Automatic Sword Sheathing Suggestion...

[typifire]

Automatic Sword Sheathing Suggestion...

My suggestion is that this feature please be removed!!Before everyone jumps on me, I love this game to death. It is amazing! (And if anyone has a Polish Version of the Collector's Edition they'd like to sell please let me know!!) But this feature is completely annoying and I can't think of one good thing it accomplishes. I can list plenty of annoying situations it creates:1. Your sword is out because you know in the next room a group of people will be jumping you. Well, too bad for you, as soon as the area loads you will be sheathing your sword as you are getting your @ss kicked. The best bet is to make sure you DON"T have your sword out in preparation for an ambush, as it takes less time to pull it out than to sheath it and pull it out again.2. Temporary lull in the action? There goes your sword, back into it's sheath. Just in time for you get mauled by another group of enemies.3. Searching plants, a trunk, or even remains? Prepare yourself for sword sheathing as soon as you exit the loot menu, and hope nothing spawned just before or after you started the looting process.4. In an area that does not allow combat but are the victim of scripted attacks? You won't be able to draw your sword pretty much until you've already been attacked.Who thought automatic sword sheathing was a good idea? There are times this has nearly gotten me killed, and I don't know one good thing it adds to the game. I should be in complete control of when my weapon is drawn or sheathed. If the area does not allow for combat, don't allow me to swing it. But at least give me control of when it's drawn. I'm tired of nearly dying because of this.

 

[xtracker85]

Yep. I agree with you. It does get annoying sometimes and when you are automatically sheathing your weapon when standing still, the animation stops you from moving for a good 2-3 sec leaving you vulnerable. Plus sometimes i prefer to use the torch in dark areas instead of wasting my cat potion and it is horrendously frustrating when he keeps sheathing back the torch leaving me in pitch darkness. lol. I propose to remove this feature as well and let us decide when to sheath our weapons.

 

[jableskage]

agree with both of you!

 

[BrotherCool]

Even though I haven't played the game yet, I must agree with you. That would greatly piss me off.

 

[Mothra]

i agree only in part.1) during combat or in combat areas when you draw your sword it gets drawn until you sheath it yourself or enter a NON-combat area (could be a house, could be another level, could be just that it's not night anymore) same with torch, yes please2) plants/looting: i think that's ok. either combat or looting. decide !3) in non-combat areas when getting into a scripted fight it's OK that you have to draw your sword yourself and receive damage.I mean, c'mon IT'S AN AMBUSH. only because WE already played the game and anticipate the attack Geralt can't startrunning around with sword drawn in friendly areas !!!! anarchy !so yes please remove auto-sheath in combat areas.

 

[madmax911]

Agreed. developers should do something in the next patches about this. Make this sticky and hope more will sign agree on this.

 

[targonis]

If it is an ambush, then fine, so be it. The problem I have is when the cut-scene shows Geralt drawing his sword at the end and then you are forced to draw it yourself while being attacked.Now, if you are cautious, you might go through a door with your weapon drawn, so the automatic behavior is also broken. The medallion SHOULD be telling Geralt that there is danger IF the medallion is set to the proper mode, so an ambush really isn't even a good reason for the automatic behavior.There should be special code for if you are using a torch, because let's face it, if you USE a torch, you will NOT be putting it away just because you are looting something, you hold it with your left hand and open the object with the other.A big problem is that the animations do not permit you to stop them, and there are no improvements to the speed if your dexterity skills are high(if you have a high dexterity, you SHOULD be able to get your sword in and out of it's sheath a bit faster IMO). Dropping one weapon to draw another quickly could also be an obnoxious option in some cases.

i agree only in part.1) during combat or in combat areas when you draw your sword it gets drawn until you sheath it yourself or enter a NON-combat area (could be a house, could be another level, could be just that it's not night anymore) same with torch, yes please2) plants/looting: i think that's ok. either combat or looting. decide !3) in non-combat areas when getting into a scripted fight it's OK that you have to draw your sword yourself and receive damage.I mean, c'mon IT'S AN AMBUSH. only because WE already played the game and anticipate the attack Geralt can't startrunning around with sword drawn in friendly areas !!!! anarchy !so yes please remove auto-sheath in combat areas.

 

[username_2068589]

I agree completely. I find it very annoying that Geralt puts his weapon away.I wouldn't even mind if they let me run around with it in towns! It's *my* fate, if I want to screw it up by randomly killing townspeople, I should be able to

 

[kerplotz]

I'm also with having this feature removed. I can tie my shoes myself, thank you. It constantly irks me when I'm performing an interaction, which is then interrupted while he stops to sheath the sword! I get mad just thinking about it.On a similar note, I wish a torch could be used in non combat areas. There are many dark areas outside where I'd like to use a torch rather than a cat potion, but I can't because it's considered a weapon. Also, understanding that the sword is two handed, if I'm using a one hand item like a dagger, why can't I hold a torch in the other? Most other games I've played make the distinction between 2 handed weapons, and 1 hand weapons with an "offhand" item, i.e., shield, torch, etc. I've seen npcs with a weapon in each hand. What's the deal?

