Parry...

[ZDamned]

I was told at some point while leveling a paladin that parry doesn't work if a mob is behind you or on your flank. That said, nearly every tank I've run T4 with has let themselves become completely surrounded every chance they got. So, if the tip about parry is correct, and if the OP tanks T4 the way I've seen it done so often in the past, then I'd say no conclusion could be drawn from this test at all.
If the tip is wrong, I'd like to know cause I bust my @ss all the time trying to keep all mobs in front of me and wouldn't mind quitting that.

I tested this yesterday, and it is true, you can NOT block, OR parry anything behind you or too far to your side.
ALSO!
I do NOT tank T4 like a moron. I in fact hold everything in front of me, and did so for each of my runs.

[reckless76]

Thanks for clearing that up. Didn't mean to imply you were a moron, but I really do see this with disgusting frequency. As I main a white mage these days, it's pretty frustrating. Is it really that hard to run a couple circles to bunch up the mobs? Is it ignorance?
Whatever their problem, I'm sure your healers and AOE dealing DPS appreciate your efforts.

[Skull_Angel]

I tested this yesterday, and it is true, you can NOT block, OR parry anything behind you or too far to your side.
ALSO!
I do NOT tank T4 like a moron. I in fact hold everything in front of me, and did so for each of my runs.

It was also found that blockable enemy AE attacks/specials could be parried/blocked from any direction (back and flank included).

On the matter of enemy positioning; for myself, if it is a large group and I've already spent a decent amount of time positioning them (say 2~3 globals) I try not to worry too much when an enemy or two repositions them self too far to the side to parry, at that point I find allowing Damage classes to focus (melee positioning themselves optimally and generating hate for ranged classes to unload) is a more important contributor to overall damage mitigation.

[ZDamned]

So, after re-testing on a Striking Dummy, my Paladin is getting 115 DPS in Parry gear, and 135 DPS in my Cirt/Determination set. I personally find that to be significant enough a change to be worth looking into if Parry is not as good as we all think it is.

[Acala]

So, after re-testing on a Striking Dummy, my Paladin is getting 115 DPS in Parry gear, and 135 DPS in my Cirt/Determination set. I personally find that to be significant enough a change to be worth looking into if Parry is not as good as we all think it is.

Do you have an oath on? Also with SE in love with tank swaps that kind of dps increase is prob gona play havoc with other tanks enmity.

[ZDamned]

Do you have an oath on? Also with SE in love with tank swaps that kind of dps increase is prob gona play havoc with other tanks enmity.

I always have Shield Oath on when I am tanking. (My very vocal healers make sure to that!)

I always Oath swap when I'm not actively tanking. So far, Sword Oath is not overpowering my OT's Enmity after we swap, so in my testing it has not been detrimental, however I trust my Off Tank very greatly, Your mileage may vary. =P