Finally, some craftable shields

[Petrus]

http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?item=40670
http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?item=40668

They look pretty nice, too. The superior-quality one has slightly less block value and armor than the Sword Breaker's Bulwark, but no socket, no BV, no BR. It looks like a pretty solid sidegrade or upgrade to most of the BC shields at this point, too, save for the highest-end ones.

[Melathys]

guess that answers the question of if they'll itemize extra block value or strength to the new shields.

[Arcand]

With the new strength-to-BV conversion ratio, we wouldn't want BV on our items anyway.

[Leidus]

guess that answers the question of if they'll itemize extra block value or strength to the new shields.

I think both:

http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?item=37521

[Kelaan]

http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?item=40670
http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?item=40668

They look pretty nice, too. The superior-quality one has slightly less block value and armor than the Sword Breaker's Bulwark, but no socket, no BV, no BR. It looks like a pretty solid sidegrade or upgrade to most of the BC shields at this point, too, save for the highest-end ones.

Awesome! I'm thrilled (sort of, lol) to see that crafted gear will be able to replace anything I feel is lacking that I currently have -- and that the Saronite gear is almost an entire suit of Pretty Good tanking gear (or so it appears).

I'm curious to see how the massive amounts of +defense on Wrath gear (e.g., Saronite) competes with the def/dodge/parry/block ratings on current (e.g., badge) gear. Will they all be scaling back at the same rate (and thus, no matter what level we compare them at, the same order of better-ness will be preserved)? (I suspect so.)

The stupefying amounts or health on some of these are making me consider aiming for them, even if I bemoan the absurd cost that it'll likely entail. The new stamina gems available, when put in something like the 2.3 chest, might make it more competetive. Crap, now I need todo more gear comparisons!

[Kelaan]

So, looking at shields on wotlk.wowhead:
http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?items=4.6

It looks like the SSO shields will be outclassed (in terms of BV and stamina, and probably avoidance) by the quest reward shield in Grizzly Hills (~level 76?), which is also better than the MG shield wall. ( http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?item=39173 ) Awesome -- I don't have to farm honor for that anymore.

Also, when we compare the Saronite shield ( http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?item=40670 ) to the ZA shield ( http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?item=33326 ), they look pretty comparable. The Saronite Shield has ~900 more armor, and more avoidance/defense -- but the ZA shield can be socketed with either +18 or +20 stamina, and thus come out to similar stamina and BV.

So, at this rate, if I see a ZA shield, I'll grab it (unlikely), but for now going SSO -> bear god shield / Saronite shield looks like a good deal.