Regarding blocking : A poll about the old and the new system and a compromise

[Garrison72]

I just fought my first Endraga queen on 2.0. Before, these conflicts were heated and very economical battles. I'd block then counter, after drinking the appropriate potions, properly buffing up vigor just for the occasion.

Now, I can block like three hits with a robust silver sword...and then I'm dead. Suddenly the advantages of blocking with no vigor are completely meaningless. Unless I can properly buff myself up with potions, this battle which was once an exciting affair has become another roll fest. Roll, roll, roll, roll....

Please CDPR, explain to me why this new system doesn't encourage more rolling by the player. I'm beginning to think you guys have effectively nerfed your entire combat system.

 

[mrowakus]

I just fought my first Endraga queen on 2.0. Before, these conflicts were heated and very economical battles. I'd block then counter, after drinking the appropriate potions, properly buffing up vigor just for the occasion.

Now, I can block like three hits with a robust silver sword...and then I'm dead. Suddenly the advantages of blocking with no vigor are completely meaningless. Unless I can properly buff myself up with potions, this battle which was once an exciting affair has become another roll fest. Roll, roll, roll, roll....

Please CDPR, explain to me why this new system doesn't encourage more rolling by the player. I'm beginning to think you guys have effectively nerfed your entire combat system.

Yes. When I realized that thanks to the new system I really have less options than before, I quit my Dark Mode playthrough altogether. While blocking can easily be moded out, I just don't have enought steam for that in me. I don't like the direction that combat is heading for.

 

[teh_beard]

Well. Blocking in its current state is definitely broken. Not just in sense that there is no reason to actually block anything and get hit - just roll&quen away for the win. Its also ruining idea of riposte - block, take damage and wow, you have 1/10 chance to instant-kill poor SOB. Pff. I`d rather just roll&quen away.

Seriously, CDPR, its need to be redone.

 

[Ellathar]

I just hope they will back it up when invading Xbox 360. If I had to play TW2 the first time with such a non-sense system, it would have just really gave me another opinion on the game.

 

[Garrison72]

I should clarify here. I'm playing on Dark mode, so of course its supposed to be difficult. But when I played on hard, I was able to build a parry-and-counter Geralt, so I hope I can do that with the new system.

If not, does any one know if there is a mod that adjusts the damage he takes when he blocks?

 

[mrowakus]

I should clarify here. I'm playing on Dark mode, so of course its supposed to be difficult. But when I played on hard, I was able to build a parry-and-counter Geralt, so I hope I can do that with the new system.

If not, does any one know if there is a mod that adjusts the damage he takes when he blocks?

Yes, there is. Take a look here

If the values in there don't suit you, you can open thse xml files (with Notepad++ or even Notepad) and adjust the damage taken by Geralt while blocking, under a proper tag. It' very easy. Should you find it difficult, however, you can ask me to do this for you - just drop the values that would satisfy you.

 

[AsTheDeath]

It seems most people would like the proposed new blocking system - then again, people who are happy with the way things are probably won't come here to vote. Since CDProjekt seems to be listening to fan feedback, I'd say there's a fair chance some things will be changed with regards to the blocking mechanic... I haven't yet seen a mod that executes the OPs idea, so it does seem we'll have to depend on CDProjekt for this one. (Or use the blocking reverter mod, but that's not 'perfect'.

 

[smmkk]

My biggest issue with it isn't so much anything to do with balance, but that it just doesn't make sense any more. It is now inconsistent in its behaviour. It should either always use vigor or never use vigor. It just doesn't make sense that it uses vigor while you have some, but can continue to be used even if you don't. At the very least it should work better when you have vigor. Maybe something like 40/80%.

Exactly. Also enemies should take damage when blocking, makes no sense that an enemy can perfectly parry your blows all day while you can't.

 

[witcherjack]

Any word on this? Have the developers decided what to do about the blocking system?

 

[c69]

What would be great would be some incentive to block. If attacking and dodging required energy/endurance that could only be regained over time, the player would need to mix blocking in when he has been very active.

Even if they fix blocking, there is very little incentive to use it. Most of the time, against multiple opponents, dodging is 100% more effective. When you block you end up getting surrounded.

 

[Garrison72]

When you block you end up getting surrounded.

