I know that sometimes the block rate vs fired arrows at someone with a shield, is almost doubled in some situations. Not talking about engaged. I was reading a prima guide ( based on old ra days ), and found this.

Also note that if the target has a shield or
are being guarded by someone with a
shield, and the one holding the shield is facing
the archer and is in combat mode
(actively swinging or not), their block rate
against arrows is doubled.

When they say actively in combat, does that mean with weapons drawn, ether fighting a player or just out and running to you, or
does it mean something else. Also is it setup this way on the server ? Just curious.

Prima Guide Source + SI Guide ( Guide is based on sometime before 1.69, as many things are out dated. )
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=KBXKQJMN

Blockrate vs anything is more than doubled on uthgard no matter what situation they're in ^^

The guide is both wrong and right, with My warrior (on nimue us live server) (I didn't have to have weapons drawn just facing the archers/s) gaurding a RM we could take out many rangers that were trying to hit my warrior or the RM.
My gaurding was almost as good as blocking for my self if the gaurded player didn't run from me I don't remember anyone getting killed by an archer while gaurded by me and I was facing the archer. (unless the gaurded player ran away)
Gaurd and block rate vs arrows on Uthgard is way too low.
Anyone that has played a shield tank or even a VW on a live server knows, archers could not hit you if you faced them.
Here even with engage active arrows still get by.
Where the guide is right is that block rate doubles block rate capped at 50 % doubles to 100% or very close to it.
Playing a sniper hunter on live I wouldn't bother shooting at a target that I know had shield spec or a VW.

Ithiggi wrote: My gaurding was almost as good as blocking for my self if the gaurded player didn't run from me I don't remember anyone getting killed by an archer while gaurded by me and I was facing the archer. (unless the gaurded player ran away)
Gaurd and block rate vs arrows on Uthgard is way too low.

well, too low? IF i shot on a shieldtank i habe a blocking against me of around 50% (and i guess thats pretty fine since i have 50+18 in bowline)

Ithiggi wrote:Here even with engage active arrows still get by.

never ever in the 6 years i am here a arrow passed my engage (as far as i had endu; no endu = no engage even with icon active)

I have played both warrior and hunter both on Uthgard and Live (50+18 live and 50+15 here in bow) both warriors with max shield spec. (also played support classes on live and Uthgard)
On live (while playing shield specced) all I had to do is face the archer/s (have blocked multiple archers) and not 1 arrow could get by blocking or gaurd, here arrows get buy if tank is facing the archer and even npc archers beat a shield tank's blocking while facing.
While gaurding a SM on Uthgard 2 nights ago the sm got hit from npc scouts more times then was blocked.
While gaurding vs a player archer this gets worse.
Like I said in previous post smart archers (on live) wouldn't bother wasting an arrow on a facing shield spec tank or VW because It would be blocked. 100%
I shoot at shield speced toons on Uthgard because I can hit them.
I have hit facing shield spec tanks with my hunter on Uthgard enough for them to run for cover and I have had to do the same while playing warrior this is broken here.
While clerics,shaman,healers,bards and druids block more then they should.
I have seen this from all sides here both defending and attacking while playing support,melee,caster and archer.
But how can any of this be proven? cerainly not from grab bags or player guides.