Im seeing all this talk about blocking and what should or should not block... but I dont really see much on parrying.

So far as I know only Shields and 2handers can block, right? That leaves... 1handed, dual 1handers, and 1hand+magic with no blocking(unless I missed some info somewhere).

Ok. Dual wielding and 1h+magic, thats fine. Because with a 2hander the "offhand" button would be your block, and with a shield that hand blocks, so you cant have a block button if you have a 1h or magic on the offhand. Control limitations, and it makes for more pronounced characters and balances the more offensive play styles.

Anyway why point all this out? Because that leaves the most unused RPG fighting style out, which is 1handed(nothing in the offhand). Unless its KOTOR. So sure you COULD have a spell in the offhand but what if we dont want to use magic and play as a quicker duelist type character? Well I think we should be able to dodge or parry.

If we just use 1hand and the other one is free I think it would be cool that while holding down the block/offhand button we would be in "Parry" mode, where standing still does nothing but, if we side/backstep it parries an attack. So say an NPC swings at you and you "parry" to the side where you knock the NPC off balance(idk make him overextend or something, Ive never swung a real sword in my life ) and open him up to a counter attack. Similar to a recoil from a shield block in Oblivion(idk if this is still in for Skyrim). I think it would reward good timing and mobility and make for a really fun type of character, and wouldnt be a step too hard since blocking is already timed.

Thoughts?

Yes Please.

Not necessarily in the way you described it, but it'd be nice if you could parry/deflect attacks without simply hitting the backpeddle button.

Most people associate Block with Parry. The world we live in... :confused:

Frankly, I would change it so a tap with block was a parry, holding it was blocking, and holding and pressing attack was shield bash or whatnot.

Well maybe anything could parry, like 1h+shield could block while standing still and parry while moving. Or something. But in any case, I mostly want single wielding to be a viable duelist kind of thing

I don't say this often, but that's brilliant.

/blush

You do me too much honor sir.

Absolutely

Whats happens when you attack each other at the same time?

Idk, thats always bugged me in just about every RPG . Maybe that can be the parry instead of blocking, timing your attack to hit theirs or something.

Looking forward to Old Republic combat animations myself.

I thought it was mentioned somewhere that pulling both triggers together blocked, maybe that was for two single-handed weapons. Anyone else remember where that was said?

I agree, except that for a more immersive parry I would think it is a good addition to your suggestion that the tap of the "block" button needs to be timed properly with your opponents swing. Just my humble observation. =)

Obviously we should be able to parry attacks with a one-handed weapon. I just don't like your system for it. I think Mount and Blade was pretty intuitive in its combat, allowing you to block with a shield, or parry without. When you don't have a shield, you have to control the direction and timing, but with a shield you can just hold the block button to defend. Nice thing is that shields break. Also, if you and the enemy both swing the weapon, they collide and bounce off each other. That game's combat is just so damn fun. =)

This is how combat in Skyrim should be while also taking into account magic and hopefully hand to hand.

Good point. It makes sense to adjust your shield in combat but to twitch and parry nothing would make you look like an idiot.

Kind of like assassins creed?

Parry, in a nutshell, is a counter-blow on attacking enemy sword. Yeah, it can be lighter than "real" strike, especially with lighter and mostly thrusting fencing weapons.

I play on PC, but consoles are in, so... could anyone please remind me, is it known how exactly character's hands are controlled on a gamepad? anolog mini-joysticks, L and R triggers or what?

It's a similar set up on both. Right hand is right mouse button, left hand is left mouse button. Consoles are the same except it's the left and right triggers respectively. For moving your characters vision (aiming) it would be the right anolog stick.

Curious? Or is this relevant to if you think parry will be in or not? I personally do not see any reason why consoles would stop them from implementing the ability to parry.

As for the main concern it is my understanding then when holding nothing in your off hand, that button acts as block. So, there isn't a concern for the OP in that regard. If you are just using a one-handed weapon you can still block.

Edit* I think Badprenups idea of just tapping the block button for parry is nice, or as you point out if you "struck" at your foe's weapon that could do a parry,

Thank you.


Well, just didn't had information to make suggestions and assumptions.


I suggest another system.

Single press of the button/trigger — attack by this hand. Shield, mace, whatever. Just hit damn mudcrab.
Fast double press of the button/trigger — parry attack by this hand.
Hold button/trigger — block with this hand.
Tap — add some other function, perhaps special attack or something.

This way it is possible to use parrying and blocking while there is a sword in your right hand and a spell in your left hand.

In my mind, when I block with a sword/axe/mace rather than a shield then that is parrying.

Actually weapon block and parry are different things.

When you are blocking by sword, you are putting your blade right in front of enemy blow, at 90° to enemy sword. You are trying to stop enemy attack completely, getting all its' kinetic energy in your arm. That is good idea when enemy weapon is not much heavier than yours (try to block a greatsword with katana, heh), and it allows you to counter-strike fast in the opening.

When you are parrying, you are basically hitting enemy sword in its' flat side, not up front. You can do it either with your blade cutting edge, or, more commonly, with flat side of your own sword. Parrying does not tries to stop the attack completely, it just changes its' trajectory a bit, making it not dangerous. Again, if you are close enough — counter-strike fast in the opening. Blocks usually grants you larger openings than parries, though that is debatable.

lol at this thread

This is one thing that greatly annoys me so far about the information we have.

I want to si ply use a one-handed sword, no shield, no magic, just a one hander. Yet by teh sounds of it, if you don't use ANYTHING in your off hand you will be self-gimping your character.

I do not see why a one handed sword could NOT parry yet a two hander could? IT makes just no sense at all and completely gives a negative side to choosing to play with a common setup.

You can parry with a shield too.
Parry is a form of blocking,that just redirects the force.
It's a cross between a block and a dodge.

For those that say you can't block with one handed weapon.
I believe you can,aslong as your left hand is empty,or you have a shield.
But if you have a sword in your right and a spell taking up the left hand,then you can't block.
Ok,try to see it this way.
A warrior,will have a shield and a sword,is only means of attack is his sword,or an occasional shield bash. ( good defence,decent attack) and remember he can only fight close quarters,in that style.
Now....a battle mage: he will have a sword and a spell assigned,meaning he his ( in my view ) ultra offensive,but can't block.
To me this seems fair,because he will have so much offensive strength,he can fight ranged and close quarters,so he his planning more on evasion and taking enemies down quickly/or making them weak,to me he has much better options for fighting,spells can do allsorts of things. If you have a great offence/or offensive style,that in turn needs a weakness.
A battle-mage as more at his disposal than a warrior.
You have to look at it,in a balanced way,and not OMG i can't block with a sword and spell together.
As a battle mage,just sit back and think what you have at your disposel,compaired to just a warrior,with a sword and shield.
It's not as bad as some of you make out.
Also note: There is a favourite/quick menu option,allowing quick transition from load out to another.
It really isn't that bad people ...and don't forget,huminoid enemies will be in the same boat = balance.
Anyway ,just my view......i'm happy with combat personally.

I think many people tend to forget that Blocking was changed too. You can't just hold down block and wait for the enemy's attack, you have to hit the button the moment you're struck by the attack. If you hold down the block button you'll do a shield bash (or maybe you can push away enemies the same way if you have a two-hander).

Now I can see that Parrying could be done by attacking each other at the same time, giving an advantage for dual-wielders to parry with one hand and strike with the other.

I wonder how blocking with hand-to-hand combat will work... or how hand-to-hand combat will work overall.

While I see how this would balance the differences between shield and a sowrd and two swords.. Hmm. It actually could work