The overlapping Knight buffs have the same baseline as IB single target buffs. Whether the actual stat increase is better/worse/equivalent depends on how far the IB/Kotbs go up their respective trees. For instance their Toughness aura is often better because many Knights go up to the 13 point ability (Vigilance) in their middle tree. You are never going to go 13 points up into stone on an IB unless you are doing pve. I don't actually go up any higher than oathbound in my city build. But yeah, regardless their buffs are better because they effect the entire party.CountTalabecland wrote: ↑Thu May 21, 2020 6:36 pm In sum on stat point buffs.
Knight Tough buff > than IB
Knight Auru Buff > than IB's one corp resist buff
Knight Str Buff = to IB's two strength buffs that each have other important things attached to them. Yes knight covers the whole party but only MDPS need Str really and IB's Willpower buff is big for healers.
Knight> than IB with other grp buffs like +% healing and actions points etc etc.
IB is going to have to find something other than stat buffs. Maybe grp wide parry by 2-5% parry buff with grudge? Problem is wounds, armor, resists, etc are provided by other staple classes like WP/RP. IB is tanky tank enough for places is non-esports level cities, not sure if more than 1 would be taken in an optimized city wb. Punishing Knock is probably the biggest thing a SnB IB gives towards securing kills on healers. 2h has cave-in but its grp utility isnt much different than the shield knockdown.
I am merely suggesting some quality of life changes that you'd think wouldn't need to be asked for. AoE damage does not do as much damage per tick as single target damage, and you'd expect the same from AoE buffs. AoE buffs effect 6+ people, but the stat value they improve your character by should almost always be less than an equivalent single target buff (such as Stand Strong! vs Vengeful Strike). So either that requires buffing the baseline of IB/BG single target buffs, or nerfing Kotbs/Chosen Auras.
I agree with the overall sentiment of your post though. Improving the stat values of buffs isn't going to dramatically change the city landscape. Every wb will still bring 4 kotbs at the minimum, and at least 2+ SMs. IBs need their own niche that does not overlap with kotbs auras, and SMs interrupts and WW. There are few things in this post that may get us there but I do not think the devs would ever do it:
- AoE cooldown increaser (tying shield sweep to furious reprisal)
- AoE/Single Target morale stopper (Avenging the debt or Oathstone)
- AoE knockdown, silence, armor debuff, etc.
IBs have always been a single target class, and because of that I don't see the devs implementing it. The only argument we have going for us, is that BGs have strong aoe debuffs.