While I would resort to stealing, I'm not too keen on killing guards to get the town shields; however, I want them with a burning passion like an exploding sun.

Is there any way to get the guard shields without killing? I could pickpocket, but I'm not keen on getting the pickpocketing apparel perk either.

Do I just have to let the guards die in random dragon attacks? Are there any places where these shields spawn, preferably quiet, low-lit side rooms?

I collected them also. I stealth / sneak killed the guards with a shield from long range while sneaking. If done successfully, no one else sees you and you will not obtain a bounty.

EDIT: I neglected to mention that my weapon of choice was a bow and arrow.

You could also fast travel a lot and hope dragons show up when you load. Just keep doing that between places you want guard shields from and you'll be able to take them off the dragon victims.

Also, check any "guard quarters" you can find in various towns. I believe Whiterun has them and some other cities may as well. You could find some unused shields just ripe for the taking.

Yeah, I just now noticed that he wants to acquire them "The Good-Guy Way".

That counts my way out, nevermind then.

Yeah, I don't think there's a true "good" way to do it. At best, it's stealing or corpse robbing. At worst it's outright murder. Pick your poison, lol.

Agreed, Sir.

However, I do still need to read posts more thoroughly, he also clearly stated no killing.

Had I done so in this case, I wouldn't have poked my ignorant [censored] where it didn't belong.

I appreciate all of your comments, no worries. Discussion is almost always good however it occurs.

there are a couple in the east empire warehouse. markarth and solituse ones i think.

You get an enchanted Solitude one from a quest there. The others, you just have to wait for a dragon attack like mentioned. Note that some do not have shields that you can loot (Winterhold, for example). And you'll have to hold off on doing the Civil War questlines until you complete your collection for reasons I shall not mention...

There is a whiterun shield in a display case at the bottom of the stairs leading to the Jarls quarters. Nice quiet place to steal from and not considered trespassing to be there. Was the first place I went after Helgen, raided the poor Jarl's quarters for their treasure.

The first dragon you fight will also likely have killed a guard or two, if you want to go back and check...

I *think* I saw Windhelm shields in the "quarters" areas between the walls near the stables.... I can't remember that anything in there was in bright red "Steal" notation, but I haven't been there for a while....