Early game combat feels awful

[Edaqa]

I'm relatively not far into the game, about 10hrs, but still the combat feels quite bad. I don't feel like any kind of trained bodyguard, as I'm supposed to be, but a couch potato that's picked up a weapon for the first time in my life.

My stamina is gone after a couple swings and maybe a block. This just isn't realistic, and makes early combat extremely hard. And there's no option to run away, since the enemies have no problem chasing me down and attacking.

It has a runaway feedback loop as well. Once at low stamina, you get hit, your stamina cap is lowered, thus making it easier to be out of stamina. Perhaps this is okay later in the game, but this is awful for the early game. One wrong move and I've lost the combat.

An example of a nonsensical combat situation is a wild dog. If they manage to get a quick first bite, I get trapped in a zero-stamina loop. I'm unable t make any kind of sensible response as backing up causes an attack, blocking drains stamina, attacking can't be done with zero stamina, drains the rest if I have any left. So I just die.

It doesn't help that the draw weapon buttons on the controller have a bad layout. There is no quick way to pull my weapon. I need to press left-arrow, maybe hold, but sometimes I need to switch weapons and click A. That's a long sequence for when a dialog option has just gone bad and I face a surprise attack. Worse, it requires me to let go of the Left Pad to touch the buttons, meaning I can't even backup while drawing the weapon.

I'm really hoping this gets better somehow (though alternate keys for drawing weapon would be good.)

[Swans]

Combat gets easier, but not better. It remains a clunky QTE mini-game and things like the poor hitboxes (impossible to score a hit if you are not on level ground with the adversary) remain.

So yes, it becomes less of a chore because it's over faster as you level up, but combat remains a badly implemented mess, regardless of level.

[Vali]

I think this is the best combat system ever. But it depends maybe what you like.

Dont fight in the beginning of the game with real enemys, look for training partners and train as much as possible. Dont follow the main quest until you have decend stats str and agi 15+. Start with heavy weapons like axes and clubs and take a shield. Longsword is better for end game.

The Miller and his boys can help you and try to win the tournament. If you are able to win it, you are ready for all enemys in the first chapter.

[martin77]

Originally posted by Swans:

Combat gets easier, but not better. It remains a clunky QTE mini-game and things like the poor hitboxes (impossible to score a hit if you are not on level ground with the adversary) remain.

So yes, it becomes less of a chore because it's over faster as you level up, but combat remains a badly implemented mess, regardless of level.

thats quite not right.
of course it will be better and more fluid.
you can swing faster and more precise, block better so on.

you can see where the enemy will swing and master strikes you can do and aviod depends on the position of the enemys weapon.
i see no *clunky* QTE here.

its not a mess its fun.
practise is the thing

[wojciech.jodelko]

I have no idea what youa are talking about guys. Yes at the beginning combat is more difficult but this is the entire beauty of the game. You PROGRESS as a knight with your skills. What you expected??

[Problem Solver]

Basically you start out as a noob. You got limited skills, perks, and equipment. You have to get out there and train your butt off to get better. Which is the same for most games. You start out at level 1 and by end of game you are an OP level 100.

[duncanjmcintyre]

Originally posted by Edaqa:

I'm relatively not far into the game, about 10hrs, but still the combat feels quite bad. I don't feel like any kind of trained bodyguard, as I'm supposed to be, but a couch potato that's picked up a weapon for the first time in my life.

My stamina is gone after a couple swings and maybe a block. This just isn't realistic, and makes early combat extremely hard. And there's no option to run away, since the enemies have no problem chasing me down and attacking.

It has a runaway feedback loop as well. Once at low stamina, you get hit, your stamina cap is lowered, thus making it easier to be out of stamina. Perhaps this is okay later in the game, but this is awful for the early game. One wrong move and I've lost the combat.

An example of a nonsensical combat situation is a wild dog. If they manage to get a quick first bite, I get trapped in a zero-stamina loop. I'm unable t make any kind of sensible response as backing up causes an attack, blocking drains stamina, attacking can't be done with zero stamina, drains the rest if I have any left. So I just die.

