Not sure if this belongs in spoilers?

What do you prefer? I love Spellbreaker... because it adds a sort of new variation on warrior gameplay. And requires some input. Magic Resist seems a bit cheesy to me. I mean, with enough of it, you can just walk in mage heavy areas and run them over like a juggernaut without doing much of anything. I think it's more getting backed in a corner, pushing through them with good timing using Spellbreaker. High level mages are fun to fight this way.

I don't know.. Maybe both methods are cheesy. What do you think?

edit: On another note, this is how Wards should play out.... but they eat up too much mana imo.

I prefer a little bit of magic resistance, Spellbreaker does not protect your character from an ice bolt through the back. If I am playing a dual casting mage or a character who can not equip a shield then Spellbreaker is just a pretty decoration for the weapon display in Breezehome.
I think Wards are just magicka sinks too, unless I am using enchanted items to reduce spellcost. I do not have the reflexes to time my ward spells to the point where they are efficient anymore.
My Sword and Board characters love Spellbreaker, and it is my favorite shield in this game.

Ah yeah, I have a little magic resist on my new character (From the Blocking perks. I also take the alteration perks on a 2handed warrior). I didn't mean to totally knock magic resistance. Just the ungodly level of it when magic is barely a threat. Spellbreaker is more fun. And Wards could be as fun.. But I think it's kind of borked.

I ended up shelving Spellbreaker when I got my magic resist up to 70% or so. I think it's ugly as hell, too.

Ward Absorb. Pretty much negates magicka cost when fighting other mages/dragons. Only issue with Spellbreaker is that with those higher level mages they pretty much destroy the ward, or so I've heard. I haven't used it yet =/

I play as a Breton, and am all about magic resistance and magic absorb. I used Spellbreaker until I mastered my block skills and improved it to legendary status. It's now above my bed in Markarth with two Dwarven Greatswords behind it.

They do destroy it, but that's what kind of makes it fun. To try to reset the ward and keep it up until you close in. There's one dungeon in particular that's great.. Ansilvuund. You get surrounded by mages. Usually one or two badass ones and a few apprentices per room.

My Nord shield and sword warrior has trained up his restoration with the halving cost perks up to adept and has taken ward absorb and respite, which really expand your capabilities as a warrior. I have about 200 magicka now with some more from the enchantment on my headpiece, which lets me cast Greater Ward for about 15 secs (which I believe is essential against higher level mages such as Ascendent Necromangers, Volkihar Vampires and Forsworn Briarhearts, since they just blast through a lower ward or spellbreaker) without taking ward absorb into account.

It's also handy because it's just enough to throw out a Flame Cloak against harder enemies, but really that's all the magic my warrior will use. WIth the adept half casting I can also use the very powerful Close Wounds spell, which, together with Respite (an absolute must for warriors! helps a ton) means you can totally rejuice if you can get a spare moment. Since I don't use potions, it's come in handy many times!

Sounds cool. I think I should give Wards more time on a future character.

I still haven't worked out how to play a caster to my satisfaction. But one thing I am working on at the moment is to be as powerful as possible 'naked'. This means spells (including Bound Bow & Bound Sword) as my only offensive choices. In this vein I've tried to accumulate as much power from passive abilities as possible, so I have the 70% Magic Resist available permanently to a character. Somewhat OP when I'm wearing gear - but absolutely necessary when I'm naked. I can't imagine passing up the perma-buffs now though. Guess I'm spoiled.

Spellbreaker is a godsend when you're starting out, especially for doing the MQ where you'll be fighting lots of dragons. With that said, once I could make daedric I totally ditched it. I prefered the Daedric shield look for one thing, but mainly it's that since I'm a breton it's pretty easy becoming immune to magic, so why not become immune? Spellbreaker already makes me immune to dragon fire, but it's annoying when the ward on it breaks and it stops you.

-Breton blood- 25% magic resist

-Agent of Mara- 15% magic resist

-Shield 29% magic resistance

-Ring 29% magic resistance

^ Already hit the magic resistance cap, but one block perk grants 50% resistance to fire/frost/shock, so I'm like 90%+ resistant to magic attacks.