1. Timed Blocking
The longer you hold your shield up, the less effective it will be at blocking. You have to raise it when the enemy attacks for maximum blockage.
2. Chance that trying to do a regular bash when enemy is not attacking will result in him meeting your bash with a bash of his own and staggering you.
It's too easy to just continually bash someone and hack them to pieces while they are perma-staggered. Drink some vegetable soup and you have an endless amount of bashes.
