The old problem:
- regular swing was completely pointless in B208 and earlier. it used only a bit more stamina, it did a LOT more damage, and block damage scaling from miner69er only worked on power attacks. left click just wasn't work using...for anything.
The changes:
- stamina cost for power attacks was increased to 50 for most (haven't tried sledge, so dunno if that is higher)
- stamina regen is paused for a second or two after doing a power attack.
- miner69er was changed to apply to all block damage
- basic swing damage was buffed
- several of the strength perks now apply HUGE damage bonuses to power attacks on stunned targets
The apparent intention:
- feels like TFP wants us to use left click for most everything.
- we will basic attack blocks with only an extremely rare power attack (because the stamina freeze and stamina cost will seriously hinder your ability to do anything for a few seconds after)
- combat seems to encourage mostly basic attacks with a power attack as an opener or finisher - but at a risk of not having enough stamina to finish the fight if you aren't careful.
- if you perk melee, power attacks are tactical finishers, to kill a zombie after you knock it down
IMO the changes are a good, sensible direction....not 100% better or worse (some tradeoff both ways).
I'm a bit worried what will happen when i run into an irradiated wight or two in a POI....previously i could sledge power attack it in the head and that almost always knocked it down, allowing me to finish it off without taking the brutal hits it dishes out.
My first playthru of B221, i'm actually playing a strength/endurance/intelligence setup (SP) and skipping agility entirely...something i NEVER felt i could do before this build, because you just needed that reserve stamina. But basic attacks and SexTrex mean stamina feels manageable again.