offhand mutually exclusive with face tanking?

[malawiglenn]

I think I need to do a better job of explaining the role of shields for my current HC character who is an oppressor. I don’t use them to tank, I’m always kiting. I use them as a failsafe in case I get swarmed or I don’t avoid a boss properly.

Also this is hardcore, so dying is not an option, shields are my last defense.

I had targo, shield maiden, scarab, two topaz and the 3 jewelry augments for 25% more block each. also, with oathbreaker I had Haven skill at level 12 for more blocking. Wouldn’t that be enough to make an impact, given the role I describe above?

I think I must have confused people, because I’m asking about two things.
Theoretically about shields for face tanking should my current HC character die, I am considering one designed to face tank. And second, I am also asking questions about my current character whose shield role is much different, as I described above.

I really appreciate your insights, I’m just not doing a good job being clear about my unusual uses of things. I think the first person saw my oppressor using shields and assumed I was face tanking, when that wasn’t at all the role shields had for me.

another thought on the pet question for my vindicator, I think in theory it makes sense to think weak pet+swarms of strong enemies=pet dead in 3 seconds. But in practice, most enemies focused on me and not my pet, I killed them within seconds so they didn’t have enough time to kill it, and my word of renewal would heal him up. Also, the pet often was running around away from the enemies, under no threat at all. If it did die, I just resummoned.

This is my general impression

off-hand gives cooldown reduction, so your defensive buffs and stuff can be activated more frequntly

shield do often roll with high physical resists, which one of the most common dmg types

But shields in terms of blocking incomming damage is very overrated

[pcx]

Thanks, that’s a great way of looking at things.