It is as simple as this. When the Mortafire is without its shield, give them the ability to punch once, causing the knight to drop their gear and be knocked back with normal damage. I know they are not too wide spread throughout the clockworks yet slaying them gets less eventful when they only scurry about like headless chickens. I do not mind the chase, but I would like a little more hostility out of those buggers.
Punch
give them the ability to punch once, causing the knight to drop their gear
by this, you mean we knights drop out weapons and are unable to attack? That seems a little unfair and unbalanced. Would they fall on the ground, and we be able to pick them back up? Does this mean that a knight can pick up a party member's gear also? Please elaborate.
They can just draw a smaller thwak hammer out of their back and try to use it as a back up weapon, so they will temporarily behave as a thawker before they are either killed or repick up their gear. They might as well prioritise the knight who is holding his mortar and try to beat the knight so he can have his mortar back.
By their gear, I mean the Mortafire's gear that gets dropped. Not the knight's gear.
@Midnight-Dj: While I would like that, I suppose that I am secretly advocating for gauntlets as a new weapon for hand to hand. :P Otherwise, aren't they already prioritized to chase the knight carrying their mortar? I cannot recall.
I would also like it if they could perform a secondary shield bash instead of running away and hiding in the corner.