What skill do you choose at level 12?

[Canuck]

I feel that the choice of level 12 skill is the first big fork in the road, where you have to decide where to take your character …

At level 4, you hold onto the skill point until level 5 then take Increased Fortitude. At level 8, you take Regeneration.

… but what skill do you take at level 12? Bark skin? A weapon-related skill? Magic finder? Hold onto the point until level 15 to get the first level of Combat Speed? Start working towards Dual Wield or Cleave?

I'm interested in reading about different people's strategies.

[RaptorNXT]

I feel that the choice of level 12 skill is the first big fork in the road, where you have to decide where to take your character …

At level 4, you hold onto the skill point until level 5 then take Increased Fortitude. At level 8, you take Regeneration.

… but what skill do you take at level 12? Bark skin? A weapon-related skill? Magic finder? Hold onto the point until level 15 to get the first level of Combat Speed? Start working towards Dual Wield or Cleave?

I'm interested in reading about different people's strategies.

I think I held onto Skill Points from this juncture till I took 2 levels of Corpse Eater.

[Canuck]

Interesting choice — thanks! I simply rely on

Shadow of the Slayer

instead of the Corpse Eater skill, since that item is available relatively early in the game.

[Nut]

Most games I go for Taunt, so after IF I learn to dodge and evade. Then taunt at level 32.
And then maybe IF again, Regeneration, and others.

I do that because I like taunt and because otherwise I'd have to think about which skills I should choose...

[Antison]

Saving the skill until 15 to get the first level of combat speed is generally the way I go. But if I want Taunt I too go the route that Nut describes

[Lord Floor Mat]

When I normally play Sword and Shield I focus on 3 things, Increased Fortitude, Combat Speed and Bark Skin. I believe Regeneration can be substituted with Cooked Meat now that it is cheaper. The same is with Corpse Eater.
Other advanced options take too many Skill Points so are not viable in the initial run.

Level 1-10:
I spend my first skill point at Level 5 on Increased Fortitude. I save Level 8 Skill Point. My Level 9 and 10 upgrades are on block chance to get it to 15 then I choose Bark Skin. From there onwards till Level 50 I upgrade my Block Chance every alternate level to get 15 more Block Chance by Level 20, 30, 40 and 50 to upgrade Bark Skin.

Level 11-20:
Level 12 is spent on Combat Speed, Level 16 and Level 20 are spent on Increased Fortitude and Bark Skin at Level 20.

Level 21-30:
Level 24 and 28 are spent on Combat Speed and Bark Skin at Level 30.

Level 31-40:
Level 32 goes to Increased Fortitude again at Level 35. Level 36 is free and I choose to spend it on Shield Proficiency. You can also spend it anywhere else like on Fighting Style. Level 40 again goes to Bark Skin.

Level 41-50
Level 44 and Level 48 Skill Points go to Increased Fortitude and Bark Skin on Level 50.

After 50 you are free to spend your Skill Points as you wish.

[Canuck]

I've started going for Evasion at level 12 in recent games. Even one level of it is useful at a couple of points in the earlier Thieves' Guild quests where you have to fight a very powerful adversary to advance in the game (especially if you want to avoid grinding forever for levels in permadeath mode).