Knockback, Stil a Dirty Word?

[Bionic_Flea]

I've suggested in the past, and will again here, that we should have a new incarnate alpha or interface power that has a core side that increases knockback and a radial side that decreases it.  Add on whatever other goodies that makes it an attractive choice like +damage, proc damage, endurance, or valuable debuff.   You could even tie extra KB to extra damage!  The higher up the tree the stronger the KB and the +damage or proc damage also increases.  The radial side wouldn't get the extra damage, but would get something else like extra endurance or debuffs.

 

Then the pro KB could add more, the -KB could eliminate it, and everyone could craft one of each to switch back and forth as desired.

[Forager]

On 8/14/2025 at 3:41 AM, Solarverse said:

It sounds like to me that you may be in denial if you believe that most players don't hate knock back. Some things in life don't need to be proven due to the abundance of evidence. Players who hate knock back being the majority is one of them.

 

Lol wut? What evidence are you talking about? 

 

 

[Bionic_Flea]

Abundance of evidence = proof

 

Guesses and personal opinions ≠ proof

[PeregrineFalcon]

2 hours ago, ZeeHero said:

This problem could easily be fixed by giving everyone a toggleable "Knockback to knockdown" power, instead of making us sacrifice slots.

This isn't a problem that can be fixed.

 

Look, if the devs gave everyone a free KB > KD power, sure the whining about KB would stop. But you know what would happen then? People would find something else to cry about. They'd fixate on something else and post about that for year after year after year, just like they've done with KB.

 

The problem isn't KB. The problem is the human condition. People always complain about something.

[Ghost]

42 minutes ago, PeregrineFalcon said:

This isn't a problem that can be fixed.

 

Look, if the devs gave everyone a free KB > KD power, sure the whining about KB would stop. But you know what would happen then? People would find something else to cry about. They'd fixate on something else and post about that for year after year after year, just like they've done with KB.

 

The problem isn't KB. The problem is the human condition. People always complain about something.

Exactly, and I think the next thing we should focus on is Tanks/Brutes.

Specifically their ability to aggro mobs and run off leaving squishies behind to figure out a way to survive.

 

My solution (because I always have solutions) is an inherent toggle for every squishy.  When that toggle is turned on, Tanks/Brutes lose all ability to move.  They are rooted until us squishies turn off the toggle

😈

[Forager]

47 minutes ago, Ghost said:

Exactly, and I think the next thing we should focus on is Tanks/Brutes.

Specifically their ability to aggro mobs and run off leaving squishies behind to figure out a way to survive.

 

After that let's fix Kinetics. Make it so anyone teamed with a kin gets a temp power called "sb plz" that automatically activates his Speed Boost with you as the target.

[Xulf]

All this thread has done is make me want to roll a version of my first toon/first 50 from live back in 07/04.  A Eng/Fire (terrible synergy, I know...now) blaster.  It was fun and I made every mistake possible on that toon but I loved the graphics.  Then go completely HAM and slot everything for KB.  Screw the haters!😜

[Plutonix]

7 minutes ago, Xulf said:

All this thread has done is make me want to roll a version of my first toon/first 50 from live back in 07/04.  A Eng/Fire (terrible synergy, I know...now) blaster.  It was fun and I made every mistake possible on that toon but I loved the graphics.  Then go completely HAM and slot everything for KB.  Screw the haters!😜

This guy has the right idea.

[Triumphant]

I like knockback, but I concede that I'm probably among a minority of players with this view (no evidence to this effect, it just feels that way to me).  Having said that, I do like Bionic Flea's suggestion as a way of addressing the issue.  Folks that like it could get both incarnates and switch between them for group and solo play, at the request of players who are annoyed by it.

[catsi563]

No and it never has been

 

Uncontrolled demolition derpy players are the main issue as they ragdoll mobs everywhere

 

but players with experience and actual knowledge know that a proper hurricane can gather up bad guys for easy disposal and provide a safe haven for squishy types 

 

 

[Yomo Kimyata]

7 hours ago, Bionic_Flea said:

Abundance of evidence = proof

 

Guesses and personal opinions ≠ proof

 

Going back to the title of this thread, I think Flea should go knock themself back.

 

No fleas were harmed in the writing of this post.  They are essentially immune to knockback due to their exoskeleton and size.

[Bionic_Flea]

1 hour ago, Yomo Kimyata said:

No fleas were harmed in the writing of this post.

