Choosing the Right Shield

[Myltinous]

Howdy y'all, going to do a 1h shield char for my next build. I was just wondering what shield would last longer before breaking. The plate covered round shield or the huscarl's round shield? Lets also assume that I would avoid axes and other shield killing weapons at all costs.

[rustyspoon]

If you don't run into ANY shield breakers the plate covered would last longer.

If you run into a shield breaker, the plate covered would break VERY fast.

The plate covered is also much smaller and slightly slower than the Huscarl. So, you should have a decent amount of shield skill to use it.

[Dravic]

Steel Shield. Plate C. Shield is ugly.

[Kafein]

Obviously knighlty heather shield because you want to be stylish. So bad you will get shot by arrows going through it like magic missiles.

[Kenji]

Steel Shield. Plate C. Shield is ugly.

That's the reason why I insisted on getting 6 Shield Skill when I could just get 4 Shield Skill and use that 2 points in Atheltics and IF instead.

Also Steel Shield takes up 2 slots and Plate Shield takes up only 1, but why do I still use Steel Shield? Because it's so much better looking.

Of course, if practicality is all you're into:
(1 slot) 4 Shield Skills: Plate Covered Round Shield, Knightly Heater/Kite Shield [Not suggested for a dedicated Shielder, but if you're in situations where you need 2 shields at a time, these 1 slot shields are good choices, they're cheaper, too.]
(2 slot) 5 Shield Skills: Huscarl's Round Shield
(2 slot) 6 Shield Skills: Steel Shield

I personally don't think Steel Shield is a practical choice, as Huscarl is faster, lighter, wider, cheaper, requires one less shield skill, and can put up against any non-shield-breaker weapons long enough before you or your enemies are dead. (You don't fight 5 people at the same time all the time, right?)

Of course, for cosmetic purposes, Steel Shield looks better than the ugly oversized heraldic Huscarl in my opinion, and matches the plate armors better than that barbaric piece of shield (If you're into plated Knights over nordic warrior looks)

[Visus]

Or you could not be a bitchy Huscarl shielder who nobody likes. Go for elite cav. Go for the Brown Lion Heater. Both something different and both are great shields. 

[Vibe]

Heavy kite is very durable too.

[John]

Brown lion heater shield or huscarl's round shield.  Those are your only two choices, because that's all anybody else uses.  Now go and use one of those.

[KaMiKaZe_JoE]

Or you could not be a bitchy Huscarl shielder who nobody likes. Go for elite cav. Go for the Brown Lion Heater. Both something different and both are great shields.

This. My defeault shield is the brown lion heater shield. Its very affordable, and can take quite a few hits before breaking. The elite cav shield is very fast, too. Stylish.

[Vibe]

+1, elite cav shield has incredible speed

[Mala]

... and is brittle as porcelain.

[Ninja_Khorin]

You could just go with whatever looks good. And suits you and your character.

[Myltinous]

my intended char build is...
lvl 30
STR 18
AGI 18
HP 63

Skills to attributes 2
IF 5
PS 6
Shield 6
Athletics 6
WM 6

1h 156

Equipment: Warhammer, blue coat of plates, shield?, guard helmet, mail mittens, rus splinterd greaves. Total of around 37000 though so would have to tone down on armor or helmet to stay on par.

[Keshian]

Just get the practice shield with 13 shield skill and become a Shielder God.

[Tears of Destiny]

Just get the practice shield with 13 shield skill and become a Shielder God.

Expanding upon this, let me introduce to you my now likely forgotten character name on the servers, recently re-incarnated as a Shielder using STF (allowance of a whopping 10,100 gold!)

After spending every thing I had on a shopping spree and leveling my character and selling my starting gear that I did not need, I was left with this.

Xocoyol

Level 30
Strength: 3
Agility: 39
Hit Points: 38
1 Power Strike
13 Shield
3 Weapon Master
One Handed: 130
Throwing: 5

1,594 Gold.

Nordic Leather Helm with Rings
Red Gambeson
Leather Gloves
Sarranid Leather Boots


Nordic Short Sword (Very dependable and fast and damaging, pretty good reach too!)
Hand Axe (103 speed and 28 cut against shields? Woah, look out I'm coming through!)
Dagger (130 wpf looks kinda nice with a 114 base speed weapon! Instant slice dem peasants!)
Cavalry Shield (105 base speed with 13 shield skill? BAM instant indestructable huge forcefield!)

Reserve Warchest(because I had oodles of cash left)

Scythe (for stopping cav if they are pesky, longest reach I can ge, almost 190! Nice damage too)
Practice Long Sword (every peasant needs one! Gotta practice!)
Throwing Knives (best throwing weapon out there, more damage then stones!)
Fire Bomb (Gotta step in from a poof of smoke now and be dramatic, and does a whopping 14 blunt, woah more then stones!)
Spiked Club (20 pierce damage? Count me in this is the best pierce you can get! Good for hunting pesky 30+ armored foes)
Club (It came free and has the best blunt damage you could ever ask for!)

I will never have to buy anything ever again with this character! (well, maybe silly ladders or siege shields) but other people can carry that stuff, right?).

Best build ever. Just relax and hit when you have a sure fire opportunity. Don't worry with your shield skill and my shield of choice, you can instantly recover into a block and your force field is hilarious!

EDIT: Crap I forgot to buy a cleaver... I mean C'mone, it is a freaking kitchen/butcher's cleaver! Need I say more?