I understand the OS, but I was asking if there was a way to affect this option select without having to remove canceling from all buttons that act in that way. That's why I'm not discussing the OS in regards to balance because it relates to universal mechanics. I'm simply sticking to character balance, and as of now the OS is there, and these are the necessary changes to make Raiden's B2 unsafe without changing universal mechanics.
Raiden's plus 2 on block from F2 so if he's in range for it to be blocked I think it's a bad call to go into F2 2+4 when you can use the frame trap for F1 or use the fear of F1 to go for a 50/50. You can't cancel into Electrocute safely from lightning stings, it's punishable by an armored reversals. Sure you can safely if they don't have meter but I think it's a weak argument. And look at it this way, right now you're at -13 after a lightning string and safe, if Electrocute was changed to -14, you'd still probably be safe canceling into Electrocute on block since you're already spaced far, and you'd be adding the push back from Electrocute as well. So the only thing this would change is your ability to make yourself safer than you already would be, in select situations, but would fix the entire issue regarding the option select. And even if it wasn't safe, what it fixes is much more important than what Raiden loses.
And the points you're still making regarding Vicinity Burst are weak as well in my opinion. Me saying I have no reason not to do it, doesn't mean that I do it every time I can. It's the fact that you need to respect my option to do so, and the fact that it covers so many of your options that it forces to either block or duck without blocking punish. Raiden will almost always have meter if he didn't just breaker, so you constantly have to make the decision of whether or not you will respect Raiden's option to do so. You say you can blow it up on read, but who is really going to risk that read. As people understand the match up, Raidens will have to stop using Shocker and Vicinity Bursts as their go to armor options since they hit high and people can duck and punish. Raidens will start using Thunder Strike(DB3+Block), which will force people to respect the mid, and then you can sneak in Vicinity Burst. So when making that read, you need to risk Raiden going for a 50/50, armor, 6 frame advancing F1...;it's just so much safer to hold block. And if they do block, it's the fear of the 6 frame move that gives Raiden so many options to exploit that is a unbalanced.
Raiden already takes you to the corner from anywhere on the screen, he shouldn't be able to just spend a bar to force you into taking a 50/50 that leads into a restand situation where you'll be forced to deal with more 50/50s until you guess right or die. I think the opponent should have an option other than armoring out before being forced to deal with Raidens corner game since he takes you there that easily and I really don't think it makes for fun, or good gameplay either.
