Shield AC Discussion ... devolves into tanking argument

[Galelor]

[Tekno]

<< Firm believer in AC!!

There are alot of situations in which it has been handy .... ranging from AE slows on multi Anguish trash pulls to Rampage Tanking the South side in the Jelvan event (managed to keep myself alive on rampage from 65% without dieing) ...

I also use it in groups to be main tank for MPG XP grinds and DoN missions (when no plate tanks are online, which can be often when ya play off-peak, RS can be a bit hairy tanking full time) ...

As already stated, it depends alot on play style ... I have no fear of pulling with slow in RS or Slowing mobs on incoming ... knowing I will live thru a beating if I get a resist ...

Tek

[Grizlor]

[Tearr]

[Brohg]

[Samanna]

For those that don't follow this stuff, Hurk (a cleric) actually posted some useful information and charts on the eqlive boards at http://eqforums.station.sony.com/eq/boa ... .id=128241

The basics are that he parsed against himself on test with the same (within 2) AC against a certain mob.

With all gear-based (no spell or shield) AC, 16.42% of hits were for min and 14.73% for max.

With gear- and spell-based (no shield) AC, 16.49% of hits were for min and 14% for max.

With the same AC coming from gear, spells AND shield, 19.49% of hits were for min and 11.25% for max.

So, even with the same AC, having some of it from shield is a plus, as shield AC effictively raises the softcap, in that it is not mitigated like the rest (gear, spells) are. This confirms what has been explained here. Unfortunately, it seems to demonstrate that buff AC is NOT overcap.

[Tanguril]

[Scowls]

[Tanguril]

[Ubundi]

Is there a list of what the softcaps are by class anywhere, or even an educated guess. I also have a reasonably well equipped BL who duel weilds but the ac question is just as important.

[Samanna]

[Ubundi]

[Ubundi]

[Samanna]

[Jind]

[Retron]

[Ubundi]

[Trevalen]

[Samanna]

[Scowls]

[Ubundi]

[Samanna]

Done.

[horse896]

[Zethrir]

[Fandele Longtooth]

[Samanna]

[Samanna]

[Zethrir]

[Brohg]

[Vellinious]

[Brohg]

It's definately way below 1800. 1800 may have been the point of diminishing returns for that particular parse mob, related to it's atk; that wouldn't surprise me.

As for the actual number, the last definitive number is the cap at 0aa. That softcap is known for sure because it = the old hardcap that existed through the end of Velious. The monk softcap without AA is 120 worn AC; that translates to roughly 970 displayed AC, iirc. Priest AC I don't recall from items, but was about 1100 displayed. Monks still outtanked the world, of course, based on Block skill & such, but those were the AC numbers. Even with 77aa, a softcap increase of that magnitude (1100ish to 1800) is pretty clearly unreasonable.

[Jaak]

[Jaraman]

[Ughbash]

[nameless.Cocodrilo]

West wing of Ashengate: very easy camp, very very very rare aug.

[Giac]

[Samanna]

[Unmei]

[Jaraman]

[Kilgaroz]

Another 25 AC aug that can go on a shield, has resists too, . It's a random drop in Valdholme. I've seen two drop there, I'd say the drop rate is about the same as the 60/60/60 aug from the Nest. On another topic, I don't know how the new Shield Block AAs work exactly, but would having more AC on the shield make in conjunction with the new AAs make higher AC shields more valuable? I know a warrior in my guild claims that 100 AC on a shield makes these AA noticeably more valuable for a tank.