Which makes me think we may need group style back. Contending with groups is a fuckin' nightmare in this game.

Overall, I think I understand what they're going for in combat. Prioritizing your foes is key, obviously. Then there is placement, where rolling plays an important role, as it sets up backstabs. The aspect I have yet to figure out is whether blocking truly garners counter options. In the early stages of character development, it certainly doesn't, at least not in group combat. You are far too weak and so is your gear. In the earlier game version, you can afford to block once you get better armor and upgrade your vigor options. That's when it gets fun. You can actually block and throw signs. But in 2.0, with the player losing health every single time you block, I don't know.

What I would like is for a dev to explain why they implemented Quen the way they did. Do they intend for it to be a necessity in the early stages of the game? Do they intend for it to be a fallback for those that don't want to use alchemy/tactics etc, and just want to experience the story? Or do they really expect it to be the one technique that 90% of the players use? Because that's what seems to be happening. As such, it negates placement, alchemy, prioritizing your foes - pretty much everything I discussed above.

 

[Marbazoid]

Using parry has these drawbacks:

• Only absorbs 20% damage, 50% with upgrade.
• Leaves you vulnerable to being surrounded and cornered by groups. You sacrifice mobility for defence.
• Each time you parry an attack, you loose vigour.
• If you run out of vigour, your sword attacks do less damage, and you can't use signs.
• Parry does not work against magical attacks.

Using quen and dodge has these drawbacks:

• Casting quen costs vigour, and disables vigour regeneration.
• If you time your dodge badly, you may get hit.

Parry needs to be buffed big time.

 

[secondchildren]

Thant's why I prefer the old system, pre-2.0

 

[Garrison72]

nvm

 

[gordynec]

I'm sorry if this is a bump topic but i couldn' find any others like it...

Dear CDPR, TW2 is a great game even with Geralt being a lot slower than portrayed in the books, but why does he takes damage from parrying and enemies don't? Can anyone explain it to me?

Who is a witcher? Me or all the humans that can parry?

If you want to make the game more challenging or make us parry less, think of smarter ways to do it, like more dodging options or take damage only after 3 consecutive parries(so that the enemies actually have to break Geralt's defense b4 they can hurt him).

Monsters in other hand should be able to break Geralt's defence more easily or do 30% 20% dmg when he parries.

IMHO, Geralt in TW2 can't do half of what he is really capable of.

 

[username_3496324]

I fully agree with this when I was playing 2.0 in the arena and the main quest. It didn't make sense, when fighting many enemies that I took damage (and considerable amounts after more than 3 hits) and enemies never took damage, only got a little stunned. In my opinion, after this change was implemented, it broke the game.

 

[gregski]

There is already a topic on parrying/blocking in 2.0.

 

[username_3496324]

A question to the CD Project team; why does the player only take damage when parrying? I'd like to see enemies take damage to when they block, would make battle system more fair.

 

[gordynec]

IMHO:

Most people forget that Geralt is a mutant created to battle, so he should parry 100% dmg from humans since:

Witchers > Humans

If Geralt was a normal human then I would agree on the parrying damage IF the other humans also took dmg when parrying wich they don't.

But what about realism?

Well i'm not saying that only because Geralt is a mutant he would always have an easy time killing crowds of humans, but instead of CDPR treat him as a real witcher, they keep nerfing him.

One more patch and i'll prefer to play as Seltkirk LOL.

But I have faith in CDPR they will manage to improve combat so it satisfies most players

 

[tallythree]

I was considering another playthrough, when I remembered that the last time I tried to play, just after 2.0, I quit after minutes of combat because it felt so bizarre. I enjoyed the previous system with only the targeting complaints once it had been made clear to me that no vigor meant I couldn't block.

I would hugely appreciate AT LEAST a mod or setting to roll back all the parrying changes. A compromise would be nice though.

I am glad that CDPR was responsive to fan complaints and that Flash especially is so open to discussing them, but I really want to enjoy 2.0+ while playing the game I knew and loved when I woke up in the early morning to play it when it came out before I had to go to work.

I don't even care about arena scores, I just would like someone to give me the power to reverse the relevant changes and it seems like with regards to vigor at least, some developer know-how is required.