Are the Bash perks worth it? I haven't put anything into Block yet because I was toying with the idea of a Battle-mage early on.

[Vera Maslar]

My sword and board Paladin is level 50 now, it's a really fun and powerful style. Once your block perks get up there, it's going to get a lot easier for you. Quick Reflexes is an amazing perk too, I can dodge most any power attack that comes my way (I still let them hit my shield sometimes to raise my block skill though, once I get to 100 I'll just dodge like crazy). It's helpful to do Peryite's quest north of Markarth for the awesome shield.

[Leticia Hernandez]

it is your standard warrior type , and with all those block perks you can survive alot of damege , even magical attacks , i made mine with some alternartion perks aswell , those 30% extra resistence and stoneflesh spell makes it even a better tank and with a good sword you do more than enough damage

But why do you people call it sword and board , it is a shield not a board dammit

[Jack Bryan]

Sword and Board!

[Harinder Ghag]

But why do you people call it sword and board , it is a shield not a board dammit

Because of the penchant for phrases that rhyme... sword and board does, sword and shield doesn't. simple.

[FABIAN RUIZ]

Sword and board is a fun and challeenging way to play. Having a blast with my sword and board Nord.

Block perks: Power Bash, great for staggering mages and stopping them from spellcasting for a tiny moment for you to finish them off. Deflect Arrows, excellent if you know how to use it, you've got to sort of 'aim' your shield at the archer (when raised) for it to become effective, the only downside it that it will lower your shield briefly.

Start with those two and work your way from there, don't forget to pump your stamina up, you'll need it for both defensive and offensive purposes. Trust me on that.

Enjoy

[(G-yen)]

Once you get the perk that allows you to move more quickly with your shield raised combat really opens up.

[Andrew Perry]

My current character is an orc that uses an axe + shield and light armor (for the extra stamina) and he's by far my favourite to play. I recommend all the shield perks, except for maybe the final one (shield charge?). Quick reflexes, shield bash and block runner would have to be the best perks in the block tree in my opinion.

[Alexander Lee]

I was thinking about starting a new character with patch 1.3 and an orc warrior sounded pretty fun. I was thinking sword and board style as opposed to dual wielding. How have some of you other sword and board players liked playing that style? I guess I kind of picture an Orc using a shield with his sword and thus it appeals to me from an RP perspective. What other skills might I mix in with it, without getting into magic to much?

The board actually adds a whole new slew of melee abilities and it's very fun. I am playing a light armored warrior with alteration spells, using a sword and board. The stam regen of light armor complements the fighting very well, and the shield makes me able to go toe to toe if I wish to. The stoneskin spells of Alteration helps me out when needed. I also have some restoration (healing), and the perk that gives stamina when I heal is very strong. Basically I use that in combination with the perk to double crit when you sprint and then powerattack. So move away from combat, heal and get loads of stam, sprint towards foe and deliver to him a good one.

If I should reroll, I'd not take a sword, but mace, or maybe axe. People like the sword perk, but sword is also the fastest onehander and does the least damage pr hit. It also eats through enchantments fastest because of this, then again delivering the damage of the enchants quicker too. I often wish I had taken a heavier hitting one hander, because I'm plenty fast enough and there's kinda room for it and enchants won't be gobbled up so quickly. I guess the more often you deliver powerattacks, the more you'd want a harder hitting weapon, so thats the balance between enchant damage and powerattack damage. Shieldbash and a powerattack is good too.

[Melanie]

Super fun build. Check Out my twitch channel for a dead is dead version of this. Only character ive gotten to lvl 16 on master difficulty. Even killed a dragon naked with a pockaxe with shield build lol

[Jessie Rae Brouillette]

I'm doing something like this with a redguard, except it's more like "Mace and Face" (you come up with a term for a shield that rhymes with mace)

[MatthewJontully]

It's the most fun IMHO , the fights are more interesting than with 2 handers , however early on its quite a weak build because of low dps and the shield does not protect you enough , but once you get beyond level 20-25 and get most of the shield perks (they are all very useful , except the last one ) , you become very strong if not nearly invincible if you're good with timing , especially if you improve your gear with smithing and/or enchanting

[Michelle davies]

I love sword and board. I've done it on every MMO and single player rpg I've ever made.

[Benito Martinez]

Sword and board is my second favorite play style (Archer/thief being favorite gogo Robin Hood)

And I don't even have any good shield perks, only 25/100 or so. . . But you can defiantly take a beating, although to compensate for my lake of damage I have been dragging Fandeal (elf in Riverwood) around to help a little.

[Terry]

I find it hard to drop the two handed weapons. I am running a 200+ damage battle axe. by tomorrow i hope to run a 300+ weapon. Help me get off my two handed addiction. i mean i just took on two giants and two mammoths in melee combat, it takes 3-4 hits to kill a dragon and almost every monster in the game is one hit so it is hard to give it up.

[Bereket Fekadu]

This is the setup I use as well. It's amazing! You really do need the perks to maximise the experience though.

Shield Wall- Very good perk but unless you literally want to take almost no damage when blocking; it's not necessary to max it out.
Deflect Arrows- Don't take this perk expecting to be completely safe from arrows. It does not work that way. Unless the arrow hits your shield it won't deflect it. It's mildly helpful.
Quick Reflexes- This is another perk that is not completely necessary. If you have slow reflexes and can't see a power attack coming in time to shield bash it then by all means.
Power Bash- This perk is a MUST when you go sword and board. Makes a great interupt against melee power attacks, dragon's breath, and caster spells.
Elemental Protection- So helpful against Dragons, Wisps, and most casters. Highly reccomend taking Block Runner along with this perk.
Deadly Bash- There's really no reason not to take this perk if you already have Power Bash. It increases the dmg output. You can also one-shot mudcrabs, wolves, and skeevers.
Block Runner- This perk coupled with Elemental Protection spells doom for casters. The mobility it gives while blocking is too good to ignore.
Disarming Bash- It sounds great which is why I took it, but I have had this perk for nearly 10 levels and I don't think I have seen it disarm once. Not sure if its a glitched.
Shield Charge- For a final perk in the block tree this is really "meh." My recommendation is to pass on this and take "Critical Charge" in the one-handed tree instead.

[Judy Lynch]

Yes, nothing says 'is that all you got??' to a dragon than smashing it in the face with your shield to add insult to injury. Works on Thalmor mages and Hagravens also.

[Liv Staff]

My sword and shield Nord focuses on picking flowers and dewinging butterflies.

Sorry. Had to be done.

[Jordyn Youngman]

I feel that the addition of a shield bash has added so much more to that playstyle than how it was in Oblivion. Watch your opponent and when they start to attack bash them and get in a few strikes. I feel like it adds some basic tactics into the fight rather than the flurry of attacks you would unleash without thought in previous games.

[Khamaji Taylor]

Viable? What, you think you'll be competing against other players? You think they made the game so you can't beat it with certain weapons? Mane, it'll be harder than assassin because your enemies will be fighting back, but its the mans style to eat with steak