Shields! - Top 5 Pros & Cons

Sword 'n board, the old classic in Dungeons & Dragons, other fantasy RPG's, historical games / movies, LARP, SCA fighting, etc. Why would you ever not use a shield or buckler? Well, it's great but no perfect...

So here are five advantages with a corresponding disadvantage each, based on martial arts techniques from medieval and renaissance manuscripts. Nothing good ever comes with zero strings attached, right? :)