How does the shielding skill influence your defense?

Question

I read some plances people saying that "shielding skill" is useless now and don't have much impact on how much damage you take, once that other things can be taken in count like physical/elemental protection. So, what is the influence of shielding skill?

Answer 1

Shielding decides how well you can stop Melee hits from creatures and other players.

 Your character's total defense is only taken from your shield, or if you don't have a shield equipped, your weapon. If a shield is equipped while using a weapon, then the weapon's defense will be negated regardless of whether its defensive value is higher or lower than the shield's defensive value.

Comments

How much does the shielding skill help you? According to the manual, shielding skill isn't used when you're not wearing a shield.

Answer 2

You can see this precise value by looking at Defense in Cyclopedia -> Character -> Combat Stats.
This value is the result of your Shield Skill & Defense from your shield and/or weapon +Def modifier.

The question of how useful is defense/shielding exactly? I don't think anyone really knows.
I have re-asked the question here.