Shadowknight Idea: Replace Pet with Self-Cast Damage Shield

jdbertsch

I know there are likely lots of ideas being thrown around regarding the shadowknight, especially considering the lack of info re: the class rework. I have confidence the DEVs understand their game, and will adjust skills appropriately.

One of the biggest changes will be the loss of the pet, which will come at the cost of DPS as well as a defensive boots from sacrifice minion.

Solution: What is they gave SHD a damage shield that provided two things -1. slight increase in damage mitigation (defer to the devs) that compensates for the loss of sacrifice minion; and 2. the DS reflects a percentage of the damage back at the attacker which compensates for the pet dps loss.

two birds one stone - and easily adjustable by the devs for tuning purposes.

Welcome thoughts and discussion.

jdbertsch

Can give up Weapon Shield, as well as some of the shield versatility/abilities of the tanks.

Mesh

Never felt like the undead pet or Sacrifice Minion was a good fit for Shadow Knight but they are definitely strong and should be compensated for when the pet goes away.

A damage shield would be a nice addition but I really don't like flat absorb shields on tanks. We've seen how that played out on Inquisitor. Costs too much mana, gets chewed through in seconds and then leaves you without any consistent mitigation.

I feel like the lost DPS and durability can be replaced via the new monster hunter abilities.

I'd also like to see some mechanics that encourage 2H tanking.

For example:

Riposte (Passive): Whenever you parry an attack, you also instantly counterattack with your primary weapon.
Pommel Strike (Slam Replacement): Strike your target with your weapons hilt, dealing X% Weapon Damage plus X (L1) to X (L60) Physical Damage, and increasing your Threat by X (L1) to X (L60). Additionally, you are guaranteed to parry the next attack within 10s.

Pommel Strike would guarantee at least one parry every 10s which would be a little bit of extra mitigation, which in turn would guarantee a riposte, since Shadow Knight is supposed to be the most damage focused tank.

Velthorian

replacing generic, all purpose damage with something that requires you to get hit is a bad compromise. What if your not the MT in a group? it's useless, what if your fear kiting? it's useless. It can be "part of the solution" but not the "entire" solution.

Reith

I'm fine with not having the pet for more power

Mesh

Velthorian
I meant in addition to the new monster hunter mechanics, which I guess will also add some extra DPS, utility, durability, etc.

All of the other tanks received some type of shield skills (interrupts, absorbs, etc). I'd like to see some similar mechanics designed to benefit 2H tanking that offset the loss of extra AC and block from using a shield and the DPS loss of not being able to dual wield.

Reith
Me too. As long as that DPS and the durability from Sacrifice Minion is made up elsewhere in the kit.

I would also hope that whatever mechanic replaces the pets DPS doesn't cost mana because mana sustain is already a problem for all Knight classes.

Velthorian

Mesh I agree with this, in other games it was handled by Knight specific 2H weapons, ie pal/sk only. That typically had some decent AC on the sword. (like half what a shield would have).

Mesh

Velthorian
I'd prefer to avoid adding specific weapons for one class. Would add a bunch of junk other classes don't want and make it harder for Shadow Knights having to find a specific type of weapon rather than being able to use any 2H with good stats.

Some type of increased parry/dodge mechanic to offset the loss of block would be fine. I still think a Riposte system would be a good fit.

Guess the rework is probably almost finished so it's probably too late to start making suggestions at this point anyway.

Velthorian

Mesh I like riposte, alot, it has a history of abuse however, so the dev's are probably gun shy. Shadow knights in EQ once upon a time could pull massive swarms of mobs like 10+ and just riposte them down. Effectively turning the skill into AE damage. Not saying there is not a solution to that problem, just saying why riposte is (likely) not in the game. Riposte did not start that way, it was AA abilities that eventually pushed the skill to far.