Any reason not to use a shield?

[TheBlueFox]

When using a one-handed weapon, is there ever any reason not to pair with a shield? I've been using daggers and I do not like the aesthetic of a large shield on my arm. But a shield can hold passive enchantments and it gives you extra armor.

Is there ever any benefit to not having one?

[fox]

Rogues have been using a dagger and shield for thousands of years in tabletop games

[wirednight]

I play a pure mage currently, but it is weight that you have to consider. Personally I'd rather just wield a two-handed weapon. Sure you may lose a bit of enchantment, but you're hitting harder.

[TheBlueFox]

Originally posted by fox:

Rogues have been using a dagger and shield for thousands of years in tabletop games

True but Shields also do come with a downside like an armor check penalty. I'm just wondering if there's ever any downside in Oblivion?

[Khloros]

Originally posted by TheBlueFox:

Originally posted by fox:

Rogues have been using a dagger and shield for thousands of years in tabletop games

True but Shields also do come with a downside like an armor check penalty. I'm just wondering if there's ever any downside in Oblivion?

No there is no downside to wearing a shield.

[wirednight]

Oh and I forgot. Shields are considered armor which does effect your spellcasting. So if you're going to use spells a lot you may want to use the lighter ones... or none at all (hence my comment about playing a pure mage). Otherwise the only drawback is weight.

[TheBlueFox]

Okay, I'll have to see what spell effectiveness does to spells like invisibility

[Mightylink]

Weight also effects your speed, you can move around faster and avoid attacks without any armor. Zippy mage builds where one of the best things about Oblivion.

[wirednight]

Originally posted by TheBlueFox:

Okay, I'll have to see what spell effectiveness does to spells like invisibility

Nothing really. One or two spells like invisibility it's going to matter. They more you cast though the more the shield is going to effect your efficiency. Course you're probably already wearing leather armor, so that's already effecting it.

Odd thing here, as Mightylink mentioned, it's almost better to not wear armor as a thief/rogue character. Get yourself the Shield spell out of alteration. Use that for your armor, and zippy around and dodge the attacks. Along with the chameleon spell (not invisibility but chameleon) and you're be efficient. You could even argue for conjuration for conjured daggers.

Sure you technically lose a bunch of effects on your weapons, but with spell crafting you could make that up quickly. (Imagine conjured daggers that also absorb health while weakening your opponents to spells).

[TheBlueFox]

I'm still early in so I'm in chainmail and a dwarven dagger. I want to move to enchanted clothing when I get enchanting.

But to be honest the hit detection is so janky dodge dashing doesn't seem to help

[wirednight]

Originally posted by TheBlueFox:

I'm still early in so I'm in chainmail and a dwarven dagger. I want to move to enchanted clothing when I get enchanting.

But to be honest the hit detection is so janky dodge dashing doesn't seem to help

Okay so here's a thing. Chainmail is still light armor, but it's heavier light armor. The heavier something is, the more it slows you down, and the harder it is to dodge. So there is a balance with light armor between heaviness/protection and lightness/dodging.

I'm going to agree that the hit detection is weird but you are weighing yourself down with chainmail. If you just want to go toe-to-toe with someone and not more, heavy may be a better fit for you.

[TheBlueFox]

At 70 speed I'm still quite fast. I can run away from anybody at any time. I'm mostly using the chain mail because I'm still early into the game and can't one shot people cuz I'm playing on expert mode.

So after hitting them with my dagger from stealth, they still have about a quarter of their life left and after poisoning my dagger it still takes me a couple of seconds of fighting to take them out. So the chain mail helps mitigate some of that damage.

Even still I feel like I'm getting three-shotted by ring leaders and captains and I can't seem to find a way to re-engage from stealth because enemies in dungeons always know where you are once they find you once

[Mansen]

I like having a torch for vision.