Any point in using a shield?

[Dayve]

Currently using a longsword, bow and arrows. In melee my longsword is vicious in the attack and perfectly adequate in deflecting blows. If I face an archer I just charge at them and kill them quick.

Is a shield ever worth using?

[theo]

Yes, quite handy when fighting multiple opponents or playing more 'defensive' but really every strategy/weapon combination has its use so pick what you like

[Lieste]

I'd discourage using a shield with a longsword. However with a mace, axe, or sword in one hand it can be very useful in passive protection to the left, and in having a partial ward during an attack.

I carry with me a longsword (fun in 1v1s and usable vs multiple unarmoured opponents*), and a mace and shield as an alternative for armoured multiple opponent fights..

* In vanilla the longsword is generally useful, but offers less passive protection - but I run a reduced damage mod where swords are broadly not useful in the armoured fight for fast killing at least. In vanilla this is more roleplay than necessary in my experience, sadly.

[Hammer Of Evil]

pair the shield with weapons that have a lower defense rating. short swords, maces, axes, and hammers all go well with a shield.

in tactics, a shield will mostly stop you from taking an arrow while you close distance with some archers without wasting the stamina running up to them.

i usually roll with the biggest ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ hammer i can find, but that's just my preference. idgaf if they're useful or not tbh. =]

[ToolFist]

Longsword combos don't work with shields. I use a mace and shield though and it's great.

[Minuros]

I prefer the combination of shield and mace.

[BigCountryBL]

Shield and longsword is nonsense. Shield with shortsword ,mace,ax yes. Although with the hardcore playthrough I've been running with the Bailiff mace with no shield since the runt fight+dlc content and having no issues at all.... been meaning to pick up an shield but meh

[unwaveringresolve]

* As other posters have noted, shields work well with one-handed weapons (shortswords, axes, maces).

* Blocking with a shield seems to take less stamina than blocking with a weapon, and also saves you durability on the weapon.

* You can only block arrows with a shield.

* Armor alone, even plate, doesn't offer great protection against higher-end maces and axes. For these, having a shield to block with can save you from a lot of damage.

If you're really good at parrying and dodging, you don't need a shield. Feel free to continue playing Witcher-style. But personally, I find there are some situations where the the longsword just doesn't cut it (hah), usually because my enemy is in full plate with a facemask. When that happens, I switch to my mace, and I always pair a shield with my mace because there's no good reason not to.

[Darth Revan]

a shield also will passive protect parts of your body from arrows from the left and from some melee attacks which hit it even if you are not actively blocking, the best shield for this purpose is the bouche shield since it is the largest one and therefore covers the most of your body out of all shileds.

[Dayve]

Yep, I'm using the shield a lot more now and I prefer it to using a longsword. Shield and shortsword/mace/axe and I feel like a proper soldier.