Skyrim: Blocking and you, or This is why you keep dying.

[Vicarious Reality]

I use my shield quite often in Oblivion, not sure how it's different from Skyrim though

 

[Galite]

Unfortunately when I die it's when generally from an unseen arrow coming for my lightly armored mage-y arse. Fortunately however I don't need a shield as I can't remember the last time something got close enough to matter my destruction spells only costing 2% of their original magicka and the perk "impact" quite literally makes trying to get close to me a death wish for enemies. Or trying to stay at range for that matter. I'm also nearly immune to every element so as I had said before arrows are the only thing I've died from in ages.

 

[Garethp]

There is one wrong way to play:
Play a crafting build.

By the time you've levelled Smithing and Enchanting to 100 or thereabouts, you're at a high enough level that the fancy dragon armor you just made is pretty much useless. Bandits can one-shot you with iron arrows, for crying out loud.

Oh, well. I can think of worse fates than starting over with a different build.

My enchanting is only 40, but my smithing is 100, and frankly I can't be stopped. Seriously, a bandit is a one hit kill from my Legendary Ebony Sword, two if it's an Outlaw or Thug, A chief is two double power attacks (Ebony Sword and Skyforge Steel Sword both Legendary), and I can literally just sit in the middle of three bandits and soak up their stupid arrows for an hour with my Legendary Dragon Scaleplate Amor and necklace of health regen.

Just levelling Smithing and Enchanting doesn't make you weak

 

[wurrble182]

glad that you like block bro, but the game doesnt require you to master any one skill to succeed. A good player can progress with/without any skill being heavily invested in. Such is the awesomeness of le Skyrim.

 

[Stammer]

Dude very easy is called very easy for a reason. I don't know if it's exactly like Oblivion's very easy setting but if it is that means that enemies are doing 1/6 of the damage they would be doing to you on normal and you do 6 times the damage you would on normal.
This is why your fire balls one hit everything...

I know that. That's why I mentioned it in the first place. I'm just saying that I'm not really worried about defense since my only real threats are bosses and traps.

I plan on bumping the difficulty up by 1 or 2 for every successive playthrough.

 

[Dark1Elder]

the thing is some people who use two handed weapons don't think they need to train block, cause they don't have a shield, even though, any weapon you can block with, uses the block skill.

 

[Sir Thomas Sean Connery]

Look at me.

Now look at your shield.

Now back at me. I'm gone.

Now look back at your shield.

Unfortunately, your shield will never be me.

I just slit your throat.

 

[RedDeadFred]

Dude very easy is called very easy for a reason. I don't know if it's exactly like Oblivion's very easy setting but if it is that means that enemies are doing 1/6 of the damage they would be doing to you on normal and you do 6 times the damage you would on normal.
This is why your fire balls one hit everything...

I know that. That's why I mentioned it in the first place. I'm just saying that I'm not really worried about defense since my only real threats are bosses and traps.

I plan on bumping the difficulty up by 1 or 2 for every successive playthrough.

Oh ok. I think I just read that funny then...
My bad.

 

[Catalyst6]

Who needs block when you have a time-pausing inventory and health potions?

The only excuses anyone has for dying in Skyrim are, "I didn't hit the inventory button fast enough" and, "I ran out of health potions."

Or you can just grab a bow and take advantage of the fact that you're the only being on the planet who can jump. One tall rock and you're all set.

Or use the "stealth" mechanic to effectively become invisible and get one-hit kills on almost anything.

Given the alternatives, I conclude that blocking is for boring people.

Indeed, especially since you can just leg it when things get hairy and cast the heal spell til your mana runs dry, the return to the bow.

And besides, my shield works perfectly fine without having to level anything. Her name is Lydia, and she never dies yet has a remarkable ability to draw ridiculous amounts of aggro.

 

[tofulove]

yes, you could block, or you can one shot people like a champ with 2 handers,

 

[Blobpie]

My two characters are a full on mage, and a sneaky character that uses two weapons.... neither can block.

