Post by malvarironhide on May 26, 2006 16:51:13 GMT -5
I had always thought Shield block was good for DR but Samera the Dev posted this explanation of how DR stacks when shield Blocking:
[Start Quote]
Since there's some confusion about blocking DR:
When blocking, you get the following sources of DR:
1) a sliding scale for being smart enough to block; with shield in hand it's (your BAB/2)+2, so a 10th level fighter is getting 7 points, while a 1st level with nothing in his left hand is getting +1.
2) the amount for the shield type; 1 for buckler/light, 2 for heavy, 4 for tower
3) the enhancement bonus on the shield; 1 DR for every +
4) +3 for shield mastery
5) +3 for improved shield mastery
All of this layers on top of other DR you might have (the attack first hits your shield, and then hits your axeblock armor or barbarian DR or warforged DR or whatever). It's possible I'm missing some other sources of blocking DR, but this should be the normal set.
So a level 10 fighter with a tower shield +5 and both feats is getting 22DR; add in a few more from other sources and you can indeed have some fairly hefty enemies bouncing off of your shield.
The shield mastery and improved shield mastery bonuses seem small (+3 versus the +9 you're getting from a tower shield +5), but they're often going to be the difference between someone hurting you a bit with each blow and being completely ineffective -- if a monster hits you for around 28 points of damage, then 22DR with the feats means you're taking 6 points of damage per hit, while you'd be taking 12 points of damage per hit without the feat and thus dying twice as fast. If they're only averaging around 20 per hit, then that 22 DR makes you invulnerable unless they crit or roll high on damage, while a 16 would leave them still nibbling you a bit on every hit. Of course, if someone hits you for 100 points at a time, you're toast either way...
Module 2 is going to have some extra information in the combat chat window, including how much damage got absorbed by your DR, which should help make this easier to see.
[End Quote]
***When the Dev is speaking of "add in a few more sources" it is a bit misleading. Samera further clarified to that if you had adamantine armor or shield , that was "other sources". However, you would only get the benefti of either the armor of the shield, not both. Samera also stated that armor/shield DR did not stack with WF armor DR or with barabrian class DR. Thus, it would have have been more accurate to state that it is possible to add in DR from one additional source.
***In addition dwarves with shield mastery can have another 6 DR for Shield Mastery 3 enhancement. (Numbers Confrimed by dev). Thus, a 10th level dwarf Figher using Adamantine Armor, +5 tower shield, Shiled Mastery and Improved Shield Mastery feats, and the dawrven shield mastery 3 enhancment would have a grand Total of 31/- DR when actively blocking - now that's some good DR.
Even MY WF, If I used a +5 Tower shield would Have DR 16/- and then another DR 7/admantium. Defintely a new priority item for yours truly.
***AS of 5/30 have clarified post based on additional information from the Devs.
[Start Quote]
Since there's some confusion about blocking DR:
When blocking, you get the following sources of DR:
1) a sliding scale for being smart enough to block; with shield in hand it's (your BAB/2)+2, so a 10th level fighter is getting 7 points, while a 1st level with nothing in his left hand is getting +1.
2) the amount for the shield type; 1 for buckler/light, 2 for heavy, 4 for tower
3) the enhancement bonus on the shield; 1 DR for every +
4) +3 for shield mastery
5) +3 for improved shield mastery
All of this layers on top of other DR you might have (the attack first hits your shield, and then hits your axeblock armor or barbarian DR or warforged DR or whatever). It's possible I'm missing some other sources of blocking DR, but this should be the normal set.
So a level 10 fighter with a tower shield +5 and both feats is getting 22DR; add in a few more from other sources and you can indeed have some fairly hefty enemies bouncing off of your shield.
The shield mastery and improved shield mastery bonuses seem small (+3 versus the +9 you're getting from a tower shield +5), but they're often going to be the difference between someone hurting you a bit with each blow and being completely ineffective -- if a monster hits you for around 28 points of damage, then 22DR with the feats means you're taking 6 points of damage per hit, while you'd be taking 12 points of damage per hit without the feat and thus dying twice as fast. If they're only averaging around 20 per hit, then that 22 DR makes you invulnerable unless they crit or roll high on damage, while a 16 would leave them still nibbling you a bit on every hit. Of course, if someone hits you for 100 points at a time, you're toast either way...
Module 2 is going to have some extra information in the combat chat window, including how much damage got absorbed by your DR, which should help make this easier to see.
[End Quote]
***When the Dev is speaking of "add in a few more sources" it is a bit misleading. Samera further clarified to that if you had adamantine armor or shield , that was "other sources". However, you would only get the benefti of either the armor of the shield, not both. Samera also stated that armor/shield DR did not stack with WF armor DR or with barabrian class DR. Thus, it would have have been more accurate to state that it is possible to add in DR from one additional source.
***In addition dwarves with shield mastery can have another 6 DR for Shield Mastery 3 enhancement. (Numbers Confrimed by dev). Thus, a 10th level dwarf Figher using Adamantine Armor, +5 tower shield, Shiled Mastery and Improved Shield Mastery feats, and the dawrven shield mastery 3 enhancment would have a grand Total of 31/- DR when actively blocking - now that's some good DR.
Even MY WF, If I used a +5 Tower shield would Have DR 16/- and then another DR 7/admantium. Defintely a new priority item for yours truly.
***AS of 5/30 have clarified post based on additional information from the Devs.
