[Suggestion: Dark Knight] How to make Living Dead more effective...easily!

[SokiYagami]

As a WHM who loves healing DRKs, please do not change how LD works. It's hands down the best invulnerability CD in the game, and in the hands of a capable group translates to almost 20s of completely not caring about the tank (i.e, more time spent in Cleric). There's a reason its CD lines up with Benediction.

Yes, it's sort of meh outside of endgame raiding - so are a lot of other skills, really.

Why limit the benefits to static only? Yes, theoretically Living Dead can turn you into an immortal zombie up to a maximum of 20 (or rather, 19) secs, but from experience, that is rarely the case. Now let's take a look to see the difference between WAR and DRK (putting PLD aside since Hallowed Ground is on another level entirely). Also, all discussion are based upon PvE environments (static-raids / pug-raids / dungeons) only, for simplicity sake.

WAR's Holmgang is a 180 sec cd, bind and root self and target, HP cannot fall below 1 for 6 sec.

DRK's Living Dead is a 300 sec cd, dual-stage ability. For the first 10 sec (Living Dead), if HP fall to 0, the second stage (Walking Dead) will kick in. During WD, for 10 secs, HP cannot fall below 1. However, if max HP amount of heals is received, WD will expire and DRK will be vulnerable to death again. Else if max HP amount of heals is not received, DRK will die automatically.

Theoretically, Living Dead can be maximize as a ~19 sec immortally cd, however, that's pretty much limited to static-raids only (and probably with voip as well). Putting aside a couple of things like: common cd (convalescence / bloodbath, etc), the rooting effect of holmgang (since it's can be a good/bad effect depending on usage and it doesn't exactly prevent death for most situation), as of 3.0, there is one very important difference (besides cd duration) between holmgang and living dead; the ability to self-aid (in case healers are sleeping on the job or screw up).

I'm sure the rest of you have already noticed, but WAR have a vast self-aid tool now. Assuming all cds are up, from holmgang, a WAR can Berserk > Equilibrium (defiance stance) > Thrill of Battle > Second Wind > Inner Beast (possibly twice) and restore a healthy chunk of HP (for self-aid). Meanwhile the best a DRK can do once Walking Dead is activated is... Dark Art > Soul Eater for single target or Dark Art > Abyssal Drain + Sole Survivor for multiple targets. Granted the second option can restore equivalent or higher amounts of self-aid heals as compared to WAR, but for most cases you wouldn't even need to pop Living Dead under said situation (like big dungeon pulls) if you know what you are doing (even if the healers are sleeping on the job).

Don't get me wrong though, I'm not trying to call for a nerf on WAR, but what I'm trying to say is that for the most part, the 300 sec duration doesn't justify the efficiency of Living Dead, so on top of the animation update, I propose to make one of the following changes to Living Dead:

A. Cut down the duration, something between 180 and 300 secs, probably 220 ~ 240 sec for a middle ground.
B. During the duration of Walking Dead, apply a super HP leech effect of some sort (Bloodbath+ anyone?). Call it "Bloodlust" or something if it's to be a separate buff just for lols.
C. During the duration of Walking Dead, apply a damage increase buff with no downside, like Raging Strikes. Call it "Rage of the Dead" or something if it's to be a separate buff just for lols.

Personally, I think option A will be the best, since I don't think Living Dead really need a buff, just small tweaks which shouldn't be abused (like option C), though it will be interesting if they actually come true. Trying to kill yourself for a damage buff? Kind of fit the DRK image if you ask me. :3

TL;DR: putting aside animation update, Living Dead isn't worthy as a 300 sec duration cd, so the duration should be lower or some small buff should be throw in as a freebie.

Update: I actually miss out something very important, that is Holmgang requires a target within range to activate, whereby Living Dead can be pop at will just like Hallowed Ground. However, taking into account that Walking Dead can expire before the timer hits 10 sec, I'd say the targeting factor alone doesn't justify the 120 sec duration difference.