Strategy and sheild Blocking

[Hamlin]

Hey guys, I'm sure someone has some hard data on this somewhere. I recently took shield mastery to boost the amount of damage I negate when I shield block. I'm a 9/1 wizard fighter, AC 29, +5 light mithril shield, +1 twilight mithril breastplate.

I'm comparing my ability to block with this character with my level 14 Barbarian. I know the comparison is a little off because barb DR stacks with shield block DR. My barb also has alot more hitpoints (335) vs my fightermage (126). My fightermage is level 9 so that may make a difference. My question is, how is the DR gained from shield blocking calculated? Or is it a flat rate? Any info would be appreciated, as shield mastery is seeming like a wasted feat at this point.

[tihocan]

See this page: http://ddo.enterwiki.net/page/DR

[Hamlin]

Thanks alot for the excellent link. That's exactly what I was looking for. So to clarify, I'll work out the formula here just to make sure I'm not missing anything.

Passive DR + [(BAB / 2) + 2 + Shield DR rating + Shield Enhancement Bonus + Shield Mastery Feats + Shield Mastery Enhancements

I have no passive DR, my BAB is 5, +5 light mithril shield has a DR of 1, and I have the Shield Mastery feat.

Assuming my BAB gets rounded down since it's an odd number, that works out to be:

0+2+2+1+5+3=13

I don't know. Using a whole feat just to block 3 extra points of damage seems like a waste to me. Mobs are dishing out alot of damage these days to take down those 400 HP fighters and barbarians...wish we got rewarded more for using the block button.

[Ghoste]

Use a divine power clicky, or tenser's transformation scroll to boost the BAB to equal your level. Use a wand of stoneskin to gain 10 more DR. Use a tower shield for a couple more points.

Have the tower shield in your backpack when you are casting. When you are ready to turtle up as the enemies come to you and take damage in your spells, pull out the tower shield and duck under it.

This strategy will also prevent you from taking stat damage from undead, getting poisoned from spiders, etc.

I'm planning on having 28 DR with my pure wiz in a short while here, and 38 DR for short, unpredictable boosts. And that's without a single shield mastery feat or enhancement.

[Hamlin]

Does the DR gained from stoneskin get calculated in the shield blocking formula? If so that's pretty nice.

I don't think I can use the a tensors scroll until I'm level 11. How long does that spell last?

I LOVE your tower shield idea. I never thought of that! Thanks for the advice, I think I'll keep one too. That'll make it much easier to survive when after I lay down my firewalls and such.

[Mad_Bombardier]

Does the DR gained from stoneskin get calculated in the shield blocking formula?Yes it does (versus non-adamantine attacks). :) The single, highest source of passive DR stacks with the active blocking DR.

Tenser's is a L6 spell. You can use scrolls at character level 9 with a caster level check.