Martial Arts Balance Update: Ninjutsu

[Hymore246]

Summary

Balance "Martial Art Balance Update: Ninjutsu"

Purpose of change

Partially implements #51949
Updates the martial arts style: Ninjutsu

Describe the solution

Current Buffs, Techniques, and Special Abilities

Name	Level Available	Type	Effect
Arm Block	Unarmed 3
Ninjutsu Stance	Unarmed 0	Static Buff	Attacks are Quiet (generates no noise), movement is stealthy (generates 50% base noise)
Sneak Attack	Unarmed 0	Static Buff	+50% damage
Loss of Surprise	Unarmed 0	OnAttack Buff	-50% damage
Momentum Shift	Unarmed 2	OnMove Buff	+1.0 Dodge skill, Accuracy increased by 20% of Dexterity for 2 turns
Swift Strike	Melee 2	Melee & Unarmed Tech	80% move cost
Escape Plan	Melee 3	OnKill Buff	+2 Dodge attempts, +10 speed. Lasts 3 turns.
Assassinate	Melee 5	Melee Crit Tech	+50% damage, Stun duration: 1 turn
Ninjutsu Takedown	Unarmed 5	Unarmed Crit Tech	+100% bash damage, Knockdown duration: 2 turns, Stun duration: 2 turns

No matter how you look at it, Ninjutsu was overperforming. This is mainly due to the large damage bonuses on Sneak Attack and Assassinate when used with strong weapons (big weapons ALWAY cause this problem) so changes needed to be made to keep the style from one-shoting everything without any risk.

New Buffs, Techniques, and Special Abilities

Name	Level Available	Type	Effect
Arm Block	Unarmed 3
Ninjutsu Stance	Unarmed 0	Static Buff	Attacks are Quiet (generates no noise), movement is stealthy (generates 50% base noise)
Sneak Attack	Unarmed 0	Static Buff	Cannot have Loss of Surprise, +25% critical hit chance
Loss of Surprise	Unarmed 0	OnAttack Buff	Lasts 3 turns. Persists when switching styles.
Momentum Shift	Unarmed 2	OnMove Buff	+1.0 Dodge skill, Accuracy increased by 20% of Dexterity for 2 turns
Swift Strike (normal)	Melee 2	Melee & Unarmed Normal Tech	80% move cost
Swift Strike (crit)	Melee 2	Melee & Unarmed Crit Tech	Requires Loss of Surprise, 80% move cost
Escape Plan	Melee 3	OnKill Buff	+2 Dodge attempts, +10 speed. Lasts 3 turns. Persists when switching styles.
Assassinate	Melee 5	Melee Crit Tech	Cannot have Loss of Surprise, +30% damage, Stun duration: 1 turn
Ninjutsu Takedown	Unarmed 5	Unarmed Crit Tech	Cannot have Loss of Surprise, +100% bash damage, Knockdown duration: 2 turns, Stun duration: 2 turns

Important Changes

• Sneak Attack affects critical hit chance
  In truth, Sneak Attack should be affecting Critical Hit chance and not damage. I wasn't able to modify it during the reblance due to how complicated the critical hit formula was (seriously, go look at Character::crit_chance and tell me it isn't confusing) but now I can fix that problem. Furthermore, the addition of Forbidden Buffs makes it easier to negate the bonus using Loss of Surprise.

• Assassinate and Ninjutsu Takedown have a Forbidden Buff
  It wasn't by design to allow these techiques to trigger repeatedly. Ninjutsu is a hit and run style that specialized in "alpha striking" an enemy. You either kill them in one hit or injure and finishing them off, then backing off to repeat. This caused the style to have way too much killing power. Forbidden buffs will prevent the critical techniques from being used too often.

• Assassinate does less damage
  +50% damage was too much for most weapons. Instantly kill the target is the goal of Ninjutsu but it shouldn't happen against EVERY enemy. +30% to all damage on a crit is still strong and should be enough to kill or seriously injure most targets without being overpowered.

• Swift Strike is now two techniques
  The crit version of Swift Strike requires Loss of Surprise. This means that it can only trigger AFTER you make your initial attack on your target. This way, you are guarenteed to get Assassinate or Ninjutsu Takedown if you crit on your first attack. This also means you will not be without a crit tech during active combat if you choose to stay and finish off your enemy.

Gameplay
The style should now play the way it was intended. Run up and hit for big damage. Then assess if you should keep fighting or back off to get rid of Loss of Surprise to alpha strike again.

Describe alternatives you've considered

I think the style is structured in a way that all that needs to be done for balance is tweaking the number of the buffs or techniques. If it is still too strong, technique damage or critical hit chance can be reduced. If it is too weak, damage can be increased or other buffs can be improved.