Although my mage does have ward spells.... which unfortunately use too much mana too fast (this is why i got stoneflesh)

Yes i have mana potions, but i want to save them for when I really need them. Since you know, i have a mana regeneration of 91%

 

[DustyDrB]

There is one wrong way to play:
Play a crafting build.

By the time you've levelled Smithing and Enchanting to 100 or thereabouts, you're at a high enough level that the fancy dragon armor you just made is pretty much useless. Bandits can one-shot you with iron arrows, for crying out loud.

Oh, well. I can think of worse fates than starting over with a different build.

You can still improve those armors more when you have a high Smithing skill (at least you can with Elven armor, which what I'm currently wearing). It's also good for money making. Between my Alchemy and Smithing, I'm never short on coin. And I'm not stingy in the game. I'll buy certain items just so I can set them on display in my houses.

 

[svenjl]

I started of wanting to play with one-handed weapons and a shield. I like the ebb and flow of combat with this combination. But after getting a big fricking battleaxe I decided to go two-handed all the way. Nothing beats charging into the midst of bandits or undead swinging my huge axe with Nord abandon. However, on the topic of blocking - I do still block occasionally as even just a weapon block reduces damage taken. I don't bother blocking with dragons though. I just leap in and go at them like a woodchopper!

 

[svenjl]

Who needs block when you have a time-pausing inventory and health potions?

The only excuses anyone has for dying in Skyrim are, "I didn't hit the inventory button fast enough" and, "I ran out of health potions."

Or you can just grab a bow and take advantage of the fact that you're the only being on the planet who can jump. One tall rock and you're all set.

Or use the "stealth" mechanic to effectively become invisible and get one-hit kills on almost anything.

Given the alternatives, I conclude that blocking is for boring people.

Indeed, especially since you can just leg it when things get hairy and cast the heal spell til your mana runs dry, the return to the bow.

And besides, my shield works perfectly fine without having to level anything. Her name is Lydia, and she never dies yet has a remarkable ability to draw ridiculous amounts of aggro.

Yep...until she DIES! So please consider that before you sit back and have her take all the heat :-( I have lost 2 followers so far, Lydia and the elf from Riverwood. I have a third now (a female miner, forget the name) that I have decked out with some armor and weapons from my stock and I look after her as if every drop of her blood is precious!

 

[kouriichi]

Raj thinks shields are nice! Look good on wall.
But i would never pick one up for combat. To heavy, need the extra space for all the stuff Raj l00ts off of corpses.

What? Is not unethical! They try to stab Raj! Only right i get something for troubles!

But can see use for shield. Make great plate for sweet roll! Keep frosting off floor! Wife Mjoll complains when i make mess eating.

Besides, no use for shield if enemy never get to attack you! Dagger to the spleen tends to drop enemies faster then fireball to Cliff Racer!

 

[brunothepig]

Please, my battle mage blocks with motherfucking magic. You think it's cool cowering behind your shield? Try standing there, like a boss while the dragons flames course harmlessly by. Then I embed a massive spike of ice through it's head. That said, next time I'll probably roll a warrior type, and I will make use of blocking.

 

[Deadyawn]

You know the whole "best defense is a good offense" thing? Yeah well thats bullshit but I generally find that combat gets really easy if enemies can't see you. So I just snuck around for the most part getting X30 damage sneak attacks.

 

[thespyisdead]

since i started the game i have gone through one handed ,2 handed, and dual wield, but now my melee is a shield with and ax... can't say how effective it is yet...

PS: for me the 2 handed weapons were the best so far (and i am a rouge, or trying to be)

 

[MarcBRO]

I don't need block with my 100 one handed skill and 100 restoration skill

 

[lex.nero]

Point is moot, being heavily biased towards one skill usually reaps huge benefits

I however try and train skills an equal amount and block is one of my largest skill increases since starting skyrim.