A few Shield Skill's question

[Celeal]

Thank to Armando's Shield data for Shield data: Size 2 vs Size 3
We know what effect of shield's size/type.

However, now my PLD finally capped level 75 and looking at merit point, I am wondering what +1 shield skill offers exactly?

I know shield skill is good for PLD, but how much should I go for? Should I replace the AF boots (+10 shield) with other gear? What if I stack up shield+ gear, like AF boots + Acheron Shield (DEF:27 Shield skill +10), and max shield merit?

Added:
Oh crap, forget about Acheron Shield... PLD cannot equip it... Orz

[Roo]

A more indepth response requires us to know what activities you're asking about. For earning the merits themselves, you could go with +str or +haste equipment because faster kills are always preferred in this day and age. For tanking HNMs you're going to always keep a +shield skill set for those times when you are out of shadows or /war.

[Armando]

The best I can tell you is that in those tests back then, Master Shield (+10 shield skill) didn't seem to have an effect compared to a normal Size 2 shield vs DC-T beetles in the 50's.

It probably has a good effect on HNMs but I doubt it has much of an effect in EXP. And for merit parties you'd want to go /NIN anyways.

[Celeal]

The best I can tell you is that in those tests back then, Master Shield (+10 shield skill) didn't seem to have an effect compared to a normal Size 2 shield vs DC-T beetles in the 50's.

It probably has a good effect on HNMs but I doubt it has much of an effect in EXP. And for merit parties you'd want to go /NIN anyways.

Would the same trend hold true for Shield skill after level 60, where A and A- skill cap differs? Or would a level 75 PLD's naturally capped shield skill (without merit or +skill gear) is enough for <insert a situation here> ^^? (since you bring up PLD/NIN, and the dependence of shield changes)

As for PLD/NIN vs PLD/WAR in TP burn parties, actually I have found a way for PLD/WAR to get the job done:

For every N number of battles, the PLD/WAR let the DD/NIN(s) take over the hate, and the PLD/WAR would take that moment to recover MP and JA's recast timer. That assumes the PLD/WAR is a hybrid-DD tank or has DD gear to swap in while the mob is facing the DD/NIN.

I had used this approaches for more than one party setup like:
healer + PLD/WAR + DDx4
or
healer + backup-healer/support + PLD/WAR + DDx3
Without any refresh from RDM/COR/BRD, but still *get the job done*. (no downtime, non stop pulling.... killing speed is limited, but chain #5 consistently)

Sorry for off-topic on my PLD/WAR thing. But since I intend to use PLD often, and I have other jobs approaching level 75, I want to make sure what to do will my shield skill merit points.

I do use PLD/NIN mostly on Besieged for now.

[Armando]

Would the same trend hold true for Shield skill after level 60, where A and A- skill cap differs? Or would a level 75 PLD's naturally capped shield skill (without merit or +skill gear) is enough for <insert a situation here> ^^? (since you bring up PLD/NIN, and the dependence of shield changes)

Sorry but I can't help, since SE is so cruel that they don't mark shield blocks in the chat log and therefore they can't be parsed. I have no clue how my shield block rate has been changing throughout the levels.

More testing is needed, which would be possible for me now that I have /RDM and Shield Torque, but I won't be coming home this weekend =/

[Farcen]

You'll find on most normal monsters and the basic gods you wont need anywhere over 300 shield skill to reach the prime range for shield blocks. On higher level NM's however (Kings etc.) you will want to stack much more than that do to their stupid high level. You also will want to stack shield gear in Utsusemi: Ichi macros.

You could stack shield skill gear for everything, but there are much diminished results after 300 skill, and you could be using the slots for much better things.

That being said, max your shield merits, and keep your Artifact Feet and Shield Torque on you at all times and you should be good.