Don't forget that also a "shield mage" is a perfectly viable charater... Perfect for a battle mage

Block: All damage reduction perks (5), Deflect arrows, elemental protection, Power Bash, Deadly bash and disarming bash (10 perks)
Destruction: the usual run of perks
Restoration: Recovery (2), Regeneration and respite
Light armor (not heavy because it may impact too much magica regeneration)

Some enchantment to increase block effectiveness and magica regenration and voila... the perfect fantasy main battle tank!

I've always preferred blocking attacks with a shield, then countering after a shield bash.

With quick reflexes, I've never been one-shotted by briarhearts, and didn't realize how tough they can be, as their power attacks never connect.

High stamina isn't required once you've come across a weapon with absorb stamina. Before enchanting a sword with that, my warrior was always out of stamina from blocking and bashing.

The Disarm perk in the Block Tree comes in handy, since it works on all enemies. Sure, the Disarm Shout is a guaranteed disarm, but it also puts your shouts on CD, and more importantly, strong enough enemies resist it. The Shield Disarm perk, while having a low chance of triggering, works on anything that holds a weapon, to my knowledge.

And on another note, anyone who says blocking/bashing is pointless hasn't gotten the Elemental Protection perk, or used a well timed shield bash to stop a dragon from using a breath attack (Especially bloody Ancient Dragons)

i bashed like 5 bandits off one tower they ended up in a imperial camp and all the soldiers could say was " good soup"

Shield is fun. Dual wielding is boring and stupid.

The horror and heartbreak of an ESL breakdown.
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Shield bash is excellent, agreed.

Nope, you don't, you need high stamina regen, since you can bash with 1 point of stamina.

Yes. I love this mechanic. I really enjoyed my fighter character because of it. Shield bashing is like the "one" in a "one, two" combo. I would imagine just how demoralizing it was for my victims to be bashed with my shield. It made me happy because I like beating down my opponent... they must know that they will, in fact, die... but not before I get some play time in first.

I love sheild bashing as well, though I see one problem with it, and maybe someone can give me advice with combat. I play on master difficulty, and am a melee fighter. It seems like going into health is the best means of survival but I wish to not neglect stamina so much, right now I am:
-170 HP -120 Stamina

What is a decent amount of stamina to sustain a good amount of defensive/offensive sheild/powerbashing? I just really do not want to neglect stamina to abstain from dieing due to a low health pool.

let me be more specific then: yes, shield bashing can stagger opponents. it adds variety and fun. however, another swing against your enemy with your primary weapon is more powerful. as well, the basic default bash is effective.

if you're trying to make the most powerful character you wouldn't need bash perks.

My level 23 sword and shield warrior is 140 Magic, 280 Health, and 100 Stamina. At level 60, it's probably going to be 200 500 200. 100 Is plenty good enough. I use quite a bit of shield bashes but I don't usually do continuous bashing. And I usually don't spam power attacks either. Regular blocks take just a little bit of stamina, regular attacks take no stamina, dodging takes no stamina. You can do 3 shield bashes with 100 stamina in a row, I think. I have vegetable soup, apple cabbage stew, and potions when I really need them. Sometimes in longer battles, I will switch into running away/dodging mode while I use restoration magic. I usually get respite perk when I can so that healing restores stamina as well as health.

The thing I like about sword and board is that the fights are slower. You typically deal less damage than two-handed or dual-wielding style, but you can avoid damage better and able to absorb a lot more damage when you get hit.

I like getting the Quick Reflexes perk without having to use a shield, since a one handed sword will do the same slow motion effect when blocking power attacks.

So, I think even two-handed weapon fans could benifit from Quick Reflexes. amirite or amirite?

It's as much a broken mechanic as Smithing.

Agree with those that like shield/block/bashing. I played a warrior wielding a greatsword up to lvl 40 and found it pretty difficult when you encountered enemies you couldn't just one-shot, and even more so if fighting multiple enemies or very powerful ones whose attacks deal too much damage to block. I just started a sword&board guy, and am finding it much easier and actually more pleasureable. Nothing like blocking a couple of arrows with your shield and then get the finishing animation where you kill'em off with your shield, awesome! =D

I got my first shield rim to the head finisher the other day. It was short, to the point, and made me feel good. I'll get bored of it after the fourth time, but definitely made a welcome change after 400 hours of sword and spell.

I just love how the OP is saying how much they love a broken mechanic ... veggie soup makes you close to immortal. Thread should be called vegetable soup is awesome.