There are many situations where a shield is needed.
As the first one up a siege ladder, you just won't make it without a shield. I'll jump behind the attackers and hold the shield up until they are more distracted by the rest of my troops on the other side. It never, ever breaks.
as the first one up a ladder I go into an empty castle to kill the very last defender, after absolutely everybody ran out of ammo.
Most times I'll run around a castle and hunt down perched archers, without a shield there are too many arrows to avoid by just moving.
I don`t need to chase them, I shoot them. And even a shield won`t save you from an arrow to the back or to the leg.
Often I'll drop in from a small ledge behind the enemy and attack the horde from behind will my troops try to push down stairs, there are often moments where the enemy takes notice and comes for me.
that`s so suicidal it`s stupid. Stay on the ledge and shoot - they will notice you and turn on you, and unless they have ranged weapons, you`ll be okay.
Leading a cavalry charge will often put a bolt in my shield
cavalry is best at flanking, you know. this way you also avoid a lot of projectiles.
Trying to catch up to Khergits can mean many arrows
just take a courser and a bow.
Charging through troops on horse is much much safer when your shield is raised
same thing as in the siege. If you charge straight through
my archers, you go down, shield and armor or no. This is how I beat Swadian knights.
Losing a horse in a field of enemies is death without a shield, you'll be targeted and ripped apart quickly
don`t lose the horse(a hint, don`t go into the thick of it)
On horse there are very few enemies that withstand a hit from a one handed weapon, even a weaker sword. One foot, the only disadvantage is using a weaker cutting weapon, it might take two hits to take out a lancer, knight or man at arms.
2h sword and bow seem to work fine on foot.
So what were you saying about shields again?