 

[typifire]

i agree only in part.1) during combat or in combat areas when you draw your sword it gets drawn until you sheath it yourself or enter a NON-combat area (could be a house, could be another level, could be just that it's not night anymore) same with torch, yes please2) plants/looting: i think that's ok. either combat or looting. decide !3) in non-combat areas when getting into a scripted fight it's OK that you have to draw your sword yourself and receive damage.I mean, c'mon IT'S AN AMBUSH. only because WE already played the game and anticipate the attack Geralt can't startrunning around with sword drawn in friendly areas !!!! anarchy !so yes please remove auto-sheath in combat areas.

1. Not true. At night, when one is an endless combat area, at the end of a fight, after a brief pause, Geralt will sheathe his sword. This may not always be the case, but I KNOW I have had him put it away just in time for three more Barghests to spawn, and been mauled while trying to take it out or move in the delay that accompanies the sheathing while standing still. IF you're moving when he sheathes it, you can continue moving, but the drawing of the sword is still delayed. I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, I have had this happen in combat areas.2. What is silly is that he doesn't put it away until you're done looting. If he put it away first it wouldn't be so bad. Here's an example: I went on a late night alchemy run for ingredients and XP. Immediately after fighting off one Barghest, I was extracting some ingredients from a Celandine plant. As I entered the looting screen with my weapon still drawn three Barghests spawned. If Geralt had put his sword away prior to entering the looting screen, then upon leaving it I would have only had to draw it. But, since he doesn't put it away until leaving the screen, I had to wait the 2-3 seconds a previous poster described to draw my sword, while being mauled by a group of Barghests.3. While it is fine that you have to draw it yourself, my reaction time is better than the games. I find myself trying to draw my sword 3-4 times before it lets me draw it.I suggest it be a gameplay option you can check or uncheck, and that way those who want to keep it can.Also, as far as entering areas and ambushes are concerned: The first time through, when entering the Salamandra Hideout in the Outskirts, I did not need a previous playthrough to tell me danger was on the other side of the door. I drew my sword because I KNEW what would be waiting. Imagine my horror when I then sheathed it and could not redraw it before I was slaughtered by a group of Salamanders. It even looked like they were going to let me keep it unsheathed, but that was merely an illusion caused by a delay on the sheathing mechanic. OH, was I PISSED.

 

[typifire]

i agree only in part.1) during combat or in combat areas when you draw your sword it gets drawn until you sheath it yourself or enter a NON-combat area (could be a house, could be another level, could be just that it's not night anymore) same with torch, yes please2) plants/looting: i think that's ok. either combat or looting. decide !3) in non-combat areas when getting into a scripted fight it's OK that you have to draw your sword yourself and receive damage.I mean, c'mon IT'S AN AMBUSH. only because WE already played the game and anticipate the attack Geralt can't startrunning around with sword drawn in friendly areas !!!! anarchy !so yes please remove auto-sheath in combat areas.

I think I may have misinterpreted your reply. You weren't saying it isn't the case in Combat Areas, you're saying it should only apply to combat areas. Sorry for the misunderstanding.I can agree with that, if and only if at the exact moment an enemy spawns in a non-combat area, I am able to draw my sword. Running around the Trade Quarter at night, Kikimores will spawn and I will see them and try to draw my sword 3-4 times before the game will let me actually draw it. By that time the things already humping my leg. (And don't ask me why the Trade Quarter remains Non-Combat even at night.)

 

[Mothra]

yeah, i meant it should be possible to stay drawn as long as you like in combat areas.but still i think that the disadvantage of having the sword sheated when being attacked in non-combat areas is OK.and I don't know: if I could kill peasants and guards during day it would be even more odd if you could kill key ppl in the game:alvin, triss, ????? no, it's OK. it would have been a logistic nightmare to make every part of the world, every character killable.i never had troubles with swarming enemies, just DONT draw your sword in the first possible second:1) pause2) choose sign (preferably the strongest)3) BLAST4) double-tap movement key (dodge/jump away)5) draw swordsaved me from many "free" stuns or pain attacks by others.and yeah, sometimes Geralt is a little slow with drawing the sword.I agree that when on a mission and entering a house you KNOW to be dangerous Geralt should spawn there with sword drawn.it's no ambush, you knew beforehand there will be opposition.

 

[typifire]

yeah, i meant it should be possible to stay drawn as long as you like in combat areas.I agree that when on a mission and entering a house you KNOW to be dangerous Geralt should spawn there with sword drawn.it's no ambush, you knew beforehand there will be opposition.

