Do we know which of these values applies first? I'm reasonably sure both values are active when one takes a hit to their shield, but the order could make a difference in some circumstances. Of course, this doesn't matter a smidge when it comes to physical damage against most decent shields, but it's worth knowing for use of, say, the Dark Hand.
So let's go with a hypothetical scenario, in which an attack has an AR of 200. The damage resistance of one's defense values, let's say, will reduce that damage by 20% and the shield will reduce it by 80%.
If the defense value is active before the shield damage reduction is active, that means the shield is working against 160 damage rather than 200 (200 - 20% = 200 - 40 = 160). That 160 is then reduced by 80%, to 38 damage (160 - 80% = 160 - 122 = 38). All good; if you're taking 38 damage rather than 40 damage, both one's defense and shield are active.
If we do it the other way around, we first reduce 200 by 80% to 40, and then that 40 by 20% to 32. A difference of a staggering 6 damage, but it seems the shield acting first holds an advantage.
But what about these values being set against a more powerful attack? Say, with an AR of 500?
If the defense value is active first, then 500 damage becomes 400, and then that 400 becomes 80. If the shield is active first, that 500 damage becomes 100 damage, which is then reduced to 80 damage. No difference, huh? Alright, but 500 is a weird, equalising AR value in this game anyway, so let's shoot a bit higher. Ever been hit with an attack of 700 AR in a single damage type?
Again, with the defense active first, you're taking 80% of that front-up -- that's 560 damage. But that 560 is then reduced by 80% to 118. The other way around, you first stave off 80% of that 700 to be left with 140 damage to deal with. That 140 is reduced by 28 (20% for defense) to 112 damage.
Huh, still no major difference. I suppose I'm chasing my tail here, and if you couldn't tell, this post has been a little stream-of-consciousness. All the same, it'd be interesting to know how this works and in what situations manipulating it would be useful. Perhaps the values differ more drastically with different resistances in both armour and shields? I have no idea. But understanding damage reduction would be lovely.
So let's go with a hypothetical scenario, in which an attack has an AR of 200. The damage resistance of one's defense values, let's say, will reduce that damage by 20% and the shield will reduce it by 80%.
If the defense value is active before the shield damage reduction is active, that means the shield is working against 160 damage rather than 200 (200 - 20% = 200 - 40 = 160). That 160 is then reduced by 80%, to 38 damage (160 - 80% = 160 - 122 = 38). All good; if you're taking 38 damage rather than 40 damage, both one's defense and shield are active.
If we do it the other way around, we first reduce 200 by 80% to 40, and then that 40 by 20% to 32. A difference of a staggering 6 damage, but it seems the shield acting first holds an advantage.
But what about these values being set against a more powerful attack? Say, with an AR of 500?
If the defense value is active first, then 500 damage becomes 400, and then that 400 becomes 80. If the shield is active first, that 500 damage becomes 100 damage, which is then reduced to 80 damage. No difference, huh? Alright, but 500 is a weird, equalising AR value in this game anyway, so let's shoot a bit higher. Ever been hit with an attack of 700 AR in a single damage type?
Again, with the defense active first, you're taking 80% of that front-up -- that's 560 damage. But that 560 is then reduced by 80% to 118. The other way around, you first stave off 80% of that 700 to be left with 140 damage to deal with. That 140 is reduced by 28 (20% for defense) to 112 damage.
Huh, still no major difference. I suppose I'm chasing my tail here, and if you couldn't tell, this post has been a little stream-of-consciousness. All the same, it'd be interesting to know how this works and in what situations manipulating it would be useful. Perhaps the values differ more drastically with different resistances in both armour and shields? I have no idea. But understanding damage reduction would be lovely.