The new sheild block.

[Stufoo]

Ok, I was wrong about block rate going up. When I looked at my Canopus shield, the block rate is listed as 94, with Self-Presurvation I assumed it would raise to 99. However, the block rates listed are either totally wrong, or some monsters (not including enemies using magical attacks) have some way of ignoring or lessening your block rate. Either way, I think SE should look into the block rates and make sure they're correct.

Block rates are no longer rough percentages, as you can tell. Now it's more of a rating, so that a lower level shield is less effective as you go higher, though they do fine against an appropriately leveled monster. Before, the blocking and wield rates were more of a shield size/class label.

Strength also plays a bigger part in the calculation now. At level 50 we have about 220 STR, and against a level 55 target that leads to a 10~% block rate (self-preservation included.) If you were to stack your strength up to about 280~300 with materia, old jewelry, traits, and gear changes, you'll start seeing about 25~30% block rate against that level 55 target. Take this same high strength test to a lower level monster (say, lv.37~40) and you'll see 65~% block rates, just because you have so much STR over the target level. I assume VIT is the same way with classes than can parry still, and DEX I guess for evasion.

The scariest part is when the patch came out, GLA has 10% block rate, is unable to parry, and still does fine in non-materia-melded gear.

[Reika]

Cool numbers, but 10% block rate is stupid at level 50. If you look at a level 4 or so shield, the block rate is 8. It should be 8% not 8 minus some kind of factors. as the shield levels/types change and increase the block rate goes up. If there were ridiculous factors that lowered block rate to 10%, or whatever number it may actually be, they can all stay around 90 on level 1 to level 50 shields. There would be no reason to change from that because there would be unseen factors that would reduce it. The only explanation of why we don't block at the block rate listed is that they %*#@ed it up and need to fix it. Same goes with the inability to parry with a shield equipped. Just as bugged as the block rate of shields.

Also, I have also fought monsters much lower than my own level. Even tho there are a great deal more misses invloved, when I do take a hit, it is often not a block. If there is some crazy algorithm that causes your character to block less on monsters higher level than your own, then you should never ever fail to block a monster much lower than your own. This means that the block rate on shields is just plain wrong, or the mechanic is not functioning properly and needs to be adjusted.

[Sinnerslazer]

i wasn't using shield alot since i've decided to try to solo NMs.
in a single 5min fight with an 47 level NM (Old Six-Arms) i blocked twice!
this makes me think, that using skills like Aegis Boon useless, simply because the skill timer runs out before i was able to block.
idk, maybe on gladiator block rate is higher, but i saw my friend gladiator complaining, that after the patch he is struggling to stay alive tanking ogre in level 45 dungeon, when before the patch it was no problem to him.