some noob questions

[Wutproppen]

Hi there.
Got some noob questions, would be great if somebody could help me out.

1) If you use a shield that has a block ability, you can't use a weapons ashes of war. If I want to use some weapons ashes skill, I need to unequip the shield or remove it's block ability, right?

2) Is a shield without a block skill still of any use? Does it still somehow reduce damage or offer some protection, or is a shield without a block skill entirely useless?

3) So if I want to use a shield to block but also a weapons ashes of war, I guess the best option would be to equip and unequip the shield as necessary?

4) So you can upgrade weapons using the smithing stones. Does that mean I could use an early game weapon and just keep upgrading and using it until the late game?

Thanks a lot

[Virm]

1) Block is default move for all shields (with right click of your mouse your character hold the shield before you this is BLOCK), there are different ashes of war for shields, for example parry. You can't use weapon ashes of war if you have shield with parry, for example. Just remove ashes of war from shield, use rapier or lance with it cuz you can attack from block with it.
2) You can attack with shield (greatshield can be a good weapon).
3) Remove ashes of war or use shield without one.
4) Yes, any weapon is viable, even your first sword can carry you to endgame. There is option to buy smithing stones, so you can upgrade any weapon.

[Silavire]

1) All shields can block, its not an ash of war. An ash of war is stuff like parry, shield strike, bash, etc. There is an ash of war called "No Skill" that you can get early on that removes the ability from an item. Putting it on a shield will allow you to use weapon abilities with a shield.
2) All shields can block, and some ashes of war allow you to use them offensively. Some also have passive effects, like speeding up stamina recovery.
3) "No skill" Ash of war.
4) Yes. I beat most of the game with Lordsworn Greatsword that i got near the start of the game.

[Wutproppen]

Thanks