usefulness of balance

[Humperdink]

Some corrections are required to some of the information being posted in this thread. Knockdown, bull rush, overrun (DQ), and trip is generally a strength or dexterity check, whichever value is higher. The one big exception to this is air elementals. It used to be a str/dex check but it was changed to a reflex save. This is why they became less dangerous. What allows you to get back up on all of these is a balance check. Balance is a dexterity based skill, never intelligence or strength. Keep in mind the duration of the knockdown/trip can be determined by dungeon scaling. If you are soloing, you may quickly get back up without even a balance check die roll. Generally speaking, a buffed balance skill of 20-25 will take care of most situations. GH +4, Balance item +15, Head of Good Fortune +2, and probably other buffs I'm forgetting. One glaring exception to this is the Titan knockdown effect, both in the raid and out in Shavarath. To resist those you need about a 35+ to not be knocked down. 40 strength won't be enough to resist knockdown in all scenarios. I've seen melee sometimes resist the Epic Demon Queen overrun, but their strength was 70+ at the time.

[Hokonoso]

Some corrections are required to some of the information being posted in this thread. Knockdown, bull rush, overrun (DQ), and trip is generally a strength or dexterity check, whichever value is higher. The one big exception to this is air elementals. It used to be a str/dex check but it was changed to a reflex save. This is why they became less dangerous. What allows you to get back up on all of these is a balance check. Balance is a dexterity based skill, never intelligence or strength. Keep in mind the duration of the knockdown/trip can be determined by dungeon scaling. If you are soloing, you may quickly get back up without even a balance check die roll. Generally speaking, a buffed balance skill of 20-25 will take care of most situations. GH +4, Balance item +15, Head of Good Fortune +2, and probably other buffs I'm forgetting. One glaring exception to this is the Titan knockdown effect, both in the raid and out in Shavarath. To resist those you need about a 35+ to not be knocked down. 40 strength won't be enough to resist knockdown in all scenarios. I've seen melee sometimes resist the Epic Demon Queen overrun, but their strength was 70+ at the time.

to clarify, the dq knockdown was not nerfed, it is the same as the air eles before they got nerfed. and with a 60 str you become immune to it (unless you roll a 1) so barbarians dont get knocked down by the dq unless they roll 1s sot it is good to have tons of str!!!

[Humperdink]

to clarify, the dq knockdown was not nerfed, it is the same as the air eles before they got nerfed. and with a 60 str you become immune to it (unless you roll a 1) so barbarians dont get knocked down by the dq unless they roll 1s sot it is good to have tons of str!!!

Yeah agreed, sorry if I implied that. The DQ overrun was never changed, only the air elemental knockdown. As for the level of strength required, that's good to know. I don't have a character that can get their strength that high, so I haven't personally tested. Just have run with people who could reach high 60s to low 70s in small bursts and they still occasionally got knocked down, but mostly saved against the DQ. It seems the melee that were even mid to high 50s were getting knocked down almost all the time. Granted some of that is positioning of course, but I saw the save symbol appear more over the higher strength characters.

[Nocifer_Deathblade]

Balance is awesome! When I played first Paladin without any balancing skill all way to level 6, I kept falling down so many times for way too long that bugged the hell out of me so I decided to re-roll with full balance investment and I played all way to level 12. I could see huge improvement in balancing. Whenever I fall down (I do fall down less often now), I get up much faster even with tower shield on..