I don't like the idea of balancing a game around online play, but online throws in this game are straight bullshit. Combined with regenerating Fatal Blows, they are the big thing killing my hype for this game. You'll know 100% a throw is coming. You'll know 100% which direction the opponent will throw you. But thanks to online delay, there is still maybe a 25% chance your tech actually registers.
My solution would be to increase the size of the tech window by the amount of online delay you're experiencing at the time of the throw. Ideally, this would create a standard tech window regardless of lag and would not affect offline play. If you've got 80ms of delay, you have an extra 80ms to tech the throw. Probably easier said than done, though.
Throws shouldn't do 14% fucking damage. A throw should be a tool to break through an overly-defensive player's constant blocking. It should not be a primary source of offensive damage. A throw should not do more damage than an entire uncancelable string, most of which do around 12%. Characters that rely on regular throws to get their damage are just poorly designed and in great need of an overhaul. Throws should do maybe 10%. That's enough damage to make the opponent not want to eat them, but not enough damage that a player would opt to throw rather than use their better offensive tools. Right now throws aren't being used specifically to break heavy defense, they're being used to turn every fucking character into Zangief.
The last big issue is that this throw meta significantly benefits the best characters that have strong mids. A lot of the poorly-designed characters that rely on throws to get their damage lack decent mids. This makes them more likely to eat D2 krushing blows than the characters that don't need to rely on throws. After all, no one is going to be neutral-ducking Kabal, Geras, Cassie, or any other character with a fast mid that leads to 25%+.
Right now throws are so strong in this game, I almost think they should cost an offensive meter. That's pretty extreme and I won't blame you if you disagree, but something needs to be done because the current throw meta is not a fun or satisfying mechanic, and is really hurting an otherwise fun game.
My solution would be to increase the size of the tech window by the amount of online delay you're experiencing at the time of the throw. Ideally, this would create a standard tech window regardless of lag and would not affect offline play. If you've got 80ms of delay, you have an extra 80ms to tech the throw. Probably easier said than done, though.
Throws shouldn't do 14% fucking damage. A throw should be a tool to break through an overly-defensive player's constant blocking. It should not be a primary source of offensive damage. A throw should not do more damage than an entire uncancelable string, most of which do around 12%. Characters that rely on regular throws to get their damage are just poorly designed and in great need of an overhaul. Throws should do maybe 10%. That's enough damage to make the opponent not want to eat them, but not enough damage that a player would opt to throw rather than use their better offensive tools. Right now throws aren't being used specifically to break heavy defense, they're being used to turn every fucking character into Zangief.
The last big issue is that this throw meta significantly benefits the best characters that have strong mids. A lot of the poorly-designed characters that rely on throws to get their damage lack decent mids. This makes them more likely to eat D2 krushing blows than the characters that don't need to rely on throws. After all, no one is going to be neutral-ducking Kabal, Geras, Cassie, or any other character with a fast mid that leads to 25%+.
Right now throws are so strong in this game, I almost think they should cost an offensive meter. That's pretty extreme and I won't blame you if you disagree, but something needs to be done because the current throw meta is not a fun or satisfying mechanic, and is really hurting an otherwise fun game.
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