Ability : Shield Block
http://www.wowhead.com/?spell=2565#comments
Shield Slam: The benefit from additional block value this ability gains is now subject to diminishing returns. Diminishing returns occur once block value exceeds 30 times the player's level and caps the maximum damage benefit from shield block value at 34.5 times the player's level.
“Bug” – The reason why Shield Block is “bugged” is because it is directly related to Shield Slam. The contribution cap to Shield Slam should double allowing Shield Slam to essentially do (2760x2)+1000. This helps tanks control rage, and in the case of Player versus Player, increases protection mobility and damage. Patch 3.2.0 is a direct downgrade of shield slam because of its overpowered ability to slam around 21k Pre-3.2.0. However, in 3.2.0 there is a cap to the amount of block value shield slam obtains from a warrior’s block value. Soft cap is 2760, while always the damage of shield slam will remain constant unless external modifiers are added I.E. Enrage(10% damage), Improved Disarm(10% damage), Armor Penetration(No mitigation of damage).
Proof : Shield Slams are calculated with a relatively simple formula outlined below:
(Link : http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=19110027997&sid=1)
(Base damage + Block Value) = Unmitigated Damage
The trick really comes in with the modifiers...
On your character sheet the BV is modified ALREADY by your Shield Mastery, and when you pop shield block, it doesn't add 100% of that value, rather it adds 100% of your BASE Block Value (which would explain the randomness of the numbers....) Also, 1-h Weap spec does NOT modify the damage of shield slam.
So the formula looks like this
SSD = Shield Slam Damage
IBY = Items Block Value
SM = Shield Mastery
SB = Shield Block
E = Enrage (+10%)
GO = Gag Order (+10%)
T7 = Tier 7 set bonus (+10%)
IMP = Impale
( ( SSD + ( ST/2 + IBY )*( 1+ SM + SB ) )*E*GO*T7 ) * ( 2+IMP)
the DR on BV is not known yet, so we'll have to guess, but the modifier for BBV after SM and SB is 2.3, so we'll just assume we are running about 5000 BV when that is up including Diminishing Returns. sounds fair.
so unmitigated base damage is about 6000. (1000+5000 = 6000)
Multiply that by 1.331 for the three buffs approximates 7986 damage
if you CRIT we are looking at 2.2x damage (with impale)
7986*2.2 = 17569 damage unmitigated crit
That's a truckload!, in PvP, even with resilience, you if gem for ArP and sit in battle stance for the extra 10% ArP, you are looking at 25%ish ArP, and you should have 5 sunders up. On a hard target with 20k armor, your sunders will reduce that to 16k, and then your ArP will drop that to 12k. thats a mere 44% mitigation, well put in 10% resil, (subtract 1600 dmg.. cause it lowers crit bonus dmg), and we are looking at a hopping 8600 damage hit. With grim toll up, you are looking at some 65% ArP, putting their armor to a whipping 5600, and their mitigation to 27%ish, putting your crit at 11600 damage or so. That's pretty insane, especially for a one-handed hit.
On softer targets this damage climbs more and more and more.
Explanation : Simply that the corresponding information states that the ability Shield Block doubles your BLOCK Value contribution cap for Shield Slam damage as well (2760*2) +1000 is the key base formula being that 2760 is BV cap, doubled, increased by 1000 for base Shield slam damage. Patch 3.2.0 is known as a patch where Protection warriors are highly mobile and deadly in arenas. For example most of the Relentless Gladiator’s from retail are Protection Warriors with high armor penetration. There are several videos proving that 5 DIGIT shield slam damages are indeed possible; let it be on clothies or plate wearer’s. I already do around 8.8k Shield slams on a dummy with 100% armor penetration; however when I use the ability shield block it does not double my contribution cap.
Famous Swifty Video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xuJmsQv6nM
17737 Unmitigated damage in the first opening 20 seconds which if we incorporate into the formula with his buffs fighting a “armorless” character(7986*2.2 = 17569 damage unmitigated crit) then we have roughly around the same calculations(Numbers are relatively close only RNG makes it slightly off by 100-200) Noticeable buffs are his SHIELD block ability which enables him to do those 5 digit shield slam crits. Therefore the formula which was taken from NA live servers is correct and therefore SHIELD BLOCK does INDEED double contribution cap for shield slam. This is a huge impact in Player versus Player because that 10 seconds of burst allows Protection warriors to be considered deadly in the arena. However this damage is only obtainable with certain buffs at the same time and with currently high resilience with mages, rogues, and other classes; the damage will be significantly lower than that "17k" but will be in the 5digit zones. Yet also take note that Shield slam has an CD of 6 Seconds while GCD's are another 1 seconds, crit chances with protection gear(BV Gear) is very low around 15%~22%, so therefore the chances of critting a shield slam, getting grim toll, and having shield slam up at the same time is very unlikely; hence the randomness and overall fairness of "Protection Burst Rotation." So in no way is "Protection OP."