Not sure how I feel about the game having a "timed" blocking feature, where I time my blocks to the opponents swings.

Are they going to telegraph when their going to strike, or do I have be able to read their minds?

How is this suppose to work when facing more then one baddie at a time?

Also whats to stop the computer from cheating? That is blocking every time I'm about to make a swing, but not being able to know when their going to make theirs.

I actually want an auto-block option. Or just don't have a block skill, that would be a waste of skill when it has to be all physics and about player control.

I understand your point, but timed blocking adds a much needed 'realism' factor to TES's combat system which became quite monotonous in Oblivion. I feel like if you put the time into the game, then you'll get used to it...even with more than one enemy at a time. It actually makes combat a challenge, and (hopefully) fun.

And as for the possibility of cheating? They wouldn't do that...that's cheating :tongue:

It's like the reload mechanic in Gears of War.

It was pretty easy to see when the enemy attacked, especially the power attacks in Oblivion, doubt it will be different in Skyrim...

Would you like a sword that swings for you too?

Then go for a spell that stuns or staggers or flings your enemies in one hand (or makes them run away in fear) and slash-em while they're down or running or paralyzed with something sharp in the other. No timing needed - just two fists full of mayhem. You also have dragon shouts - some of which can be used to toss farmers around http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llCJg5LiKo8. I'm just glad that they are giving more options besides blocking to defend yourself against foes armed with shovels, rakes, brooms, hoes or cries of mercy. Here's to hoping they get the balance and variety of spells right - if they do I'm probably going for the first TES character that will actually play like the "spellsword" class description made it sound.

Otherwise I'm going to think outside the box and travel in bursts of speed-potion and healing-potion fueled brave strategic retreats through the wilderness.

Yeah me too. In fact why should we have to do anything? like why doesn't the game play itself? Player control in a video game is soo overrated :rolleyes:

timed blocking is a much needed improvement. it works just fine in warband. the best system would be where you could hold your shield up to protect yourself and it would absorb some of the shock but if you timed it just right you could deflect the attackers strike and leave them open for a counter attack. if i have to choose between timed blocking and just holding your shield button up forever then ill go with timed blocking.

I agree, no block skill if its purely based on timing.


Because you could have a really good skill at actually performing the block, but if your in-game block skill didnt add up, you would still svck.

This.

No more hand-holding.

Block skill would increase the amount of damage absorption your successful block does.

Also, since it has been said to be like the GoW reload system then a perfectly timed block is not the only way to block, it'd just the most effective. I imagine it will stun your opponent more if you manage to pull off a perfectly-timed block.

This is pretty much how I feel toward it. It does alot more for keeping the players attention in combat if they have to pay attention to the combat instead of just holding it up until the opponent staggers and then slashing; rinse and repeat.

Auto blocking is meh, it could work as a passive skill like armor but that was better suited for when everything was dice-rolls. I think it fits better for it to be controlled by the player same as everything else and it is pretty dull to just slash slash slash at everything and occasionally your shield pops up to block. It just makes combat more interesting with timed blocking which is pretty much what their intention was.

C'mon man. In real combat, you would have to time blocks. What is your problem with this?

I see the concern here, but I think it's going to be a needed risk to break the monotony of oblivion style combat.

Personally, I would prefer to see a directional blocking system and multiple types of shields. You can just hold up block if you want to but you have to meet an enemy attack where it's heading. The larger shield you have the less you have to worry about this, and it is up to the enemy to find an viable opening. Of course, the smaller shields you have the more active you have to be, but they're lighter and easier they are to use.

I like this as it's closer to reality and adds to the tactical nature or variation in combat, but I don't know how hard directional blocking is to implement.

Well I suppose that could work, will see how well they do with it. I would like to know how this would effect weapon blocks, would it be like a Soul Calibur guard impact where your opponent would be open to counters? Also I'm not crazy about autoblock, and I liked how Oblivion handled blocking by getting the player more involved.

I don't get what you're complaining about. It was this way in Oblivion too. If you had a shield out, you wouldn't block until you actually pulled the left trigger.
So...yeah? What's the problem? Same thing as OB. Adds realism.

It makes obvious sense to me to have this in. Your enemy "telegraphs" to you that hes going to swing by building up his swing, its like when a baseball player wields a bat, the bat has to go backwards before it goes forward. And if I keep holding my shield up, waiting for the enemy to attack, I can only hope that he'd swing for a part of me that isnt shielded lol

In oblivion you held down the block button to block. In Skyrim it sounds like you have to push the button as your opponent is attacking to do a timed block, that is you have to time your blocks to your opponents attacks.

And I have no complaints about the way Oblivion did things, I actually liked it. I'm just not sure how the timed thing is going to work is all.

I'm not saying I completely hate the idea of a timed block, I play a lot of fighting games. I'm just concerned on how there going to implement it.



In real life you can't carry 500 lbs on your back or wield spells.

Also in real combat, you get these things called defensive wounds, because your hands and feet aren't really designed to punch and kick people with.

Also in real life, your going to be spending some time recovering from you wounds or can't getting them patched up, you can't just go to an inn or rest in a corner and have all your wounds magically healed in 8 hours.

we NEED timed blocking. oblivion was a simple technique: block until enemy hits, then hit twice, then repeat. it was like runescape in a way.
it took no skill or variety.

Ok, so judging from the info you just provided (which is speculation), the only difference is instead of holding down the block button until they attack, you block WHEN they attack..? How is that not better? Thats more realistic. Realism = good. Either way, it still involves YOU blocking instead of a dice roll doing it. That's stupid. As much as I love Morrowind, I'm glad we've moved past dice roll combat.

Read their minds? not exactly, more like predicting what their next move might be, that's what makes a great warrior great, being able to read the opponents next move. From what we have been told the combat system seems to be more gladiatorial and you'll probably need to be able to read your opponent and predict what their next move is going to be, whether to block or attack is up to you, one will be the correct decision and the other one will be wrong. It seems they are trying to make combat more realistic and having timed blocks is one way they are trying to accomplish it, is it going to be perfect? well nothing's perfect so not likely, but it is defiantly an improvement over Oblivion where you could just hold the block button and wait until they swing at you which takes almost no skill.

I actually like the timed-blocking. its makes combat a lot more realistic. In real melee combat, you can't just hold your shield up all day and expect to block all the blows that are coming in, you HAVE to time your blocks so you can asorb most of the impact. It was all about being strategic; because if you blocked too early, the impact itself could fracture or even break your arm. If you blocked too late............ well lets not think about that.

ah it will certainly make blocking more challenging i welcome this change

Timed Blocking is stupid, it should be like Oblivions blocking. I didn't see anything wrong with it and changing any form of it is a bad idea. I will wait and see but I'm not happy about timed blocking.

That would be crossing the line realism at the cost of gameplay which is why we can do those things without consequence. Timed blocking isn't really, it's just to help make the combat more visceral and less dull because you have to pay attention to your opponent actions rather than just holding up your shield until your opponent staggered slash a few times rinse and repeat, ala oblivion. It worked yeah but it wasn't all that fun, it was repetitive and dull.

Basically it just doesn't make it as easy as possible. I'm alright with that.