Not really planning to use any magic with this character. Leaning towards a focus on 2-handed, heavy armor, and smithing + a little archery and enchanting + unavoidable skill increases due to locking picking and buying/selling.... Fairly narrow build.

Also, add in the block skill, assuming 2-handed blocking is viable.

One thing to remember about defense is how soon you get it - I have a Redgaurd who wears smitthed heavy armor and uses a 2H weapon (usually a hammer, but I occasionally grab a greatsword). With a sword and board, you presumably getter better defense early in the game. With Heavy Armor and 2H weapon, you can block, but it's not as effective as blocking with a shield - but it does still help once you get some levels and a few perks in the basic blocking perk (the one at the base of the tree which you can upgrade 5 times) in blocking.

Now that I've got Legendary Ebony armor (and am well perked in Heavy Armor), I hardly even bother with blocking anymore - the only thing which really threatens me is magic - weapon attacks mostly just bounce off my armor - including arrows.

So, as far as I know, it breaks down sort of along these lines:

1h + shield + armor - low damage early, moderate damage later, high defense early
2h + armor - moderate damage, moderate defense early, high defense later
dual 1h + armor - high damage, low defense early, high defense later
dual 1h + light armor - very high damage (more stamina; more power attacks) early, very low defense early, moderate defense later

I tried both, but because my Nord wears light armor, the sword and sheild seem better for me. I think I would go heavy armor with 2H. So that might be something to consider.

I love my light armor 2h nord.....he's allot of fun to play.....dancing in and out, landing blows, blocking when needed, bashing, powerstrike.....dead foe

My 1st char was 2h and I enjoyed it. My 2nd character is 1H+shield but I am avoiding fights with this character so I haven't used it too much but what little I have I like it to.

I personally really, really like the way two-handed weapons feel. In addition, I'm not too fond of shields. For me, it'd be one-handed, without a shield.

i think sword and shield is the most fun. You can attack fast, and block a lot of damage. The whole Block tree is awesome except for quick reflexes.

Sword n board x1000

2h was impossibly boring, slow, and awkward.

I have never really liked two handed weapons in any of The Elder Scrolls games, it boils down to personal preference.
I think the shield perks look very promising and fun.

sword/axe/mace and shield. a lot more fun. 2 handed is weird atleast to me it is

I started out with a sword & shield but didn't really like it so I went with a 2 handed battle axe.

I'm loving it : )

Thanks all for your input. I haven't really tried 2-handed yet, so I think I'll give it a go. If I really hate it, I can restart. Cheers!