From what I been reading about 1.6 and all that is that block casting is basicly getting a giant buff. Been reading on the forums about post about 1.6 PTS and you can block most to near all skills now including ultimates and block magical AoE spells. On top of with the new armor system the heavy armor plus shield mean you will be literaly a walking siege ram cause a passive skill for heavy armor is reduce stamina cost when blocking per heavy armor. Also shield bashing on PTS is fist of fury fast. http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/discussion/148833/bash#latest The thread about it.

Quick re-cap about new blocking from what I read. Blocking nearly all skills now, blocking AoEs and ultimates, blocking consuming almost nothing (if set up right and you know players will set it up right), and lastly shield bashing 20X in 2 seconds.

ZoS I do admit these are some nice changes to block may seem little OP but it will be OP if you allow block casting to stay in the game. Can't have the power to block the new skill changes while still able to cast them while blocking. No body will ever die.

Let's use a AvA example. If 2 players use this new system with block casting they just be running around each other spamming talons, blazing shield, crystal fragments, flame lash, bitting jabs, and so on at each other and doing nothing cause there both taking only half the damage and of course insta healing when health is low. Now with out block casting one player will have to go on the offesive and not be hiding behind block to use there skills as the other one who can't use skills but will be taking half damage thus making progression.

ZoS we know that you left block casting in on purpose to increase what awarness or surviability or something like that. But this was one of those idea that sounded better on paper.