Is sword and shield useful?

[Fletch67]

I am on level 4 of the tower I really want to make the sword and board work but a big 2 hander with cleave simply rocks, are 1 handers and shields a bit underpowered? I see the stats on most shields I find and cant see why I would use it. Perhaps a skill that involves using a shield would be nice or at least an attack with it. Great game btw loving it.

[Atomfried Megaforce]

Maybe it's due to my good old WoW-Days but I build my group like a group in WoW:
Tank, 2 DD's, healer.

I use Kane as the tank. He has a taunt skill. So he can get the attention of enemy groups. And when they start hitiing him a shield could be useful ;)
If you use him as a DD I think two weapons are definitely better.

[Fletch67]

Have you seen the DPS when you taunt all the mobs in and then let go with a 2 handed axe? Later on you can add the cleave enchantment I been getting crits of 200 plus and 45%cleave damage against the entire group, also you have bleed effect or stun depending on hammer or axe. Its enjoyable to say the least. Wouldn't it be nice to at least bash something with the shield or reflect a spell or something?

[Event Horizon]

Thats a tough question. I am a dev so I hope some other players will share their views too:

If I go on epic runs for balancing, for mid and end-game I take a shield since damage mitigation is very important there. Out of all the armor pieces, shield has the highest stats and also scales the best. Also, it has a unique enchantment - Retribution - where physical damage is reflected back at the attacker. If you combine it with Thorns enchantment and build up the armor overall (via item forge) - your super tank Kane might not be far behind in damage done total vs glass cannons.

However, I am glad for the questions like that - we desiged the system so it is as flexible as possible. You like to aggro large groups of enemies and just dash there with a scream and a large 2H Axe and deal mayhem -- sure, also super fun - but with a higher risk / reward option.

So reflect option - yes, via unique enchantment.

[DarkGod]

My kane is 1h/shield, he has hum I cant check right now but an armor that slows him own but has huge stats, a great shield too. Basically I dont use him as a tank but as a choke bloker. I send him to a spawn point and he does his thing I dont really need to manage him at all while I play with the 3 others (all ranged, aedric, whisper & maeve) in a more central location to destroy all that approach.
Very fun! :) and if somehow my party needs a tank or kane somehow needs healing, well he can dash to them or heal himself!

[greenbrog]

Shields are amazing. they carry so much stat weight. On harder difficulties early on you probably want a 2h weapon on him but later on, he wants that resistance. Boron i thend to go dual wielding, and rekham is using whatever is best atm.