So what's up with shields?

There has been a back and forth discussion for a while now about when the stats of a shield actually come into play.

Some say the stats only work if the shield is up.
Some say that stats only work if the shield is up and you aren't fighting/casting.
Some say that stats don't work at all with shields so they are pointless, aside from for a defense buff on GLA (Twisted logic...)

So does ANYONE know the correct answer for this? People are trying to figure out the best shield to use for mages...

thats seems a bit weird........ So you equip a shield and the stats only work if you have it in the block position. Is it a bug? Because that kinda sounds silly.

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Originally Posted by Kilta_Firelotus

thats seems a bit weird........ So you equip a shield and the stats only work if you have it in the block position. Is it a bug? Because that kinda sounds silly.

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Why is that weird? It makes perfect sense to only gets the stats when you use it.

If you notice, when you equip a shield, you don't get any stats on your attributes screen unlike the other equipment

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Originally Posted by Kilta_Firelotus

thats seems a bit weird........ So you equip a shield and the stats only work if you have it in the block position. Is it a bug? Because that kinda sounds silly.

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while it IS weird, most people seem to think that it only works when you block on attack...but not when you attack (even with your shield up) which would make the attack rating, magic accuracy rating and magic potency rating completely useless...this is the extremely confusing part

Make guard a proc and have the stats apply when it procs.

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Originally Posted by Xeno

Make guard a proc and have the stats apply when it procs.

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Sorry, we are talking about the system that is currently in place...and even with your idea, it wouldn't make much sense to have offensive stats on a weapon where the stats only work on a blocked attack ><

This is as dumb as Gear Swapping. If you equip a shield it should give you the stats all the time no matter what you do with it.

seeing as you don't block attacks unless you have the shield up, it makes perfect sense for stats to not apply unless it's activated.

Attack stacks also make sense IF they are used to calculate things like a shield bash, etc. Also, auto proc on block is eh. I like active blocking. I like anything that makes your job active. I for one love that as a LNC I can do better than the next guy because I know how to off-tank and use that to control where the mobs stand so i can line them up and hit them both at once. If I were to play a GLA (which, admittedly I don't) I would prefer to have to make the choice between attacking to get more hate, or blocking to stay alive longer. Choices like that and whether or not you make them properly are what differentiate between good players and great players. A good play gets his shield up, waits for an attack, puts his shield down. A great player gets his shield up in the last split second before the attack, and gets it down just as quickly after the attack.

with Shield of the Savage, we know that its +12 Max HP really work

I'll tell you streight up whats what!

Stats (except for attack and any extra stats aside from the basics) only work while the shield is up. You can block while casting. You can block with your back turned.

Def = Def added while shileds up vs NORMAL MELEE ATTACKS
Attack = Damage done with shield bash/II
Blocking = Blocking rate (in %)
Weild rate = Time you will keep your shield up (in seconds)

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Originally Posted by Reika

I'll tell you streight up whats what!

Stats (except for attack and any extra stats aside from the basics) only work while the shield is up. You can block while casting. You can block with your back turned.

Def = Def added while shileds up vs NORMAL MELEE ATTACKS
Attack = Damage done with shield bash/II
Blocking = Blocking rate (in %)
Weild rate = Time you will keep your shield up (in seconds)

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In other words... it makes perfect sense. ^^

Seems like this system is just another way of having "control" over your char.
It seems more entertaining knowing you have the option to throw your shield up at the moments you need them, rather than having the game do it for you.
because of that, the stats SHOULD only apply when you use the shield.

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Originally Posted by origamikitsune

Attack stacks also make sense IF they are used to calculate things like a shield bash, etc. Also, auto proc on block is eh. I like active blocking. I like anything that makes your job active. I for one love that as a LNC I can do better than the next guy because I know how to off-tank and use that to control where the mobs stand so i can line them up and hit them both at once. If I were to play a GLA (which, admittedly I don't) I would prefer to have to make the choice between attacking to get more hate, or blocking to stay alive longer. Choices like that and whether or not you make them properly are what differentiate between good players and great players. A good play gets his shield up, waits for an attack, puts his shield down. A great player gets his shield up in the last split second before the attack, and gets it down just as quickly after the attack.

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You can't put your shield down..once it's up, it's up until your "arm falls" so most of what you said is irrelevant.

Also, @ Evangela: I'm talking about the "passive" stats...the ones that don't show up in the little description box. When do THOSE activate?

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Originally Posted by SydeBeheln

Seems like this system is just another way of having "control" over your char.
It seems more entertaining knowing you have the option to throw your shield up at the moments you need them, rather than having the game do it for you.
because of that, the stats SHOULD only apply when you use the shield.

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The question here, though, is do stats work during casting/attacking with your shield up? Some say they do, most say they don't. Testing results vary...

Passive stats as in.....?

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Originally Posted by Reika

Passive stats as in.....?

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the stats on the item itself sucks as Attack, Defense, Magic Accuracy, Magic Potency. When do these stats actually take effect? And if they take effect with the shield raised, like some claim they do, do they work during an attack/cast?

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Originally Posted by Dubont

Sorry, we are talking about the system that is currently in place...and even with your idea, it wouldn't make much sense to have offensive stats on a weapon where the stats only work on a blocked attack ><

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I thought the offensive stats were for shield bash and etc.

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Originally Posted by Xeno

I thought the offensive stats were for shield bash and etc.

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making with Attack, but what about the magic stats? O.o

Well like i said above, Only Def, Blocking, and wield rate require your shield to be up to activate. everything else is active just by holding it.

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Originally Posted by Reika

Well like i said above, Only Def, Blocking, and wield rate require your shield to be up to activate. everything else is active just by holding it.

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Are we sure on this? (Also, are we talking about the same stats?) I just don't want to rub it in someone's face, then later look like a giant ass when I'm wrong.

Just for clarification, on something like...Vintage Square Shield, I'm not talking about the active Magic Accuracy +3 that's on it. I'm talking about the other stats:
Defense 24
Accuracy 114
Critical Hit Rate 114
Wield Rate 13
Magic Accuracy 91
Blocking 85
Attack Power 15
Magic Potency 23

I don't think testing can be done on this right now because it's been determined that stats have very very little impact on anything right now. The new combat system is suppose to fix this, I think.

I think shields hidden stats have no purpose in life....

they obviously do SOMETHING because of block rates, but there is confusion as to when the other stats actually work..