Right. And while there are multiple methods of getting around this feature, it seems silly to have to devise methods to circumvent a feature with no real purpose.Also, i don't want to be able to pull an Oblivion and slaughter whole towns. I remember the first time I attacked a dog in Vizima before realizing you could buy one portion of dog tallow a day from the peasant trader: I had to reload a previous save because his whimpering and running away saddened me so. Yes, I know. Pathetic.BUT, I should only be at the mercy of an ambush because I did not notice I was in danger, not because the software didn't register it quickly enough. I am not for allowing the slaughtering of an entire town. Just the ability to adequately respond to a threat I have noticed in time to defend against.

 

[risenangel]

So yeah, I'm completely gonna jump on the band wagon here and agree. It gets old.............. fast. They could've had Geralt picking his nose every 10 seconds and that still might have been less annoying. I've yet to figure out a good way to circumvent it either.

 

[burritonator]

I've been playing the game for quite a while now (I'm well into Act IV), and I don't remember any cases where the automatic sword-sheathing caused me any problems. I'd actually find it annoying if Geralt *didn't* automatically sheath his sword, as it seems to me that having draw and sheath it manually all of time would get really old in a hurry.I do agree, however, that there should be an option to toggle the auto-sheathing, so that players who don't like it won't have to deal with it.

 

[serdinq]

I think the complain is totally relevant, but for me this thing is boring mainly because of another problem : The weapon drawing is very irritating because it stucks any command during a long time. You can't even keep a movement key push until this elapse time is over because it won't do anything once the elapse time is over. So you have to unpress the movement key then retry and so on until the elapse time is over and your attempt to move works. Very very bad detail enforcing a feeling of a lack of fluidity in action design.This drawing design is also boring for fight mode selection, you cannot select quickly the mode you want by pres 1, 2 or 3 time the draw key to draw and select the mode you want. You have to press once, then wait the elapse time to ends and then only you can attempt select your mode. Beside that I haven't see where to know my current fight mode selection.The weirdest of the auto sheath is that it involves also a an elapse time, and if you are stop then auto sheath starts and you try start moving, no chance you have to wait the delay.All of that said, it's a minor detail that doesn't really spoil my fun. Against the auto sheath I do manual sheath asap to not let the auto surprise me.

 

[typifire]

I've been playing the game for quite a while now (I'm well into Act IV), and I don't remember any cases where the automatic sword-sheathing caused me any problems. I'd actually find it annoying if Geralt *didn't* automatically sheath his sword, as it seems to me that having draw and sheath it manually all of time would get really old in a hurry.I do agree, however, that there should be an option to toggle the auto-sheathing, so that players who don't like it won't have to deal with it.

Well, what is the need to sheath it at all? Really? What does putting your sword away allow you to do, that you could not do with it drawn? Nothing. But I can tell you what you can't do with it sheathed: Stay alive very long.

 

[typifire]

This drawing design is also boring for fight mode selection, you cannot select quickly the mode you want by pres 1, 2 or 3 time the draw key to draw and select the mode you want. You have to press once, then wait the elapse time to ends and then only you can attempt select your mode. Beside that I haven't see where to know my current fight mode selection.The weirdest of the auto sheath is that it involves also a an elapse time, and if you are stop then auto sheath starts and you try start moving, no chance you have to wait the delay.

You're fighting stance/mode is displayed in the upper left corner of the screen. There are three icons that will highlight as you toggle through. The top is strong, the middle fast, and the bottom group. Once your sword is drawn you can actually use the hot key for that weapon to toggle fighting stances. For instance my Steel Sword is W. Once i press W, I can press W again and again to change fighting stances and can continue to do so until my weapon is sheathed.And yes the 3 second delay on movement during an auto-sheath while standing still is the worst.

 

[kerplotz]

I agree that when on a mission and entering a house you KNOW to be dangerous Geralt should spawn there with sword drawn.it's no ambush, you knew beforehand there will be opposition.

A perfect case in point is when he goes to rescue Alvin. You know there's Salamanders in there, but you spawn in with sheathed sword and a crowd of guys hammering on you instantly? That's kind of bs, in my opinion. Sure, it's survivable, but from a story point of view, it's dumb.

 

[typifire]

A perfect case in point is when he goes to rescue Alvin. You know there's Salamanders in there, but you spawn in with sheathed sword and a crowd of guys hammering on you instantly? That's kind of bs, in my opinion. Sure, it's survivable, but from a story point of view, it's dumb.

EXACTLY. This was my first VERY frustrating situation with this. I KNEW there would be a group of enemies on the other side of the door, and I had never tested to see if your sword would remain drawn when entering an area. I was immeditaely attacked, and while it at first looked like the sword was going to stay out, it was really only a 2 second delay on him sheathing it. All of which was beyond my control. AND he was standing completely still, unable to move. So then add another 3-5 seconds delay for sheathing delay that occurs when you sheath the sword while standing still, and I am getting my @ss beat for nearly seven seconds by a group of about 5-7 guys before I can pull my sword because of a poor game mechanic.