Standardize knockdowns between ranged and melee dps classes.

[cemen]

Identification of Issue
4 and 5 second knockdowns were the subject of much scrutiny during live which lead to changes that might tip the balance of power in RoR's iteration of the game. If memory serves, IB's cave-in was the first culprit and was nerfed from a full 5 seconds at max grudge to 4 seconds, and all melee dps knockdowns were standardized to be 2 or 3 seconds in duration from varying amounts beforehand (typically, the "weaker" the class appeared to untrained eyes on paper, the longer a knockdown it was given, and vice versa for the "stronger" classes. Argue if you will about this point, but it is what I gleaned from listening to podcasts and etc while WAR was being developed. I understand that is a moot point to some folks.)

The conclusion was that some knock-downs (and the dreaded 9-second long staggers) were allowing for situations where a target being knocked down for 4 or 5 seconds in a pitched battle is a death sentence with zero recourse in regards to the pace of RoR's combat. Especially when taken into consideration some classes ability to knockdown->dead a player within 3 seconds. There is no counter to being immobilized for 5 seconds except for anticipating an impending knockdown and using an ability like Focused Mind or Resolute Defense.

Explanation of Issue
The pace of combat, coupled with the amount of hit points the average player has and the amount of DPS that is achievable in a short timeframe leads to a situation where a class that has a knockdown HAS to spec into that knockdown in order to achieve its maximum potential killing power, or else face situations where the odds are very much stacked against them. All classes that have a 4 or 5 second knockdown are considered weak or "gimped" if they do not spec into their knockdown which leads to a lack of diversity among specs. You can not mitigate time with any stat.

Proposal
While I have pondered many tailored proposals for specific classes, I think the best place to start would be longer-duration knockdowns, making all 4 second knockdowns into 2 second knockdowns, and all 5 second knockdowns into 3 second versions.

tl;dr: 4+ second knockdowns need the nerf bat.

Thanks for reading. I would appreciate any feedback.

[Luth]

There was already a balance patch done by mythic to generalize all knockdowns:
http://warhammeronline.wikia.com/wiki/Game_Update_1.4.7
It affected all knockdowns that are not based on specific career mechanics, also IB "cave in" which was changed from 4 seconds to 3.
DPS knockdowns were changed from 2 seconds to 3. There was no 5 second KD duration "cave in" (ability tooltip from 2008):
https://web.archive.org/web/20080916062 ... px?id=1384
I suggest to rethink your proposal, as at the moment it would only affect the black guard and parts of it make no sense/is based on outdated knowlegde or assumptions.
For instance:

making all 4 second knockdowns into 2 second knockdowns, and all 5 second knockdowns into 3 second versions.

All tanks and DDs have 3 second knockdowns atm (except BG). Why should a 4 second knockdown (that doesn't exist anymore) be changed below that duration?

[Penril]

Declining. People should learn how skills and classes work in RoR before they make a proposal.