Please clarify.
While i see there are situations where the game gives me a kick through difficult situations like staggering, it also gives me with the amount of ranged and the way ranged works the impression, that i dont need to expose me to such flawed and rather grieving game mechanics. So while others ask for removing the staggering complettly or nerfing stats of chars, weapons or projectiles, finding a way to improve a flawed game design i see as preferable. Now we can agree to disagree if there would be a flawed mechanic in need of improvement, but i still rather spend my time to find ways to improve game mechanics then get back into the same old same old stats balancing discussions. In that sense i liked the OP suggestion, as it was not going for default nerf of stats, but trying to find a new way to change game dynamics.
Wow someone that can appreciate a fresh idea, that is already an improved over other more less constructive posts (looks at Hill).
Anyhow, as some already out, yes ranged could get extramely powerfull with the slowing effect but Kinngrim made a good counter suggestion, yes I disapproved first because you named it an abillity which made think of a skill spec or a button bound thing.
However if it were to be after a kill then it would reward 'stoutness & bravery' thus increasing the pace of game which balances out the feared decrease of the slowing.
Also it would not be a 'everyone has it' thing, since you need that kill first, and you could even make it so that it only works for kills on close proximity not granting stacking 'bloodlust' on ranged.
Furthermore you could rearange stagger on ranged by taking in account that if something is armor piercing it will stagger less, in modern times a soldier shot by a bullet in the shoulder with high armor piercing & little stopping power will have the bullet go through his shoulder from one end to the other but can keep on going, however if you have ammunition with the opposite propperties then he will most likely have a big gaping hole in his shoulder and/or fall on the ground.
What does this have to do with crpg & stagger you may ask, well keeping this in mind you could remove stagger completly from any ranged pierced except from throwing since having a small broomstick hanging out of your body whilst its ripping your muscles appart on the inside will still hurt.
Ranged might complain about their pierce being nerfed, but then again it still ignores armor which is on its own a briljant thing already, and mayhaps make them a little bit cheaper on the repair, furthermore you could buff the stagger on cut arrows with 1sec to keep this forum from being flooded by ranged cries, but I'd would just do it without. (*)
Sincere greetings,
Arnwald
(*)
Yes I have an archer myself, and yes I play it often, and I like playing it. However that won't hinder me in seeing some OP likeness in it.