User blog comment:Mictlantecuhtli/Breton Juggernaut (Skyrim)/@comment-4622106-20120112081844/@comment-1323105-20120112174752

Attacks that would stagger you are 75% less likely to cause stagger, the extra 25% to your attacks applies to shield bash (power bash) and even shield charge (versus enemies who are immune to the normal knockdown). You can stagger mammoths for instance with a shield charge, which normally wouldn't affect them at all.

Magicka absorption absorbs friendly spells also I thought, whereas resistance doesn't seem to block your own spell effects in the least. I take no damage from spells on a character with 100% magic resistance (through use of enchanting glitch), so are you sure it's capped at 85%? I am writing this as I play, so not at the end of the character progression. I have yet to grab Avoid Death for testing sailor's repose/regen (though I could take this if I can drop a point of alt's magic resistance) and restoration potions with the contingency heal.