Game Design: Shields and Knockback

[Tobias]

Self-explanatory. There are several skills that knock back actors, namely

- Fire Ball
- Fire Wall
- Wind Gust
- Thunderbolt (from several monsters)
- Thunderbolt (from players with the crown of tempest)

Right now, the behaviour of what happens if a character is shielded and the damage is fully absorbed is inconsistent. Some skills won't knock you back, some will knock you back anyway. I'd like to make it more consistent and predictable.

Should shields (Mana Shield, Emerald Shield) prevent knock back from skills such as wind gust, fire wall or thunderbolt if the damage is fully absorbed?

[Daymare]

i say that thunderbolting it two/three times should break the shield

[Tobias]

We're talking about whether it knocks you back, or not, tho. ;P

[Daymare]

oh, well change my vote to no.

[Akaru]

I would say no, because I see the shield as a means of absorbing incoming damage, and nothing else. :D

[Daymare]

Sorry, when i was reading this i wasn't really paying attention. I would say it should absorb damage.

[Tobias]

Voting closed with the majority voting for No.


Knockback effects from skills like thunderbolt or wind gust are no longer prevented by shields.


I will make one exception for "Fire Wall" with "Infernal Heat", where the skill specifically states:

The intense heat will make any enemy attempting to pass your Fire Wall jump back.

If you are shielded and all damage is absorbed, your character is shielded from the heat, and thus doesn't jump back.


Thanks for participating. :3