I really don't understand the people in favor of bows and shields. Why did TaleWorlds implement this complex physics-based melee model if the meta favors turtles and bowsnipers so much? Duel servers are not the answer here because you can't just save the whole gameplay with artificial duel between players, these situations should occur randomly on the battlefield.
While it is more realistic, is it not necessarily fun and competitive multiplayer game should favor skill over realism. It's just frustrating to siege castle without being able to personally impact the gameplay; even if you get to the walls (you are forced to go with shield or you will get sniped from 500+ metres) you will get shot by archers who can deal enormous amount of damage even at point blank.
Current state of multiplayer is only an interactive experience for casuals who want to see big medieval battle rather than being competitive game.
Currently the game revolves around two concepts:
- Playing an archer and sniping everybody while not suffering any disadvantages in melee combat
- Not playing an archer and either trying to juke your way towards archers or bash peoples' shields.
So again, why did TaleWorlds rework the combat system at all? Why did they add depth to it if it's not possible to experience it due to bow and shield spam? Manual combat is the best part of this game because it's when skill of two players is measured and compared. The timings, faking hits, footwork, newly added combos and swing momentum... But you don't get it in this game. You either pull unbreakable shield out and simplify all combat to pressing two buttons or become an archer and be literal sniper who deals enormous damage at any distances with surgical precision.
Currently the factor that determines whether you are successful or not is only how often you get randomly sniped out. And it makes me mad. Good competitive game shouldn't force situations where only one (or none at all) solution is viable. There's no counterplay to archer; you can take shield to close the distance but in reality it only makes you able to approach him, he still can challenge you in melee combat without any disadvantages. This makes archer
significantly better than any other class.