I'm sure at one point in this extensive thread, someone has already asked/answered, so i appologize for the repost in advance...I did check a lot of the more recent posts and could not find an answer.

Anyways, i'm relatively new to using shields. Currently backtraining the crap out of it in Sand Sprites because i want a decent defense while i'm working on my ranged skills since parry is not an option and evasion doesnt quite cut it in MO situations.

I just hit 50 shield, so now i can actually load/aim while wearing it, but my current RT for loading went from 3 seconds w/o shield to 8 seconds. Curious as to if the loading time penalty is related to bow skill or shield skill. Or if its just a static penalty that wont change regardless if i have 50 or 500 ranks.

I guess i missed the fact i cant make use of the shield skill while aiming/loading...but that would be logical. I guess that pretty much makes my question pointless as you said. Guess i'll just have to bite the bullet and overtrain evasion and keep retreating while i'm shooting. Thanks for the heads up

as a ranger i still use my arm-worn shield while training bow, but as was mentioned I use HOL and don't incur the 5 sec additional rt. it has saved me a few times from DP zealots and sentinel ranged attacks when I'm arranging/skinning/looting, so for that alone its worth it to me. However if I did not have a way to mitigate the additional load rt I'd say screw wearing the shield and buff up evasion as much as possible. also never a good idea to parry with your bows, I used to have parry stance set way back when until one day my foresters bow broke from parrying inadvertently with it.
Sniper Shinumo

It was many years ago when my bow got destroyed, I took a 3 year hiatus and returned a few months ago, but I believe you are correct, no more destroying armor/weapons. So I guess if you want to parry with your bow and repair it go for it.

Sniper Shinumo