How to play against a spammer?

[PTcruiser95]

So I would like to see what some of you veterans out there have to say about this. I am fairly new to this game (about 135 hrs.), and I am slowly becoming proficient at blocking, with an emphasis on the word slowly! I know it just takes time to become a good blocker though. However, I really do not know what to do against spammers. If I am in a duel trading blows and blocks with a regular player I can hold my own to some degree, but I usually get creamed against a spammer. My problem is that I just am not proficient enough to block that many blows at once, and if I try to spam the spammer I get out-spammed, so to speak.  Any ideas or tips, or do I just need to wait it out for another hundred hours or so till I am really good at blocking? I really do love this game, and I am extremely envious of you guys who have been playing for like 500 hrs. and seem to own effortlessly. 

 

[b00227783]

If you are both using a 2 hander, then you should be able to block, then attack right away. Depends on your positioning though, he might hit you first with a left strike when you are on his left than you using a right strike.


If using a 1 hander vs a 2 hander keep in mind there is a stun that stops you attacking back, but this will go away if you block 2 attacks, then attack.

 

[Kazzan]

Block and attack. Sometimes the enemy or you can get a double attack chance, but those are more on intuition I suppose.

 

[sammac]

If using a 1 hander vs a 2 hander keep in mind there is a stun that stops you attacking back, but this will go away if you block 2 attacks, then attack.

That depends on the weight of the weapon

 

[sotamursu123]

Learn the technique called "hiltslashing" (i guess there are some other names for it, too). It's the fastest method of attacking, but it has shorter reach and lower damage than a normal attack. Basically, swing from the left side (i assume you're using 1h), and when swinging, your character should face a bit to the right of your opponent, and a bit down. Just watch how the "veteran" players attack and try to attack the same way.

 

[Reapy]

Since you said dueling, going to assume by spammer you don't mean a guy who constant attacks. (If that is the case, block, then attack, making sure you attack the guy on the front half of your swing arc ).

If the player has a longer weapon than you, (if they have a great sword this mean if you don't have one they have reach), the burden is on you to block, that is about it.

Sure you can sneak in a few hits when they aren't paying attention, but really they get to do whatever the f they want with their weapon while you have the hard task of blocking it. If they have weight on you (great sword) most likely you will be under stun and have to block a second time.

If someone does spaz feints in your face, it takes a long while to get comfortable blocking them. Basically you have to wait until the guys arms 'smooth out' as they release the swing to block. It is rough for sure, and if they start doing it in the middle of a fight I think for myself the reaction was to just immediately attack.

Depending who is doing it, people often let their swing go right as you get into their range, so you can be read for an attack at that point. When in doubt and you don't know probability says they will spam right swing then thrust.

Finally the other trick is to make sure you keep yourself facing the person. I have a lot of trouble with this too and let people get around behind me a lot. Don't forget your footwork and facing while you zone in on their weapon.

Remember above all they still must obey the rules of timing, so given you aren't stunned, just start your own offensive sequence right after you have blocked them. For spazzy players try to keep that feint sequence to no more than 2 feints, or try a hold attack to slow them down. Save the 3 feints for after you've done 1 or 2 a few times

 

[PTcruiser95]

Hmm... interesting guys. Just so you know, my setup is usually 2h (my actual weapon choice depends, sometimes I want length, sometimes speed). Occasionally just for the heck of it I go one handed. I don't like to use shield except occasionally as the Kherghits, or if I am under heavy arrow fire. I mostly play siege, or if that is laggy, then team deathmatch or deathmatch.

Now that you know all that, it might help. When I said duel, I just meant the regular 1v1 battles we all fight all the time. I suppose my problem might be the stun factor in some cases. It often seems that people with bigger weapons can swing faster, i.e. I block, and they swing again before I can get in a swing. Unfortunately, it seems to work just the opposite when I have a big 2h vs. a 1h. I feel like I should stun, but they move in and spam attacks so fast that I cannot block them in time.

Even so, these tips are helpful. I guess what I really need is more play time! I know that even though I have some basic skill (read: very little), I just need more practice to figure this stuff out and become better at blocking and timing. My blocking is still often a half second too late and all, and probably some of the players that give me trouble have been playing a lot longer than I have. It just irks me that someone who throws all form to the wind and just spams and feints like crazy can beat me when I am trying to do things the "right" way by not spamming "like a noob".... Not to say I don't ever spam, but I try not to.

Oh, and reapy, you are saying I should just go ahead and attack immediately if I block someone who feints? Because I often get confused with the speed (especially against spears. I hate fighting spears) and try to block everything, and then it seems like they kill me before I get a hit in.

 

[Mr.X]

Hmm... interesting guys. Just so you know, my setup is usually 2h (my actual weapon choice depends, sometimes I want length, sometimes speed). Occasionally just for the heck of it I go one handed. I don't like to use shield except occasionally as the Kherghits, or if I am under heavy arrow fire. I mostly play siege, or if that is laggy, then team deathmatch or deathmatch.

