Auto-block in singleplayer

[Jacob88]

Well, like a few other here it seems, I've refunded the game for now. Until a clear answer is given on this by the developers I just can't bring myself to support them with my money. If it gets implemented again I'll be happy to support the game through it's early access development. If not, I guess it's time for me and the MB franchise to part ways, as the game simply isn't for me anymore. And that's fine too, if a little disappointing. Just wish they give a statement on such a clearly contentious issue.

 

[yeahchris]

It would be cool if someone maybe involved with Taleworld's community management (a moderator, I guess?) could maybe bring the existence of these threads to the attention of a member of TW's staff. There are multiple threads on this issue here, on steam and on reddit.

Each has hundreds of comments and tens of thousands of views.

Nobody knows what the plan is. It would be cool if we could get a simple:

A: It is a planned feature.
B: It is not a panned feature and will never be in the game.
C: We are on the fence ourselves.

...From the staff. Nobody knows what is going on. Discussions are completely full of speculation, guesswork, and trolling. Even a comment saying "We are discussing this internally and will get back to you at *PLACE AND TIME*" would seriously help.

 

[ArcticFenrir]

I won't use it and I don't need It but I still support its implementation.

 

[kekkuli5]

I won't use it and I don't need It but I still support its implementation.

You're a rare individual my friend.

 

[Virake]

if there was a lock-on feature that would allow you to move the mouse to block without moving the camera (like in For Honor, KCD, The Surge 2), then forcing everyone to select block direction manually would make at least some sense. but nope…
if they want to nerf blocking, here's an option: make attacks faster, and make poorly-timed blocks mitigate only a portion of the damage (like in Sekiro). the industry has already figured these things out, but not TaleWorlds, apparently. what a shame. melee combat was never the strong suit of M&B games, and the lack of auto-direction for blocking just makes it more frustrating.

 

[yeahchris]

Autoblock will be re-introduced, it just takes time. Developers have about million things to fix right now.

You posted this a long while ago and it stuck with me.

We do NOT know that it will be reintroduced. Every other title had this feature on launch date. Everything I can find from promotional materials, developer logs, etc, suggests that this is an intentional design decision and NOT a sign of its early access status. There is a specific list of missing features on the game's Early Access description. Automatic block direction is not in it.

 

[Orion]

That's not what this thread is about? The issue is for non-shield combat. As in civilian clothes combat and during the use of 2 handed weapons.

The person directly above me brought up directional shield blocking and noted that they could block even with the "wrong" direction, so I explained the benefits of directional blocking correctly with a shield.

The shield argument is very disappointing. I don't want to use a shield. I want to use a 2H weapon. And the obvious responses are either
a) Then use a 2H and get better at blocking, or
b) Then don't play

(b) is the end of the line, but for (a), my response is "that's not the experience I bought the game for". And finally, the usual response to that is "that's what devs intended, so deal. This isn't your game, it's theirs". And you'd be right to say so. However, all the same we can ask that it be changed.

There was an earlier post saying something like "You have shields, so you've lost literally no fun. It's still there". No it isn't. The fun I wanted was 2H, and it's not there. So I did, very much, lose it.

I didn't say you have to, or should feel like you do. I haven't posted my thoughts on auto-block yet.

I don't understand why we are still discussing "how to block".
When you have 6 fingers working out of 10 due to arthritis, there is no "how to". I cannot "git gud", period.
There is a game with auto-directional blocking, or there is none.

We need clear developer answer - is it going to be implemented or not, and when.
I can play with bugs, crashes, glitches, whatever. But without directional autoblock feature, I cannot play the game.

Thanks again to kind souls who supported the plea for it, but if this is official TW stance, I am glad the game is refunded and glad to split away from this community.

First, my posts aren't an official stance on anything. This is an unpaid volunteer gig. Second, I was explaining to the person directly above that post what the benefits of directional shield blocking were because it isn't made immediately clear in the game. I wasn't telling anyone to "git gud" or explaining how to directionally block in the first place.

I don't play with autoblock, never have since 2005 and I'm not about to start, but there has always been a choice. I appreciate having the choice because I know there are plenty of people who would like to play differently from me. I crank the difficulty settings all the way in games because I enjoy the satisfaction of overcoming the challenge, but not everyone wants that experience or has the time to develop the necessary competency. There are also options for how you control your attack directions, and we saw interesting playstyles evolve from using different settings. None of these things are strictly required to play the game "as intended," but it's great to accommodate your players by allowing them to tailor their experience.

 

[ikari]

You can't expect to build some reflexes in 3 hours though, keep at it! @Smock

well it should be bypassable then (like in any other M&B game) I don't have the patience the time nor desire - seriously with this little change the game creeps into "games I don't play" category ... I might go back to Warband when the novelty wears off

git gud normies

oh shut up

 

[Sithrain]

+1 for autoblocking. Also I would like to keep the game but refund the new community, is that an option?

 

[BlamBlam]

Yup ,have to admit, +1 for the auto blocking back in SP.

After all, everybody who's quick enough and doesn't want the extra advantage might just turn auto blocking off and that's it.
It could be easily in campaign's options, next to damage amount to character, friendly units, movement speed and other "difficulty" checkboxes.

Like many wrote above, not all people playing are "die hard gamers" simply quick and responsive enough to master this .And the level of difficulty without automatic blocking may turn the "pleasure" of gaming into struggle - and eventually scare them off the game, and this the devs should consider

 

[Adrivan]

Yup ,have to admit, +1 for the auto blocking back in SP.

