Shield ally (Again)

[Tash 1]

<P><FONT color=#cccccc size=2>Shield ally.<BR></FONT><SPAN><FONT size=2><FONT color=#cccccc>I’m wondering if I’m correct in my assumptions in this.<BR></FONT></FONT></SPAN><SPAN><FONT size=2><FONT color=#cccccc>I have 60% chance to use my avoidance to shield an alley.<BR></FONT></FONT></SPAN><SPAN><FONT size=2><FONT color=#cccccc>My Avoidance is about 30%<BR></FONT></FONT></SPAN><SPAN><FONT size=2><FONT color=#cccccc>This should be like that I have 18% chance to block an attack against the MT while stone skin has 10% chance. <BR><BR></FONT></FONT></SPAN><SPAN><FONT size=2><FONT color=#cccccc>Is this correct or do I oversee anything?:smileysurprised:<BR></FONT></FONT></SPAN><SPAN><FONT size=2><FONT color=#cccccc>/Tash</FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>

[Antryg Mistrose]

My understanding:Your 30% avoidance is against a non-heroic of your level - against raid mobs (which was what I tested it in back in KoS) the block percent goes way down.Stoneskin (both templar & dirge) proc way more often, as there is no check against the mob's level/skills (especially if you add in "Luck of the Dirge"  and in its current form I'm told "Blessings" - which is probably a bug so don't count on it)Whether after the latest combat changes Shield Ally is a better line than one of the alternatives now, I ain't game to spend 20plat testing.  If the price ever comes down yes.Like many templars I like my spell criticals (somewhat), and everyone in the group likes group timer reduction, for those "whoops" moments.<div></div>

[EQAditu]

<div></div><div></div>As Antryg said, your avoidance is dependant on the mob's skill ability and level while stoneskin is not.  If you fight a mob 5 levels below you, you'll avoid more... 5 levels above you and you'll avoid less.  Up or down arrows also partially affect this.  Stoneskin will remain the same.Anyhow, my testing <a target="_blank" href="http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/eq2/board/message?board.id=13&message.id=29492#M29492">here</a> and other places to me strongly suggests that you will not be able to use Shield Ally with your full avoidance, only blocking.  So you'd have to mouse-over your avoidance stat and take 60% of your blocking percentage.  With the best shield known, that will be about 8-9%(*0.8=<b>5-6%</b>)... there are three slots that accept +1% block adornments, so you can get yourself up to 11-12% listed; 6-7% to Shield Ally.  But that's against a L70 opponent... you'll do worse against yellow and orange mob.  SoE <i>claims </i>that up/down arrows on mobs will not affect blocking like it does every other avoidance though.That said... Shield Ally isn't supposed to be as powerful as stoneskin as it's a "normal" AA.  For 6AA you can after all add another 2% to stoneskin.  Eight points in Shield Ally might be better than six points in the stoneskin enchancement, or it might not be.  It depends on your shield and how much the blocking percentage gets reduced for yellow/orange mobs.<div></div><p>Message Edited by EQAditu on <span class=date_text>01-23-2007</span> <span class=time_text>05:57 AM</span>

[Imagikka]

Aditu, you mentioned three adornment slots that can have a + to block, I see the two wrists, what am I missing?

[EQAditu]

<div></div><div></div>Well...  in beta there was one for the actual shield slot... but I admit I haven't seen one specifically on live.  Maybe they took it out.The adornment is listed <a href="http://www.eq2idb.com/item_details.php?item=LTcxNDc0MTg2Nw==" target=_blank>here</a>, but I can't find a screenshot of the actual adornment.<div></div><p>Message Edited by EQAditu on <span class=date_text>01-25-2007</span> <span class=time_text>07:52 PM</span>