Hello, I have a question.
I am about 6 hours into Skyrim (it feels like longer!), just joined the Companions, and as far as combat goes, I only use 2 Handed weapons. No spells. No shouts. I use them because of the sheer amount of damage, because I don't have to worry about magicka, and I don't use spells and shouts because you would have to switch from a 2 handed weapon to a spell every time you wanted to use a spell, and vice versa. If I found a one handed weapon that I could dual wield for a higher damage output, I would use that.
My question is, does not using spells and shouts put me at a major disadvantage?

Thank you!

No, you can go through the game without spells/shouts even on higher difficulties. However, there's really no reason not to use shouts since they're not dependent on attributes.

Using your shouts properly never puts you at a major disadvantage! On the contrary actually!

I found no matter what your playstyle theres always a shout you can put to good use. Every class ive made; pure mage, warrior, assassin/stealth they've all had one particular shout that was suited just right for their playstyle.

I find that in TES games that it's best to have at least some type of magic that you can use ... Healing spells ... Conjuring an Elemental to Fight with you ... Soul Trapping ... etc. Without that I've found that you either have to be really careful, really good, or play at lower difficulties. It probably won't make a difference early on but on latter levels it could get annoying.

I find that if I have a couple of "Favorite" spells / weapons I just put them in my favorites and change back & forth ... I don't find that it puts me at too much of a disadvantage.

You will most likely have to use potions,but spells and shouts aren't a needed.

All you need is press Z for a shout, you are Dragonborn, you are meant to use your shouts.

Thanks for the advice! I do use potions. Can you choose which shouts are bound to Z?

What i do is favorite all the shouts that are useful to me and pick from the list. So yes.

I try to develop atleast one school for each of my characters. With my warriors it's usually Restoration/Alteration, with my Thieves it's Illusion. As for shouts, I find them incredibly helpful. Unrelentig Force is very helpful for a melee character who is facing giants, Storm Call is very good for facing multiple enemies outdoors, or when fighting a dragon that doesn't want to land. Ice form is useful if being swarmed and need breathing space or if you're fighting a boss as a pure mage and need to regenerate your magicka. The list goes on. I haven't really found the usefulness of slow time, though. Maybe long-distance battles against ranged enemies that are constantly strafing? Does anyone know?

Slow Time > Mages/Archers

Use potions as much as possible. My motto

Cheers

I now use spells and shouts against harder enemies, like frost trolls and dragons

Two hand is the way to go!

Yeah, my Battleaxer used slow time constantly (and Dragonrend, but that goes without saying). Even to cut down fleeing deer.

You may want to get either alchemy or enchanting, so you can pick up some resistances though, for heavy mage battles. (Lavender and Tundra cotton is an easy to find Magic Resist potion)

If you stick to two handed it never hurts to throw perks in block, disarm can be quite useful