Here is a list of changes that should be reverted in the game. A long series of reductions to various abilities has narrowed the "effective" builds in this game, not increased it. It simply is not as fun (though still great being really the only game in town). But it could bring some of the fun that was lost because the type of fights that used to be simply don't exist anymore due to the mechanics.
Yes, these are all buffs.
In no particular order:
Make the reticule for ranged pinpoint accurate at 150 WPF at full longest range of the weapon. In other words, if a target is standing still, and you have your crosshairs on it (adjusting for the arc of course, it is actually an inch or so above), then you hit it.
Either increase damage, or increase missile speed for archery and throwing across the board.
Increase throwing ammo for low end weapons.
Buff athletics so that melee can move and dodge properly again. That means being able to use strafe properly, not by spinning left and right 90 degrees while charging forwards. It doesn't matter if ranged has pinpoint accuracy if the melee is no longer where the ranged shot.
Reduce the athletics penalty given to shielders. If you have to reduce the weight of shields to nothing to accomplish that, then do it.
Give cavalry their range back on poles on horseback. Let them spin around in a 360 as they want trying to catch those dancing melee again.
Take away the bonus damage to cavalry legs.
Add horse rear back to the polearms that had it removed.
Reduce the athletics penalty due to terrain variations.
Remove the unsheathable tag from weapons.
Increase IF to 2.5 to 3 per point.
Increase the weapon speed given to higher WPF.
All in all, I actually love these suggestions. I might say that the wpf ceiling for 'perfect' aim could be raised a bit, but if taken in conjunction with agility buffs (which, to be fair, I am in no small bit supporting because of my own preference of agility builds), shouldn't prove to change the metagame too much, just make it a bit less nonsensical.
If increasing projectile speed is what it takes to make ranged weapons (especially bows and arrows) more effective at longer ranges, then I certainly support this (not lobbyism, I hate all you ranged assholes on the battlefield :mrgreen:)
Depending on which throwing weapons receive an ammo buff, I'd be in support of that, since some of the lower tier ones can be surprisingly effective at higher investments in throwing.
Reducing shield weight is kind of a double-edged sword, I'd imagine. If it's anything like with weapon weight, you might see increased block stun on shielders, which I can't possibly suggest is a good thing.
Completely 360 degree movement seems a bit excessive for cavalry, but a return to native values wouldn't be too much of an issue though, as far as I'm concerned.
Feed me your downvotes on that one, :D
The only issue I really take is with removing the unsheathable tags. I think they, for the most part, make sense, and -- although it is kind of shoehorned in -- add another level to considering loadout.