Why do so few people use shields?

[Amplifier]

is it just me or is the sword-shield combat type the least popular among players? More often that not, it's dual wielding, battlemage and sneak that are the most used combat style and probably in that very descending order. This, despite the fact that sword-shield ironically, is supposed to be the main combat style in the game.
So what's the reason for this? Too hard to get used to a blocking playstyle? Because I've been using a shield character for a long time now and I gotta say, shields are actually freaking OP later in the game

[Fayde]

Likes shields :)
Tempering them and using Enchanted Shields makes them such an effective defensive/offensive piece of equipment...
I like dual wielding, I like sniping (both archery and magick) and I like my heavy thumpery weapons (I've got the mod that gives me Headsman's Axe heheh) but when the badguy/gal is that close, I like to be able to defend/attack taking as little damage as possible, using everything at my disposal. If my character were real - and for all intents and purposes when I'm playing, they are real - they wouldn't be content taking major damage and chucking down a hundred potions while their limbs and body are hacked apart. They would deflect whenever possible.
...Likes shields...

[Adura]

because not enough ppl play Requiem >_>

You'll learn to love shields there >:)
(Or learn to love dying lots >_>)

I've only ever used sword&shield for one playthrough (first retry of requiem XD) and thoroughly loved it :D
And never touched it again >_> Ionno why =/ I just gravitate towards the sneaky, stabby, klepto playstyle XD

[Solomon Hawk]

When it comes to fighting a draugr death lord (and some of those others who use the "disarm" shout .. getting up close and personal with a shield and a good bash will stop them in their tracks to give me a fighting chance. It's humiliating when dual welding or using two handed weapons and suddenly discover yourself without weapons and resorting to boxing with them (in which I usually lost).
Places like Arcwind point where quite a few of them use that shout .. it gets rediculous when I resort to running for my life and I'd swear that I hear them laughing at me.

(sub note)
I've yet to figure out a good build where I can use "standoff" magic skills. Maybe I haven't invested enough time in learning it. But being characteristically Nord, I guess I'm a little squeamish or skeptical when it comes to magic.

[Fayde]

lmao WITH (not @) Vahlok Ro Tiid - Yep!

[Skainey]

my first dovakhin was 1h+shield but after 175h it become boring D:

[Fayde]

Just one item of my Warkit :)

[Samyaza Bayangan (Ace V.)]

don't need them

[Skyrimnut]

Shields are awesome. I use them a lot. Shield + spell or bound weapons is great against shouty Mr. Draugr Deathlord. Oh, did you just shout disarm at me? Awwwwww, go ahead, do it again. Oh no! It still didn't work? Go on try again! Awwwww, poor Draugr Deathlord all dead now. :(

[Watson690]

Every time I start a new character it somehow ends up being a sneak/dagger/shield type. There's not much that can really hurt me this way (and that's if they even detect me)

[Malak]

I'm a new player and to me, to have a shield in one hand is slowing down my magic progression. By having a one-handed weapon and magic at the same time, I am developing two things at once.

[gnewna]

Originally posted by Malak:

I'm a new player and to me, to have a shield in one hand is slowing down my magic progression. By having a one-handed weapon and magic at the same time, I am developing two things at once.

If you use your shield (as opposed to just wearing it) you'll be developing two things at once, the spell type (Destruction or whatever) or one handed, depending whether you use a spell or a sword in your right hand, and block. I think if you don't actively use it, it might level that type of armour, but I'm not sure.

[Skyrimnut]

Originally posted by gnewna:

Originally posted by Malak:

I'm a new player and to me, to have a shield in one hand is slowing down my magic progression. By having a one-handed weapon and magic at the same time, I am developing two things at once.

If you use your shield (as opposed to just wearing it) you'll be developing two things at once, the spell type (Destruction or whatever) or one handed, depending whether you use a spell or a sword in your right hand, and block. I think if you don't actively use it, it might level that type of armour, but I'm not sure.

Ah yes, the tenderize 'n fry technique. I know it well. :) First a couple shield bashes tenderizes the victim, then you have a BBQ with some flame spell, then if you're a werewolf or a canibal, you crouch down for nicely cooked meal. Bandits are way more tasty when they are first tenderized. The constant pillaging and running away makes them all gamey.

[Fayde]

the tenderize 'n fry technique
....Classic :D

[Leo Star Dragon 1]

Hmm. Good question. In Real Life, it would be very practical to use one's shield. But in the game itself, they tend to block my view of what I'm seeing while trying to do a task, and/or flicker inside my field of vision to my left, which I find annoying. The game's camera view, doesn't seem to have the same capacity to make adjustments like the Human Mind does, when it comes to one's sensory perseptions.

[Malak]

^ and the staffs are annoying with how much they block also. Not sure I am even going to use them because of it.