It's time to improve Broadsword

the -res thing was brought up earlier in the thread and never gained much traction. I guess it's not a popular thing for melee sets or something.
One problem here though is, if the numbers are too small, it won't close the gap between Katana and BS. Too large and BS will take the edge in dps, which we've figured is Katana's thing.

So the idea is to change Broadsword in a way that fits the set, without making it necessarily about dps. The theme is to make BS about burst damage, ie slow, heavy hitting attacks, vs Katana's quick hard hitting attacks.

Which is how the idea of somehow changing Build Up to provide either an higher damage buff that degrades over its duration, or having it work like Fiery Embrace, whereas it only buffs Broadsword attacks with a proc for smashing damage.

I'm not too sure if it's possible to only set up a way for a buff to proc only certain attacks, which may be a limitation.

The last idea I posited was to change the set in a different way, which was to give it a chance to chain damage off the main target, but only in a nearby cone area for the single target attacks. As if the sword struck the first target with such force that it went through and hit someone else nearby (but for less damage as it wasn't a direct, intended attack).

This way, Katana, still has dps vs a single target, but with multiple targets, the sets may end up coming out even, on the average.

Right now, the simplest way to change the set, that doesn't require new mechanics, art or tons of testing, is the first, one. To change build up to have a higher damage buff that fades over its duration. There may need to be some fiddling with the recharge if the duration is increased, which may not be necessary at all. As long as the change doesn't make BS out perform Katana. The idea is burst damage (BS), will end up even with dps (Kat) given the same duration of time.

Another problem with having the set deal -Res instead of -Def is that the accuracy numbers in every power would have to be adjusted to rebalance it with Katana, since both sets currently have an inherent accuracy bonus and -Def.

@Rorn ---- Blue Baron ---- Guardian

I don't recall if this has been brought up in this exact form yet or not, but I can see how Back Blade might be too much of a change in the eyes of some players.

So, let's say we replace Slash with a Pommel Strike (I know, we suggested that name before) power. It could deal high Smashing damage and have a powerful -Res effect with a long recharge. BUT, it automatically recharges when you get a critical hit. This would allow Broadsword to hit harder and have a fun mechanic, while making conceptual sense and sticking with the theme of burst damage (your damage spikes with Pommel Strike, both from the attack itself and the debuff it provides). It would also allow builds using Slash as a set mule to be largely unaffected by the change.

I would include actual numbers with this suggestion, but City of Data is currently down so I would have nothing to compare it to.

@Rorn ---- Blue Baron ---- Guardian

I think before numbers can really enter the picture, we really need to define intent.

Currently, Katana pulls ahead of BS after two attacks in terms of damage.

So, how many attacks should it take for Katana to pull ahead of BS after we buff BS' burst? Three? Five?

I'm not certain if that's the right way to look at balancing the sets.
Instead, I'd say that they should be balanced to end up as even as possible given an amount of time.

So say, in the time that it takes for BS to pull off 2 attacks, Katana does three. The result is nearly the same amount of endurance cost for nearly the same amount of damage done.

This is an extremely general description, because as we know, what attacks are used, how long of an amount of time should it take etc..

It's one thing to say, if we had a graph of both sets performance over time that there were spikes that showed Katana was ahead at certain points, and BS ahead at others, but when the interval was done, they were nearly even. As it is now, at least in dps comparisons, katana pulls ahead, and stays ahead.

So, if we stick to dps comparisons, that pertains to single targets (generally, since there's no discusion of aoe dps), than BS needs something to catch up to Katana.

The only alternative to is move away from single target analysis and look at multiple targets, so that the sets end up at the same place, at the same time, against a group of foes. In that instance, BS needs a new mechanic which is what I suggested earlier. While I like the idea, it's not ideal since it requires adding a completely new dimension to BS vs. the simplest change which is to temporarily increase BS damage via changing it's Build Up.

Make it less end heavy for sure.

maybe mix skills with -def and -res Hack, Slash Whirling sword have -def and Slice , Disembowl and Headsplitter have -res and -def.