Combat System Overhaul

I have played with combat before and after the infamous Combat Update, and there are advantages and flaws with both. Rather than just provide the lazy option of allowing a setting to be turned on or off, I have attempted to fix those problems, and create a fun (and most importantly, simple) experience for everyone.

First, the pre-1.9 combat system. It was satisfying and responsive. At the same time, you could do damage as fast as you could click. Knockback as an enchantment was actually the exact opposite of what the player wanted to be effective in combat. It definitely had to be changed, just like bows were (they used to be able to be spammed just as much).

Second, the current system. It solved the issue with spamming, and added a cooldown. But... it made swings in between that cooldown do practically nothing. While I've gotten used to this system, and can fight fairly effectively, even having a bit of fun while using it... between swings you have a real sense of helplessness. The cooldown seems arbitrary and unfair, even if it is balanced.

I propose that we keep the cooldown, but change things up a bit. Shorten it slightly. Like, 20-30 percent faster. Reduce the damage slightly as well from the weapons. (Keep the axe as the big damage dealer, but without crowd control ability.) These numbers are just guesses, though. But also... make it actually impossible to swing if the cooldown is not finished.

Hear me out for a second. If we make it so that the animations for swings in combat take as long as the cooldown is, it feels a lot more fair. It seems natural. I don't care if the cooldown has to be 50-60 percent faster for the animations to look natural. Change the damage numbers to be balanced for the weapons, and it will not be that bad.

It fixes the spam click method, while allowing players to still panic and click really fast, and still be semi competent. And it fixes the sense of helplessness that players feel when they swing their sword and do half a heart of damage because they didn't wait just a few milliseconds more.

Maybe someone could do better than me, but this is the best I could come up with that seemed simple, elegant, and kept the spirit of Minecraft intact.