Is it necessary to choose dual wielding or shield skills?

[munky]

I havent played long but it seems all the weapons are one handed so what do you equip in the other hand if you dont choose dual wield or shield skill? I guess you can still have shields without the shield skill?

[bananasloth]

You can also use weapons in both hands without having the dual wielding skill, I think, but you will be very clumsy with them (reduced stats, basically, and I think you might even hurt yourself, but don't quote me on that).

And yes, shields you can definitely use without the shield skill, you won't get any penalties for it, the skill tree just provides boosts.

[Haldurson]

As Bananasloth says, you can use shields (1 or 2) without penalty without the shield skill. In fact you can use any weapon without the corresponding skill without penalty. Other things you can hold as well include orbs, books, and a few other assorted mod items that fit the slot.

[munky]

cool thanks guys

[sniggleboots]

Dual-wielding 2 weapons without the Dual Wielding skill tree will reduce your damage output to 1/3. So even though doubling your damage by taking two weapons, you still end up with only 2/3 of the damage of one weapon.

[Level 1 Goblin]

Well... they become more efficent with the skill...

[sniggleboots]

EDIT: derp

[Quewex]

Originally posted by Haldurson:

As Bananasloth says, you can use shields (1 or 2) without penalty without the shield skill. In fact you can use any weapon without the corresponding skill without penalty. Other things you can hold as well include orbs, books, and a few other assorted mod items that fit the slot.

Incidentally, using two non-weapons, your melee attacks will act as "unarmed" attacks (meaning they benefit from/trigger the unarmed tree).