It’s 2018 and block casting is still a problem, if not, then it has only gotten worst. While ESO has made a tremendous amount of improvements over the years since day one, it’s still not at a point where builds can be diverse. All the potential is available, but block casting hinders diversification and player skill in PVP.
Since day one block casting has existed, however before there was maybe one or two players in cyrodiil at a time that utilized it. Four years later, whole Zerg balls of Dks, Templars, and wardens abuse block casting shamelessly.
Going through the threads you would be convinced that the general player base was ok with block casting and you maybe correct. To be honest even I have two block casting builds a stam warden and a mag DK, and I can even say for myself that I can see the seduction to use it. On my Stam warden when I reach execution range I hold block and use healing spores to replenish my health unmolested. On my DK most of my rotation can be used while blocking allowing me to deal maximum dps on another player with ease. In both instances I have improved my characters survivability at the cost of stamina but, no skill or strategy to be used. The pros and cons are imbalanced I can’t be CC’d, I take a reduction in damage, and the buff to block cost last patch has only made it better. Even though I can be dotted I still have burst heals that make the idea laughable.
Block casting is so effective most people in cyrodiil are using it. If you are one of those players not using block cast you are either skilled and or giving other players a handicap. Playing on XBox pvp Vivec campaign you could see whole Zerg balls running around mostly made up of block casting builds. You could argue that it is just a well put together team, but in reality it goes against ZOS’s intent for more spread out and skill based pvp. In reality these are one button warriors using each other as a crutch. They are still a Zerg.
If block cast remains I honestly don’t see eso becoming balanced, so it is time for block casting to go. If anything healers should be restricted from casting heals like breath of life while blocking in order to add more strategy to group play in cyrodiil.
I am writing this because I love eso and I would like to see eso grow, but I don’t see this block casting trend keeping PVP alive for much longer and all the day one players I know still play the game for pvp content. Most if not all pver’s I knew are gone. So it would be in ZOS’s best interest to give it an honest thought. Let’s be done with block casting once and for all.