Shield/Block Questions

[Daemos Avetorii]

1: Does a shield add DR/armor always, or only during blocking.
2: When my warriors block, their shield is flung back and forth, is this normal? Blocking in oblivion had more "stable shields" when struck.
3: What is the fastest way to raise blocking level?

[Ranga360]

1. I don't know
2. Think about it this way, if someone whacked you with a piece of metal as hard as they could you would try to move some of the impact away with your sheild.
3. I would direct you here

[Argonanza]

If you own a horse you can use it as a bashing-dummy.

[MaKo]

1: Does a shield add DR/armor always, or only during blocking.

I think it adds always, when wearing it. This is based to my experiences, that arrows hurt more when using bow (no shield, lower armor rate) than when rushing towards enemies with sword (shield, visible armor rate includes shield). On the other hand, when blocking, my experience is that blocking reduces the damage taken even more, that is, it stacks with armoring. I have observed that there is a visible difference in taken damage, if the shield is raised or not.

[Syrkin]

Put on a shield, equip your best heal in your right hand. Go aggro a giant and let him hit you, while blocking. Heal as necessary. Rinse, repeat.

It will level your Block and Light or Heavy Armor. Bashing will raise the Block also. It will level quickly.

[The Number None]

Just holding block when facing one of those dual-wielding forsworn guys gets the skill up in no time.