Warning: this topic has not been posted in for at least 182 days.
Unless you're sure you want to reply, please consider starting a new topic.
I know I'm invoking quite the necromancy today, forum, but the original post is really good and explores a solid idea in a very graceful way. I totally get your concerns, but I think it's more important to draw attention to ideas that deserve support, or at least consideration. Just let me say my piece before turning me in to Vatican authorities and I promise it'll be worth your while.
Destichado said:
For the secondary attack button I like Z or Ctrl, personally, but that can be configured to taste like everything else.
I've chosen to set this line apart for very good reasons. Firstly, Z or Ctrl is a questionable idea in an otherwise excellent potential execution of the concept. It would be much better to keep all this stuff to the mouse. Secondly, and following from the previous statement, we can think bigger.
What if clicking the right mouse button while the left is held down gave us a secondary attack? And what if clicking the left mouse button while parrying gave us a
tertiary attack? As you point out, a unique aspect of Mount & Blade is that we hold and release our attacks. It's an important element of relaying visual information to the player and imposes an important, but player-motivated, element of timing onto the system. Whether we're attacking or parrying, our actions provide information to any observers. As you're familiar with the fechtbucher, you'll know that extended versions of Ochs and Pflug can be used as parries. So we could structure it somewhat like this:
High Parry: Kron, with the sword held perpendicular to the guard, point upwards, and the hilt a bit above head height. If using the tertiary attack idea above, it could do the obvious attack from that position; a descending vertical cut.
Left and Right Parries: Ochs on either side, that is: hilt at head height or thereabouts, point towards one's opponent, with the hilt held to one side of the body. The obvious attack from this position is a thrust, so there we are.
Low Parry: Could be Pflug (hilt held to one side of the hip, point towards an opponent) or Alber (hilt held centrally, point angled evenly towards the ground). Either is fine. Pflug could deliver a thrust, too, I suppose, as could technically Alber. Damn, seems like these parries really want to return with a thrust.
Just as examples.
If we followed the idea of a secondary attack along, and included parries as a viable starting position as well, the result could be a much more diverse combat system. The challenge is in not laying the complexity on too thick; even the existing combat system is very deep. But I think your idea is definitely on the right track, introducing a sufficient amount of diversity with minimal additional complexity. If I was within slapping range of you, I'd slam an embarrassing star sticker right onto your forehead.