As of now blocking is useless. There is no reason to block, yeah it takes off some damage but honestly you're doing it wrong if you're taking damage anyways, blocking only makes you take more damage than you would if you'd move around the mob and attack at the right times and it also slows you down to a crawl, making it one of the most useless features in the game. The only thing that should be damaging you is skeleton arrows, which brings me to my suggestion.
My suggestion?
Change it so that when you're blocking you won't be knocked back from attacks. This is not only realistic but will not make blocking OP. Strafing around a skeleton in 1.3.1 isn't very effective due to the arrow speed and the knockback, changing this mechanic can make blocking a lot more useful and thus will be a feature that actually has a purpose in the game.
To be honest I think this small change will make the block feature 10x more useful, and if you want to make it even more useful (I'm fine with just not being knockbacked, this is for people who might want more), make it so melee attackers who hit you while you are blocking are knocked back. This will give you some breathing space and I can definitely see it also improving PVP instead of just clicking on your enemy as fast as possible.
As of now blocking is useless. There is no reason to block, yeah it takes off some damage but honestly you're doing it wrong if you're taking damage anyways, blocking only makes you take more damage than you would if you'd move around the mob and attack at the right times and it also slows you down to a crawl, making it one of the most useless features in the game. The only thing that should be damaging you is skeleton arrows, which brings me to my suggestion.
You're kidding, right?
Blocking is one of the most useful and OP features in the game.
Ever had three creepers surround you and you had no chance of escaping or fighting your way out?
Since creepers now do a hell of a lot of damage more in 1.3, your only chance of survival is to block, which will absorb about 60% of the damage. ( IDK the exact number, but the wiki is your friend)
Also, blocking helps a lot when you're under attack by skeletons or other players equipped with bow&arrow.
Your argument about how useless blocking is is totally redundant, and the "blocking slows you down to a crawl" is just stupid, as you won't really be trying to outrun monsters while blocking; you'd only be blocking for just a couple of seconds when that creeper blows up in your face or a skeleton shoots an arrow at you. The rest of the time you would be happily sprinting away.
But I like your idea on the no-knockback while blocking and such, and it should be added to the game.
I'm not criticizing on your idea; I'm criticizing on your argument.
My suggestion?
Change it so that when you're blocking you won't be knocked back from attacks. This is not only realistic but will not make blocking OP. Strafing around a skeleton in 1.3.1 isn't very effective due to the arrow speed and the knockback, changing this mechanic can make blocking a lot more useful and thus will be a feature that actually has a purpose in the game.
To be honest I think this small change will make the block feature 10x more useful, and if you want to make it even more useful (I'm fine with just not being knockbacked, this is for people who might want more), make it so melee attackers who hit you while you are blocking are knocked back. This will give you some breathing space and I can definitely see it also improving PVP instead of just clicking on your enemy as fast as possible.
-2 cents
But blocking with a sword is only useless because of how very little space they can actually protect.
http://www.minecraftforum.net/topic/1401777-earn-a-good-or-evil-reputation-with-the-villagers/
Click here if you support more interaction with the Villagers!
But don't you agree that adding a no-knockback effect along with the damage reduction would make the block more useful but not too OP?
-Skarl
Arrows would reflect when blocking... But if a skeletons got you from an area that was not being blocked, it would damage you. Same with a zombie.
Yes, I would love a blocking game mechanic that actually works consistently.
http://www.minecraftforum.net/topic/1401777-earn-a-good-or-evil-reputation-with-the-villagers/
Click here if you support more interaction with the Villagers!
You're kidding, right?
Blocking is one of the most useful and OP features in the game.
Ever had three creepers surround you and you had no chance of escaping or fighting your way out?
Since creepers now do a hell of a lot of damage more in 1.3, your only chance of survival is to block, which will absorb about 60% of the damage. ( IDK the exact number, but the wiki is your friend)
Also, blocking helps a lot when you're under attack by skeletons or other players equipped with bow&arrow.
Your argument about how useless blocking is is totally redundant, and the "blocking slows you down to a crawl" is just stupid, as you won't really be trying to outrun monsters while blocking; you'd only be blocking for just a couple of seconds when that creeper blows up in your face or a skeleton shoots an arrow at you. The rest of the time you would be happily sprinting away.
But I like your idea on the no-knockback while blocking and such, and it should be added to the game.
I'm not criticizing on your idea; I'm criticizing on your argument.