DwD Studios

Players in my games tend to have trouble finding reasons NOT to use them. Otherwise they almost always jump on them. +20 to physical restance checks is just too good to pass up usually.

Nice, good to know. Thank you.

Players in my games use them. Allows you to take an extra attack without worrying about that multi-action penalty on your physical resistance check. And for those enemies you don't quite know how powerful they are - you start with only one attack so you get that +20 to your normal physical resistance check. And since there's no restriction for using one - even if you're not designed as a front-line fighter type they're a boon.

Out of the three PC's in my game, only two have shields, the Human Thief/Scholar and the Elven Spellcaster/Warrior. Then there is a Dwarven Cleric/Warrior who never uses a shield, he just prefers being able to do a load of damage with his Greataxe. The two with shields always start with ranged attacks while the Dwarf charges into melee, it is only when the enemy close in on them that they use their shields.

I would say that shields haven't figured heavily in combat, but they're useful to have when needed.