Question about Shields

[MrPudding]

Oblivion has numerous shields made of different materials ranging from light fur and leather to heavy iron and steel. However is there a real difference? Do the fur and leather type shields provide less protection but don't take as much weight in your inventory and how fast you move in combat? Also vice versa for the heavier looking shields? Thanks to anyone who can clear this up for me.

[dezdimona]

fur weighs the least an absorbs less damage ergo you take more damage and so one up the line to daedric which absorbs the most damage

 

weight of the shield does affect your speed also less weight,more speed and agility

[Oruboris]

You do know how the numbers in your inventory screen work, right? Across the top there are several icons: a coin, representing the items value; a feather representing weight; a shield representing protection granted; and a heart representing condition, or 'health' of the item.

 

The protection from various sheilds is easily compared by looking at the 'shield' numbers.

 

Your armor rating is the number at the center bottom of the inventory screen. It's not labled as such. It's a percentage total of the 'shield' numbers of all the items you have equipped, and represents the reduction in damage you take from blows [not spells]. It determines whether a blow hurts a little or a lot-- or kills you outright.

 

The condition of items matters a great deal: an item with a health of '0' is broken and offers no protection. It usually pays to carry several hammers, and repair as needed, even in the middle of a dungeon. You can't repair during combat, of course.

 

The math of just how much damage you take has other modifiers, including luck.

 

Light armor offers less protection and wears out faster, but lets you carry more and move faster. Your skill with each type also determines how much the weight affects you, and how much protection you recieve. Heavy and light items can be worn at the same time, and the game will assign experience points for each depending on where you are hit. This is important to be aware of if you are using efficeint leveling techniques. Also, there are bonus points for wearing all one type, once your skill is above 75.

 

Your speed [both running and in combat] is affected by the items you have equipped, but not on the total of what you are carrying. Applies to NPCs, too: lightly armored bandits with daggers will strike much faster than heavy armored with hammers. Taking off your sheild and weapon while running from one town to another will speed you up, but gets to be a hassle as you are constantly equipping and un-equpping.

 

There are light/heavy equivalent armors as you level up. You'll see a lot of leather/iron at level one, won't come accross much glass/daedric until level 20. Each level weighs more, protects more, costs more, lasts longer.

[MrPudding]

You do know how the numbers in your inventory screen work, right? Across the top there are several icons: a coin, representing the items value; a feather representing weight; a shield representing protection granted; and a heart representing condition, or 'health' of the item.

 

The protection from various sheilds is easily compared by looking at the 'shield' numbers.

 

Your armor rating is the number at the center bottom of the inventory screen. It's not labled as such. It's a percentage total of the 'shield' numbers of all the items you have equipped, and represents the reduction in damage you take from blows [not spells]. It determines whether a blow hurts a little or a lot-- or kills you outright.

 

The condition of items matters a great deal: an item with a health of '0' is broken and offers no protection. It usually pays to carry several hammers, and repair as needed, even in the middle of a dungeon. You can't repair during combat, of course.

 

The math of just how much damage you take has other modifiers, including luck.

 

Light armor offers less protection and wears out faster, but lets you carry more and move faster. Your skill with each type also determines how much the weight affects you, and how much protection you recieve. Heavy and light items can be worn at the same time, and the game will assign experience points for each depending on where you are hit. This is important to be aware of if you are using efficeint leveling techniques. Also, there are bonus points for wearing all one type, once your skill is above 75.

 

Your speed [both running and in combat] is affected by the items you have equipped, but not on the total of what you are carrying. Applies to NPCs, too: lightly armored bandits with daggers will strike much faster than heavy armored with hammers. Taking off your sheild and weapon while running from one town to another will speed you up, but gets to be a hassle as you are constantly equipping and un-equpping.

 

There are light/heavy equivalent armors as you level up. You'll see a lot of leather/iron at level one, won't come accross much glass/daedric until level 20. Each level weighs more, protects more, costs more, lasts longer.

 

Now that's what I call an answer. Thank you very much. That definitely cleared up some things for me. :)