Does it matter in terms of amount of damage blocked? Which do you prefer? I am rolling with a hide shield for the first time, but I kind of miss my big, heavy shields.

... people use shields?

Yes. Knights, Pilgrims, Warriors, Scouts, Spellshields, and anyone in-between or even unlike probably use a shield.

Shields are actually very useful, and have some pretty great perks in block.

Nice sig, by the way, OP.

The idea of a light armor shield has always confused me. If you use a shield, shouldn't you take heavy armor as you're counting on getting hit?
Of course in Skyrim the difference between armor types is minimal (and don't get me started on the armor cap), but I've always figured you either want to take no armor/light armor for mobility or heavy armor and shield for durability.

(I'm not trying to tell anyone how to play their game though, and if I did - who I am to talk, with my unorthodox methods and combinations!)

My FACE is my shield!

Shields block the same amount of damage regardless whether light or heavy...bash damage is based on material type

Would heavy shields have more bash damage than light ones?
I do love me some shield bash.

Thanks for the helpful reply. That was exactly what I wanted to know. Cheers.

None of my characters in any Elder Scrolls game have ever used a shield. Shields are for milk drinkers.

Shield bash damage is based on the BASE of the shield you're using...so a glass shield (light) would do more damage than a steel (heavy) shield

Edit: it is also effected by your block skill I believe

Shields can be a lifesaver, I know I wouldn't have beaten the Restless Dragur I encountered in Bleak Falls Barrow without my Iron Shield.

As to the OP, if your using Light Armor then you probably will want to use a Light Armored shield because it will gain the bonuses of light armor, that's something Heavy Armor can't do.

It would make sense. That shield is heavy and the force's when striking it would break a lesser man's arm.
Milk drinkers should be able to wield it no problem.

I never mix it up. I use either all heavy or all light.