Shields

[The Spastic Tuna]

Shields are super powerful both when used by you and by bandits. It gets utterly ridiculous when you have to fight more than one enemy wielding them. I understand that you made them have durability but I have never broken a enemy shield even after bashing it for multiple minutes straight. It is also annoying because you have to angle your strikes at one angle and the NPC knows this and only blocks at that angle. Might be a skill issue but combat is clunky enough without pounding on one guy forever. The only way I get these fights to go quicker is just to run away for a bit and snipe them in the head which is difficult because if you hit anywhere else on the body even when they dont have their shield up it counts as hitting the shield.

[The Spastic Tuna]

I just broke my first shield but it was a plank shield.....

[macbraveheart68]

as your weapons get stronger the shields break pretty quick. certain weapons damage them quicker it seems. early on speed helps but so easier to hit with a sword. they don't bllock everything. it feels that way when you first get started.
admitadly it's hard to swing in different directions, at first as you get familiar with the controls it gets easier. head shot's, trust and swinging in either direction . you just have to learn how to do it. fighting basically when your weak and inexperienced comes down to back pedaling. and learning how to swing.