Now that you know all that, it might help. When I said duel, I just meant the regular 1v1 battles we all fight all the time. I suppose my problem might be the stun factor in some cases. It often seems that people with bigger weapons can swing faster, i.e. I block, and they swing again before I can get in a swing. Unfortunately, it seems to work just the opposite when I have a big 2h vs. a 1h. I feel like I should stun, but they move in and spam attacks so fast that I cannot block them in time.

Even so, these tips are helpful. I guess what I really need is more play time! I know that even though I have some basic skill (read: very little), I just need more practice to figure this stuff out and become better at blocking and timing. My blocking is still often a half second too late and all, and probably some of the players that give me trouble have been playing a lot longer than I have. It just irks me that someone who throws all form to the wind and just spams and feints like crazy can beat me when I am trying to do things the "right" way by not spamming "like a noob".... Not to say I don't ever spam, but I try not to.

Oh, and reapy, you are saying I should just go ahead and attack immediately if I block someone who feints? Because I often get confused with the speed (especially against spears. I hate fighting spears) and try to block everything, and then it seems like they kill me before I get a hit in.

Nothing wrong with left clicking if you enjoy it

Honestly, every fight is so situational and different that you can't really boil it down to a formula of when to block and when to attack. The most general way to say it is really just block when you have to, and other than that, you should probably be trying to kill him in the fastest way possible. Whether that's feinting a lot or left clicking a few times in a row, or blocking 3 or 4 hits to get his guard down or whatever.

Once you know about stun you can start recognizing it and eventually you'll be able to feel when you're stunned and have to block.

 

[HoG_FloorBelow]

Chamber-block him.

 

[PTcruiser95]

Like I said, I guess I just need more practice to know all this stuff. But thanks guys. Some of the stuff, like the stun, helped.

FloorBelow, I am just so good that I can chamber like anything, now I just have to learn to block. *sarcasm* Unfortunately, that is not a viable option yet for me. I still stink at blocking...

 

[HoG_FloorBelow]

Most of the time, spammers will only ever do a right slash, and only switch to a backhand if you get on the wrong side. Just stay to the front or left and backhand swing as soon as you see him let go of his chamber. If they will stay in front of you then you can try to land a kick, though a one-handed spammer may not give you much time to do so.
Above all, make sure you always turn into the swing. If you can do that, you will be able to land hits quickly, and break out of a spam cycle.

 

[Scully]

A combination of spam and holding is more effective.

I'm not helping am I?

 

[PTcruiser95]

LOL. I know spamming is effective against noobs like me, but I have seen spammers get absolutely owned by a good blocker, and I would like to do that as well. On a side note, I have been playing multi for several months now, and I just played some single player this morning. Was amazed at how easy the bots are to block!

 

[Reapy]

Sorry the advice was for dueling spaz feinters hehe

The main thing is that the average player is pretty damn good now, you can't mow through 90% of a server just by knowing how to block.  Spammers are tricky, if you ever looked at neih's warband learning curve, we stuck a 'bump' under spam because once you start spamming you get a bit of a power rush and down more people, but eventually that falls back down again.

But yeah spammers go at 'full speed' as I like to call it, which is faster than you will be used to. Newer guys add some delay between 'actions' they take (between blocking/attacking), so when you run into a good player who has 0 lag between his actions, it seems like they are going unnaturally fast.

There could be some arbitrary reasons also for the delay. It's been a few weeks but if GK siege is where you are at and they are full up, sometimes there is some CPU lag there that can cause your blocks /swings to not register quickly. Also if your ping is up around 100, this can also slow you down somewhat.

Those factors can be overcome by giving yourself more space between people. The space gives you more time between attacks to get your block locked in.

I guess in the end though, just try to push yourself, as soon as you block something, immediately attack, and try to make sure you angle your guy so the moment the swing starts doing full damage, is where it will hit the guy. Once you get that down pat, you should start doing really well.

 

[Mr.X]

Most of the time, spammers will only ever do a right slash, and only switch to a backhand if you get on the wrong side. Just stay to the front or left and backhand swing as soon as you see him let go of his chamber. If they will stay in front of you then you can try to land a kick, though a one-handed spammer may not give you much time to do so.
Above all, make sure you always turn into the swing. If you can do that, you will be able to land hits quickly, and break out of a spam cycle.

Lonol. "Spammers" use all 4 attack directions and the turn cap is fairly high right now.


Above all, just focus on having fun

 

[J.R.]

SOmetimes he do fails so just block and hit. Its very effective and when you are good... Spam back!
I hope i can help you

 

[Flaming Monkey]

Above all, just focus on having fun

You know, I usually notice that I play a lot better when having fun.

 

[Crus5ver]

HI!
against spammers, i just become a spammer to defeat spammers!
i just spam, EASY!

 

[Cleomenes]

Spam his ass back, I hate spamming idiots... I only spam against hammers[Big ass Rhodok hammers, I have no chance against them]

 

[PTcruiser95]

Above all, just focus on having fun

You know, I usually notice that I play a lot better when having fun.

Perhaps that is because you have more fun when you play better??? 

I guess I just have to live with spammers and everything else in this game. No other game would I put up with being frustrated and terrible 70% of the time; but that 30% (probably more like 20%) or so when I get it right - gosh I love this game.