First, hopefully before you get into combat, equip your character. This should be the very first thing you do after logging in or reviving after dying.
1) Open your inventory. the inventory is two sections combined - the top is 2) Open your character, head, torso, arms, legs, hands, and feetwindow. The bottom is what you are carryingYou can do this by using the menu or by double clicking on your health/stamina/food/water bar.
23) Expand Drag your short sword to your torso/arms/right hand, or right click on the sword and choose '''Equip'''.
3) Drag your short sword to your right hand this extends the tree, showing there is more to your right hand than just your hand - you now have a sword in it. 4) Drag your shield to your left arm you will now have two entries in , or right click on the tree under your left arm - your shield (now equipped) sword and your (open) left handchoose '''Equip'''.
Now that your weapon and shield are equipped, you can enter combat. [[fighting]] covers this rather well. This also points up the difference between equipping and activating (see "Activate a tool" further down)
== Running for Cover ==