Max Block/No Block

[chessman4991]

Every single guide I've read advise either max block or no block. Why is this? I can understand that chars like barbs and melee pallys would want max block, but what about sorcs or necros? I've seen people argue about max block or not, but nobody ever suggests like 40% block. I'm struggling to find a reason why.

[Killer_sss]

Every single guide I've read advise either max block or no block. Why is this? I can understand that chars like barbs and melee pallys would want max block, but what about sorcs or necros? I've seen people argue about max block or not, but nobody ever suggests like 40% block. I'm struggling to find a reason why.

the reason is no block means the char has to do all the work.(dodging ect.)
this alows for surplus points. if you choose max block you will lose the points but you wont have to worry about dodging as much. 40% block does blocking but really offers no support you will still need to dodge most of the stuff. in other words if your going to waste points into dex(blocking) don't do it
half-@$$ed. :xsmile4:

[Sokar Rostau]

For a Tankazon, any zon that uses a melee weapon, except a dagger or a javelin, the block rate is the slowest in the game. Some people call this a bug, I call it a peculiarity of the build. In this situation the best solution is mid-level block.

[jiansonz]

Every single guide I've read advise either max block or no block. Why is this? I can understand that chars like barbs and melee pallys would want max block, but what about sorcs or necros? I've seen people argue about max block or not, but nobody ever suggests like 40% block. I'm struggling to find a reason why.

I have asked myself exactly the same thing! I play HC untwinked for the most part. Even with a very good blocking shield, (like a 'Rhyme' Bone Shield) the investment you need to make (i.e. take points that could have been put into Vitality) to maintain max block is FAR too high for my taste (unless I happen to play a Paladin). I usually go with about 40% or 50%.

[Elu's Might]

I usually skip block with most casters (excluding Hammerdins).

This is because some of the highest damaging things in the game are spells, even 75 % Resistance does not stop the high-damage elemental spells (Diablo and Clones Pink Lightning Bolt Of Death and Souls' lightnings)

Also, due to something, I usually don't notice the effect of having 75 % block. I seem to never block any attack, but that is just me.

[Black_Rose]

I used to make a vita sorc, but the moment I've tried a maxblock sorceress, I'm never going back to vitality. I have not that much less life. I've got 1050 and my vita friend has 1300. I can tank duriel, duriel kills my friend. I can tank mephisto, he has trouble. I can tank ancients with a bit of luck, he doesn't even go there with a sorc on hell. Etc, etc, etc. Of course, elemental attacks hurt a bit, but that's just the bit I'm prepared to take on my hitpoints. And yes, a merc can tank duriel and everything else, but I like to do everything the smooth way.

If it comes to necros, I'd suggest no block though, they have bone armor and their skellies do the meatshield job. For hammerdins, block is almost mandatory, however they need very little dex to achieve it with holy shield.

[sangfagel]

Every single guide I've read advise either max block or no block. Why is this? I can understand that chars like barbs and melee pallys would want max block, but what about sorcs or necros? I've seen people argue about max block or not, but nobody ever suggests like 40% block. I'm struggling to find a reason why.
The answer is simple: Every char guide use to make some basic assumptions. One of them is if it´s a blocking or not blocking char. No blocking chars don´t need any block (using 2 handed weapon or 2 weapons or ES for instance). Blocking char (as a zealot) is best if he/she has max block. 40% blocking is only 13% when running = preatty nothing.
If we are talking a sorc... In my builds 75% chance to block is just a standard and I pump most s-points in dex. I would never call my builds "vita sorc" but I consider over 1k hp as a standard as well. Some people still belive that a sorc must be a paper canon unable to exist without protection of a powerfull merc. It´s just not true. They are not only extreme killers - they can be even best survivers.

[Killer_sss]

I used to make a vita sorc, but the moment I've tried a maxblock sorceress, I'm never going back to vitality. I have not that much less life. I've got 1050 and my vita friend has 1300. I can tank duriel, duriel kills my friend. I can tank mephisto, he has trouble. I can tank ancients with a bit of luck, he doesn't even go there with a sorc on hell. Etc, etc, etc. Of course, elemental attacks hurt a bit, but that's just the bit I'm prepared to take on my hitpoints. And yes, a merc can tank duriel and everything else, but I like to do everything the smooth way.

If it comes to necros, I'd suggest no block though, they have bone armor and their skellies do the meatshield job. For hammerdins, block is almost mandatory, however they need very little dex to achieve it with holy shield.

while ill agree with the no block if you can afford bone armor i disagree with the meat shield skeliton part. you must have block if you don't have enigma or bone armor because you are leading your skelitons into battle they fallow you not lead the way. so if you get hit by a superunique and his minions you could easily die without block. the thing with a necro is he gets much more of a benifit from block than 2 life points for every point spent into vitality.