I am using a 1h weapon and a shield with block. Other than paying someone to train me in block, is the only way to train it to stand there and LET someone hit on you while you keep your shield up? It won't train naturally as you have a shield equipped? It feels like I should just stand there and let people wail on me while I wait to get my block skill up, then kill them.

Also, if I use my shield to 'bash' an opponent, does that count towards training block? Thanks!

Donut

Anyone? Please?

Bashing does count towards blocking as far as I can tell.

I myself have over 80 skill in block but only 50 one handed skill, after all a fight usually goes like this for me...

- Throw an alteration shield on myself.
- Summon an atronach
- Shield bash my enemy, get his attention with shield bashing
- Wait as my enemy hits me, the big meatshield I am, allowing my atronach free hits on my foe.

You could say I'm the tank while my summons deal with the DPS, it's rare that I lose any much health but I've trained myself in restoration too so that I can cover that during those times when my natural toughness just isn't enough to give my atronach enough time to kill my enemy before he or she kills me.

This way my blocking skill has leveled up really high simply though my natural fighting style, no grinding really, just the way I do combat.

Thanks Ellert, so if I throw in shield bashing it should help increase my block level?

Yes, I'm fairly certain as I've had skill ups during series of shield bashes where I wasn't blocking any hits but only bashing with my shield. So to train your block further I guess you should use shield bashing more during combat