To the OP ... simplicity and Woodworking needed additional items to make it a viable crafting choice. Clothier had light and medium armor. blacksmith had armor and weapons. Without the shield, woodworking would have just one outlet ... weapons.

I thought woodworking was going to have siege weapons but they pulled that (for now) so they gave them shields instead.

SirAndy wrote: »

Asking for realism in a fantasy game is an odd thing to do ...
;-)

No it's not. Realism and fantasy can coexist. I'm not going to bother explaining it further.

I guess we have reached the bottom of the barrel for things to complain about.

Actually, medieval shields were made of wood, animal hide and metal. So, to be lore friendly you would need to know clothing, blacksmithing and woodworking.

There wasn't such a thing as a full metal shield, that would be very heavy to use. Even for the most strong warrior.

I believe shield being in woodworking is a good decision. The most basic shield consists of some planks with leather riveted together. Makes sense to me.

When I first played this game I concentrated on blacksmithing and heavy armour. Thought you couldn't make shields - fullstop. Only later did I find that shields where under woodworking?! So in addition to spending points on blacksmithing I need to spend points in woodworking just to have a shield?!

There should be heavy shields in blacksmithing. Then I can invest time in only blacksmithing and not worry about woodworking just for a shield. Points saved in woodworking could be put to better use.

Valeski wrote: »

excuse my ignorance but why in god's name are shields found in woodworking?.

Because otherwise Blacksmithing is OP as that would do all weapons and shields except bows and staves, and Woodworking would be lamer than it is already.

Smithing and Clothier make armour so have far more produce to sell, take shields away from Woodworkers and they'd be as nearly worthless as Alchemists and Enchanters are.

Okay, i know this is a VERYYYY old post, literally from 3 years ago but for future people who question this: I'm pretty sure it's because of historical accuracy (though it doesn't make sense in ESO, being a high fantasy and all, i know.), as shields were NEVER pure metal. They were always made of wood or leather, and maybe coated with metal for the richer warriors. A shield made from steel only would just be a heavy, tire you out on your first block/parry, and simply be a nuisance. Metal shields are not realistic, they never existed. The closest thing you can get to a "metal" shield is a heater shield, a wooden shield coated with steel. That's all for now, sorry for posting on an outdated post.

I did a little research online and found out that shields made entirely of metal are just ceremonial. Functional shields that elite soldiers carried (like the spartans hoplon soldier), were made from a layer of metal (like bronze or iron), wood and leather.

Metal for durability, a strong wooden frame for it to be mounted onto, and leather or some other form of cloth to act as a bracer for the arm so the arm doesn't break when getting hit on the shield from blocking.

So if you want to be 'realistic', you would have had to be a blacksmith, woodworker, and clothier to make a shield. And all metal armor would have been a combination of metal and leather, as even most metal weapons have elements of wood and leather.

So I agree with way this game does it. You make your armor, shields and weapons, with whatever traits and then you go to enchant them.

For me, my professions would be Blacksmithing or Clothier (for leather), Woodworking for bows and shields, and Enchanting to enchant my gear.

Unless you think you are Captain America, who, as far as I know, is the only person that carry's a full metal shield. lol