While a shiled is equiped why not make a passive that allows the weapon hand to swing 25% faster only with a shield equiped.... it keeps shield users a viable way to deal damage and it opens a enter line of opertunities for Roleplay and group/guild play

of course there has to be a negative to the shield skill, maybe decreased mana or somesuch...

1H Swivel essentially does this.

I think this idea has some merit, actually. While it's true that 1h Swivel is a buff, the reality is that--with very few exceptions--1h+shield is a little gimped. One does less damage and the defense and/or bonuses from the shields aren't enough to justify the loss of that damage. Dual wielders get a 20% speed buff to help make dual wielding as effective as using a 2h, so why not shields?

There have been a couple of threads regarding buff shields. I've even recommended the speed buff, myself:

Linky...
Linky...

What about a higher chance to block, make it based off dex or something.

I still like the idea of actual shield skillsl along the lines of shield bash, flaming/freezing/poison shield enhancements, or something along those lines... The benefit of a shield does usually help me in game - both of my mages have used them to reflect dmg and give me a ridiculous extra int boost, but with my fighter I only ever use 2 1h or a 2h. If I had some "offensive" or "bonus" skills for a shield as a fighter then I would seriously think about using it more.

I still think the idea of having dual-wield shields would be just right for DR! lol

Hmmyes.. There was a suggestion about equiping 2 shields indeed , I really liked that one, and its pretty much funny. Im all for shield skills, besides some experienced pvpers, expecially mages, shields are used far way too few for the efforts that were put into them. I really like to see skills for shields too, huray shields!