Hey guys,
So just 2 quick disclaimers before I get to the point; if you're going to come to this thread to simply say 'mDKs need to stop QQing' or anything that revolves around that idea, simply don't bother and don't waste your time. You aren't helping anyone and just wasting your own time. With that said, if you've got constructive critism or ideas that diverge or converge from mine, I'd be thankful if you could present us with it. Secondly, yes,
I have tested the changes in PTS. So with that out of the way.
There were 2 main changes addressing mDKs this PTS:
Dragonknight
- Ardent Flame
- Flame Lash (Lava Whip morph): The Power Lash attack from this morph now has a 3 second cooldown.
Dragonknight
- Ardent Flame
- Flame Lash (Lava Whip morph): Fixed an issue where the Power Lash attack from this morph could not be dodged.
As far as the former point goes:
From PTS testing, implementing this 3s cooldown didn't have a considerable effect on 1v1 scenarios, as the time it takes to normally proc powerlash is somewhere around that 3s mark. However, this presents mDKs with a new issue, which is proccing Flame Lash on openworld opponents. Switching targets mid fight is an important aspect of PvP and not being able to set target B offbalance when needed might prove to be a real obstacle to mDKs overall performance in Open World scenarios. With that said, I think an intuitive solution would be that the 3s cooldown to proc flame lash should be applied on specific targets instead of appling it directly to the casted skill.
As the latter point goes:
So this is where the real issue begins, at least in my opinion. Magicka DKs have one of the most mechanically, well-thought, interesting general playstyles. Where everything synchronized and revolved around the ability of the class to hold it's ground - and even with a lack of mobility - had the tools to be effective through CCs and overall control on the battlefield. Powerlash has been undodgeable for that past 2 years if I recal correctly, and it fit mDKs fluidity and playstyle like a tailored suit.
With that idea in mind, rooting instinctively provokes a rolldodge reaction, and due to how the timing on powerlash procced, it'd hit players that mindlessly rolldodges away from the mDKs grasp - requiring thought process behind fighting a DK and making the game more interestingly rich. Best part of it, is that this mechanic had counterplay and is commonly applied by patient players; which is normally blocking while rooted and roll dodging after successfully blocking the incoming powerlash. This sole mechanic enriched the game making your decisions reflect on the final outcome of the fight and made powerlash resonate with the general playstyle of the class.
Now, as far as PTS testing went: I've dueled a ton. Powerlash simply misses
ALL THE TIME, worst part is that if powerlash misses, the skill is put on a 3s cooldown. As a consequence, the main form of DPS is rendered useless against a lot of player. Either way, I tried being optimisitc about that, thinking to myself 'well, I can just hold the powerlash just like mag blades hold to their assassins will, and let it go after the person is done with the dodge'. Oh, was I wrong... When my opponents were rolldodging they commonly rolldodged away from the range of the powerlash and combining that with dks low mobility, the powerlash was wasted. Either way, comparing assassins' will to powerlash is not a fair comparison: powerlash doesn't hit half as hard as an assassins will, powerlash is supposed to offer a sustained form of damage and healing and not a huge burst attack anyways so both skills are used diffrently...
All of this combined ruined the fluidity and the admiration I had for mDKs mechanics. You rooting people (basically telling them to rolldodge) just to have a proc that comes from that very same root dodged. The combination of the root and the undodgeable proc that came after that enriched mDKs playstyle, made it fit, made it fluid. Please understand I'm not here asking for mDKs buffs, I said it before and I'll say it again, mDKs are an exceptional class. We just aren't in a position where we can take nerfs like this. ZOS, please think about the undodgeable lash more thoroughly, there are better solutions for the offbalance change and I bet that skilled and proficient mDKs will open a whole new fan of options to refine this class in this (and other threads).
Thank you for taking your time to read this whoever made it this far. I'm interested in knowing what most of you think.
Kind regards,
Quantum
EDIT: My friend proposed an interesting solution. If whip is supposed to remain undodgeable, increasing its range might help balance this change further. Even if people roll dodge, you can hold your whip and let it go when they're done, as most of the time they won't create enough distance to simply disengage the 100% of the time
