Knockdown

[Diogenes of Sinope]

Hey. Would it be possible to add knockdown to melee combat? That is, within a certain percentage of melee attacks, the attacking model would knock over the defending model. This is essentially a stun that could provoke an attack of opportunity. This would be a second reaction to being hit, in addition to the stagger that currently accompanies being wounded.

The main purpose of knockdown would be combat balance. Knockdown benefits squads that are numerically superior because each squad member has a chance to knock down an opponent, and squad members close to a downed opponent would have a chance for an attack of opportunity.

On the other hand, knockdown would reward careful micro: if a solo PC kites and bunches up an enemy squad, then he/she could knock down multiple models with the same attack. (You can micro this now, but without the knockdown.)

I think the combat in Kenshi looks awesome, and is really fun to watch. Knockdown would add even more diversity to the melee animations. Beyond the knockdown animation itself, the attacks of opportunity could play out in a number of ways: flying leaps, foot stomps, sword jabs, etc.

Furthermore, knockdown could be set up to penalize combatants that are encumbered by heavy armor or backpacks: they would take longer to get back on their feet. This would enable a lucky, lightly-armored warrior to get in a few decisive blows before a tank NPC can strike again.

What do you think? Is this feasible at all?

[Diogenes of Sinope]

Yes, I realize this is a little more mundane than mutant ninja parrots that shoot laserbeams out of their buttcracks.