Shield on barb?

[StormLord]

So how does exactly shield work in D3 compared to D2, and why should I / should I not use it?

[Kintara]

Well, shields offer a bunch of armor (perhaps two or three pieces of other armor worth of it), along with Block. Blocks don't totally eliminate attacks, but have a specific chance reduce the damage by a certain amount. It's certainly a great defensive item, and lots of nice item affixes will spawn on them. You can generally live without the damage from dual wielding or two-handers, as well. Just use it if you want to be tougher, and feel your damage is fine, at the moment. The class skills don't really affect shields or blocking, so you don't need to worry about that.

[StormLord]

I assume that the shield block is not affected by DEX as well?

PS: Where can I get enchantress as my mercenary?
BTW: How does the stats in general affect Barbarian - do I get anything from pumping INT for example?

[The Rockman]

In my game play so far the question more why not use a shield, I have yet to need the damage boost of duel wield or 2 handers. BTW I have not really seen a 2 hander that worth using over the 1 handers I been seeing in my game (might just be unlucky with drops though).

As for your questions nothing effects block chance unless it says +x% block chance (I believe it only spawns on shields anyway).
As for what stats give you in game mouse over them to see, INT gives a barb +resistance stat. Note since STR gives +% armour and armour reduces all damage STR is better than INT for a barb given that it boost his damage as well.

[StormLord]

So for Barb all I need is STR + Vitality / Life bonuses since DEX does not improve my atk.speed or block%, and INT eventually for the resistance.

[betazoid]

Dex increases your dodge rating which is important, but overall STR/VIT over anything else. Personally using what ever gives the best DPS without sacrificing other stats, mainly vitality. Good amount of STR on shield can easily boost your 1h dmg over 2h or dual wielding. Armor rating is at start at least minor issue, you can focus on pure damage until Act 4 normal.

[The Rockman]

STR & VIT are barbs major stats but the other 2 are still useful though. Note Armour reduces magic damage in this and there is physical resistances. Blizzard have tried to make all stats apply an approximately equal amount of effective defence from what I seen (IE 10 STR should be the same as 10 DEX and 10 INT in most cases, of cause at high stat values the other 2 become more useful in general).

[kooshball]

This very situational. I have been in situations where I have higher dps with a shield than with not. My shield had a huge +str bonus, and one of the weapons was much better than the other.

[OldDirtyNapkin]

I'm in Act 3 and haven't used a shield yet. Maybe it'll be a situational item in later difficulties.

[prowler666]

I'm currently lvl 18 in start-mid Act 2 and I'm all way to dual-wielding. I tried 1H+Shield and 2H weapons but I can't compare, the killing speed of dual-wielding is way too good.