Improved Perfect Defense

OVERVIEW
Increases the Perfect Parry and Perfect Dodge windows from 9 frames → 12 frames (0.15s → 0.2s).
Also decreases the guard cooldown duration from 24 frames → 21 frames (0.4s → 0.35s). 

The guard cooldown duration governs the forced buffer between inputs. These changes to window and cooldown time are subtle, but feel noticeably better than vanilla, without trivializing the mechanic. The overall goal of this mod is to make the Perfect Parry / Dodge feel a touch more responsive and better capable of supporting reactive (rather than predictive) gameplay. It should also allow players to more readily try a variety of Exospines instead of being reliant on the Reflex-Type.

An optional, alternate Extended version (windows 9 frames → 15 frames [0.25s], same change to guard cooldown time) is also available.

Also available combined with my mods Improved Rush Cooldown and/or Improved Air Dash (see this mod's files tab).
Also compatible with the Lite version of my Hardcore Mode mod (not compatible with the standard version).

ADDITIONAL NOTES
The above provided values are based on Normal / Hard mode; Story mode actually has separate definitions, which are larger by default (0.2s for Perfect Parry, 0.3s for Perfect Dodge). As such, only the Extended version of this mod will effectively change anything in Story mode (where it will increase the 0.2s parry window to 0.25s, and leave the perfect dodge window unchanged).

To be clear, this is not intended as a "cheat" mod to make the game easier, though obviously it will make perfect parrying and dodging just slightly more forgiving. It's not a drastic change, however; 12 frames is still quite tight - this only gives you an additional twentieth of a second. Furthermore, an increased window only works in one direction - no number of additional frames will help if you press the input too late.

There are separate definitions for Eve when in Tachy Mode, which I've updated where necessary - but as the baseline window is already 0.2s in this mode, I only increased it in the Extended version of the mod.

SKILL / GEAR INTERACTIONS 
There are three built-in ways to improve the perfect defense windows already in the game:

• skills: "Focus Boost" (perfect parry) / "Reflex Boost" (perfect dodge): + 0.04s
• equipment: Reflex-Type Exospine (affects both): + 0.04s
• equipment: Reflex-Type Exospine Mk. 2 (NG+ only): + 0.06s
  

These expansions are additive upon the base window, and are therefore fully compatible with the adjustments this mod makes to it - they will stack. Take this into consideration when choosing a version of the mod to use.

INSTALLATION

• download one version of the mod from the files tab (the optional files are all-in-ones, not add-ons)
• create a ~mods folder in your local game directory's Paks folder
  - if using Steam, this path can be found by right-clicking the game and selecting "Manage" → "Browse local files"
  - i.e., ".../steamapps/common/StellarBlade/SB/Content/Paks/~mods"
• extract the .pak, .utoc and .ucas files to the ~mods folder
  

To uninstall, simply delete the 3 installed files from the ~mods folder.

COMPATIBILITY
This mod should work with anything that doesn't also edit SkillTable.uasset. Note that my other Stellar Blade mod (Improved Rush Cooldown) also edits this file - if you want to use them both together, download a combined version and only install one such mod at a time.

A commonly noted conflict is with the Faster Drone Scan Cooldown mod, which also alters SkillTable. As creating alternate versions of every existing version of all of my mods which adjust that file isn't feasible, I've added an optional add-on file that simply removes the unlock cost for both drone scan upgrades. This can be used with any version of any of my mods (except Hardcore Mode), and can also be used standalone.

ADDITIONAL MODS and SUPPORT
If you like this or my other mods and want to support my work, you can buy me a coffee.