 

LIES!!  Your words cut me like daggers.

[Starhawk32]

I'm sure it's been said before, but my biggest problem with aoe knockback is...it becomes a race.  Only one persons AOE works, the rest are wasting their time.  It becomes a bit frustrating for those who are just attacking air, and can significantly impact the amount of damage you can do as a group, if only one AOE is effective.

[MTeague]

6 hours ago, PeregrineFalcon said:

The problem isn't KB. The problem is the human condition. People always complain about something.

I was going to disagree with that, until I remembered Humans Being Humans.

[Erratic1]

On 8/13/2025 at 9:22 AM, bAss_ackwards said:

KB is the reason I can't bring myself to play Energy Blast. 😔

 

On my Mind Control/Energy Assault Dominator I simply avoid targeting things melee characters are fighting and apologize when I mess up. But not really any AoE KB is on the table there.

 

My EB/Martial Blaster I mostly solo with, though on a team I would refrain from AoE unless sure it weild kill the targets or prevent another player from going down.

[Yomo Kimyata]

1 hour ago, Bionic_Flea said:

 

LIES!!  Your words cut me like daggers.

I never claimed no fleas were harmed in the *reading* of the post.

[MonteCarla]

11 hours ago, ZeeHero said:

its all fun and games until you're doing a kill all and an enemy gets stuck in a wall and unreachable due to how bad the code is.

 

I know. But, I run multiple task forces most weekends. In the past year that's happened maybe 3 times, and in each case we figured out due to some combination of

- teleport target/fold space

- rain powers and damage auras

- everyone runs round the corner and the enemy's popped out of the wall by themselves

 

Its certainly less trouble than being picky about my teammate's powers

 

[Solarverse]

12 hours ago, ZeeHero said:

This problem could easily be fixed by giving everyone a toggleable "Knockback to knockdown" power, instead of making us sacrifice slots.

 

And here it is. You got two thumbs down for offering a solution that doesn't require people to take it. This is why KB players and F your KB players will never get along!

 

Spoiler

Somebody will take me serious too...

 

[Solarverse]

12 hours ago, Forager said:

 

Lol wut? What evidence are you talking about? 

 

 

 

Somebody covered that already...and I replied.

[Solarverse]

10 hours ago, PeregrineFalcon said:

This isn't a problem that can be fixed.

 

Look, if the devs gave everyone a free KB > KD power, sure the whining about KB would stop. But you know what would happen then? People would find something else to cry about. They'd fixate on something else and post about that for year after year after year, just like they've done with KB.

 

The problem isn't KB. The problem is the human condition. People always complain about something.

 

You are 100% correct. There's only one problem with this; this has been a complaint and issue with the game since day one. There have been many solutions that have been presented, all shot down for one reason or another...and sometimes no reason given at all. Some solutions have even been great compromises or even the ability to turn KB on or off, depending on the type of team you are playing on...again, shot down. Worse, is that there is no reason why KB players and non-KB players can't play together with many of the solutions presented over the eons of time. This has been a problem for so long, the real question is; Why does this problem still exist when there have been so many solutions to fix the conflicting issue? KB does not have to be conflicting on a nonKB team when it can be made to be a beneficial asset?  

[Neiska]

A crazy thought but... has anyone considered that other people playing things you may not like, powersets you don't like, or sets in ways you don't like is a part of the game?

[Solarverse]

7 hours ago, Xulf said:

All this thread has done is make me want to roll a version of my first toon/first 50 from live back in 07/04.  A Eng/Fire (terrible synergy, I know...now) blaster.  It was fun and I made every mistake possible on that toon but I loved the graphics.  Then go completely HAM and slot everything for KB.  Screw the haters!😜

 

I would love to see video of this...uncut. 

[Solarverse]

2 minutes ago, Neiska said:

A crazy thought but... has anyone considered that other people playing things you may not like, powersets you don't like, or sets in ways you don't like is a part of the game?

 

You give the OG Devs more credit than they deserve. I don't think they thought it out that hard.

[Nic Mercy]

I can deal with knockback if I must, but usually slot knockback to knockdown when and where I can. I'd be thrilled if Null had a "make all knockback from your powers into knockdown" option instead of me having to waste precious limited enhancement slots to change it. But that's just me.

[ivanhedgehog]

6 hours ago, Bionic_Flea said:

 

LIES!!  Your words cut me like daggers.

at least it wasnt scimitars. Those would leave a mark.