After all, everybody who's quick enough and doesn't want the extra advantage might just turn auto blocking off and that's it.
It could be easily in campaign's options, next to damage amount to character, friendly units, movement speed and other "difficulty" checkboxes.

Like many wrote above, not all people playing are "die hard gamers" simply able to the quick and responsive enough to master this .And the level of difficulty without automatic blocking may turn the "pleasure" of gaming into struggle - and eventually scare them off the game, and this the devs should consider

Yes but imagine auto block never existed. Treat this as a new game. Congratulations, now you are going to use shields!

 

[BlamBlam]

Yes but imagine auto block never existed. Treat this as a new game. Congratulations, now you are going to use shields!

Probably yes. But keeping in mind that maaaany guys here are "veteran" M&B players, who waited impatiently for M&B continuation- it may be hard to imagine auto block. never existed.

If somebody played with it for many years- it can ruin his experience doesn't it? Afer all- in SP as the name suggests - everybody plays by himself, so it's hard to understand why its such a big deal to make it optional? M&B series was always the title that was opened for "adjustability" for the players so everybody has the experience they prefer. Imho it always good to see every issues also from somebody else's perspective

 

[Adrivan]

Probably yes. But keeping in mind that maaaany guys here are "veteran" M&B players, who waited impatiently for M&B continuation- it may be hard to imagine auto block. never existed.

If somebody played with it for many years- it can ruin his experience doesn't it? Afer all- in SP as the name suggests - everybody plays by himself, so it's hard to understand why its such a big deal to make it optional? M&B series was always the title that was opened for "adjustability" for the players so everybody has the experience they prefer. Imho it always good to see every issues also from somebody else's perspective

Well, one reason I can see is that it takes away the value of using a shield. The shield already has auto block. And it's something that doesn't feel like cheating, it's part of the game. You pay money for it, you upgrade it. So they've given you the choice to have autoblock by keeping a shield in one hand, or if you are more experienced in combat you can go without shield and manually block.
Seems reasonable to me.

 

[bicheichane]

It does not take away the value of using a shield. Try charging two handed against a band of forest bandits without a shield and tell me how that works out for you. Especially if you're not running late-game armor and 1/3 damage taken. You'll get rekt because ranged enemies are a significant threat in bannerlord compared to warband, and that's fine. You can't really do a 1 man army here, and that's fine.

But having auto-block as a toggleable option in SP wouldn't affect players who don't want the reduced challenge in the slightest, and also wouldn't take away the value of shields themselves. So please let's just call this discussion a day, simply recognize at least some players would like this feature back and move on with our lives, shall we?

 

[[OSOD] CUMCHUG]

As a tetrapalegic gamer I don't mind not having automatic block. I type with a text to speech generator and play video games with the help of a special controller my caregiver helped me set up! This game is great! I love mountain blade.

 

[MadMickey]

I am learning disabled and cannot read and write properly and have hard time playing games so I need features like this to help me play the game it is very sad to have it removed for me so I cant play it

 

[MadMickey]

As a tetrapalegic gamer I don't mind not having automatic block. I type with a text to speech generator and play video games with the help of a special controller my caregiver helped me set up! This game is great! I love mountain blade.

plus one to this post it is hard to play the game now i miss playing mountain blade i need to play warband now

 

[No idea]

seriously.. you want the advantages of two handed but without the downsides... you might as well delete shields

I dont think so. If they allowed autoblock (as in previous games, it is not something new) shield would still give you an important adventage when fighting against missiles (arrows, bolts...). With a 2H weapon, you are/were eaten alive against archers.

Besides, let people to play the game as they like to play it, instead of forcing them to play as you think it should be played/you like to play it

 

[BlamBlam]

Well, one reason I can see is that it takes away the value of using a shield. The shield already has auto block. And it's something that doesn't feel like cheating, it's part of the game. You pay money for it, you upgrade it. So they've given you the choice to have autoblock by keeping a shield in one hand, or if you are more experienced in combat you can go without shield and manually block.
Seems reasonable to me.

Hmm.. That's what I mean by "trying to look from somebody else's perspective" You seem to be pretty focused on the shield advantage imo.

But in new system- it is an advantage - you mess up the block direction with shield and it's pretty good chance You'll still block the blow. Also With shield usually you can just keep the block button in and wait for the blows to come until You ready for counterattack while without shield - even with auto block- You still need some focus and reflexes to tap the block button in the right time- especially that the higher level opponents feint and change attack direction quite often.

Advantage of shields against ranged weapons being out of question of course ; )

 

[Ambaryerno]

if there was a lock-on feature that would allow you to move the mouse to block without moving the camera (like in For Honor, KCD, The Surge 2), then forcing everyone to select block direction manually would make at least some sense. but nope…
if they want to nerf blocking, here's an option: make attacks faster, and make poorly-timed blocks mitigate only a portion of the damage (like in Sekiro). the industry has already figured these things out, but not TaleWorlds, apparently. what a shame. melee combat was never the strong suit of M&B games, and the lack of auto-direction for blocking just makes it more frustrating.

I've suggested this, too. Padlocking a target has a been a standard feature in third-person games with melee combat since Ocarina of Time introduced Z-Targeting over twenty years ago. There's a reason games are STILL implementing it with few changes to this day: IT WORKS.

Also, I've suggested a "melee reticle" that's always on-screen when your weapon is drawn, with directional arrows that light up in a different color when your attack or block is going that direction. It would be MUCH easier to keep track of this than the arrows that flash on screen at the edges of your view, and I find are VERY difficult to pick up at times since doing so may require taking your eyes away from your target. Something like this:

This puts the directional indicators right in the center of your view (similar to KCD's reticle).