Is it OK that you can block 2m bardiche with a knife?

[nGabor]

The blocks in warband are supposed to represent temporary parries. The animations just make it look like you're actually trying to stop the enemy weapon in its tracks, which is absurd. It also doesn't help that you can block infinitely many attacks coming from a single direction, so a guy holding his sword downwards is invincible to pikes.

I think you should be able to parry any weapon with any other weapon, but there should be a window of opportunity rather than a permanent blocking animation.

This is what I meant by simplification/abstraction...

This is how I would have changed the melee mechanics.
1. Separate attacks to slash and thrust.
2. Rethink directions: top left, top right, bottom left, bottom right. Both for slash and thrust
3. Make it avialable for any weapon with appropriate damage type and value. It is ridiculus you cant thrust with a sabre. And why not thrust with an axe? Just add blunt damage with low value.
4. No more permanent blocks.
5. Timed parray. Better the timing, faster the follow up action (next parray or ripost)
6. Some more authentic animations
7. Add the ability to large steps (brakeout) in any directions - as footwork is the most important in melee.
8. Maybe add a panic block (like reflex blocking) - with heavy stagger and balance loosing penalty.

Maybe it would work out good or bad, but I would be very happy with the current system TW worked out, if the game would get finally released!

Oh and I liked wear and tear for weapons and armor in Viking Conquest. But i liked sprinting and stamina too which ideas were dropped by TW already.