It doesn't help that the draw weapon buttons on the controller have a bad layout. There is no quick way to pull my weapon. I need to press left-arrow, maybe hold, but sometimes I need to switch weapons and click A. That's a long sequence for when a dialog option has just gone bad and I face a surprise attack. Worse, it requires me to let go of the Left Pad to touch the buttons, meaning I can't even backup while drawing the weapon.

I'm really hoping this gets better somehow (though alternate keys for drawing weapon would be good.)

Git Gud nub

[heartnetsky]

this is an RPG but your "grinding partner" is not some poring slime, your grinding partner is your teacher such as tomcat, bertosch, etc. leave the bandits and soldiers for later, get at least lv 15+ in your preferred combat skill before engaging them. your stamina gets higher as your vitality lvl goes up(as if levelling that isn't easy enough) and you can increase it with henry's bucksblood. as for wild dogs and wolves the strategy is a bit different than human.

[#1Son]

its supposed to be like that.. but.. its actually easy unless your really new to the franchise..
just play it.. and once you actually get henry trained up realistically EXPERIENCE gained from doing. he will be unstoppable and by then.. the game is just a feel good hack and slash

[Tripp]

Originally posted by wojciech.jodelko:

I have no idea what you are talking about guys. Yes at the beginning combat is more difficult but this is the entire beauty of the game. You PROGRESS as a knight with your skills. What you expected??

i expect a system that does not nullify full plate armor, vitality, strength, ect. because some "gamers" fall for it when companies say their half-assed product is your fault by stealing from better game communities that are actually hard because they were designed to be that way, This isn't Dark Souls this isn't balanced to be difficult from start to stop "get good" doesn't apply to this game because 99% of the fights in the game including big finale or major battles are so easy that i have only used healing potions for nourishment. The 1% that's difficult is when 10 cumulus jump out and im dead in 30 second

Basically the combat system cant be good if every one on one fight is boring as hell, 99.9% of encounters are easy, the Devil is easy, the tournament is a joke.. but instantly surrounded by 10 Cumans that in full armor can out run my horse, turns Hal into piper perri

I would have preferred a fun combat system that made the fighting feel like it was meant to be part of the game and wasn't just added on after some ♥♥♥♥ reviews, As it is there isn't any joy to killing Toth or beating the Dry Devil to save the town. its more like a QTE inconvenience

[theo]

Originally posted by Edaqa:

I don't feel like any kind of trained bodyguard, as I'm supposed to be

You're not supposed to be a trained bodyguard. The game directly tells you that Henry loses his skills after falling from the rock

Originally posted by Problem Solver:

You have to get out there and train your butt off to get better. Which is the same for most games.

I think it's actually rare in modern games. It's more of an old traditional RPG trope normies aren't familiar with

[Vali]

Originally posted by theo:

Originally posted by Edaqa:

I don't feel like any kind of trained bodyguard, as I'm supposed to be

You're not supposed to be a trained bodyguard. The game directly tells you that Henry loses his skills after falling from the rock

Originally posted by Problem Solver:

You have to get out there and train your butt off to get better. Which is the same for most games.

I think it's actually rare in modern games. It's more of an old traditional RPG trope normies aren't familiar with

Not exactly, the old woman gave henry the "Lethean Water" to save him. She said that in the beginning.

Its a potion save somebody from a near death or to reset skills. :-)

There is a lot of fantasy in this game.

To topic, the combat system is awsome, dont give up and train.

[emreyigit1967]

Originally posted by Edaqa:

snip

Welcome to the wonderful world of a blacksmith's son-turned-soldier/ spy/ thief/ alchemist/ raconteur set in a semi-realistic world. 😊

It takes time. I am really clunky at combat in the KCD games.

If I might make a suggestion, what you should initially concentrate on is alchemy. There is an alchemy bench in the very first village. Brew Marigold positions - they restore your health, and the ingredients are plentiful, including immediately outside the alchemy shack. Learn recipes for other potions with common ingredients and brew them. They can be sold for a pretty penny.

(There is also a very much an exploit to get a fair bit of early coin. Google "Saint Antiochus' Die". That will help you with incidental expenses even if you are as cautious and clumsy as me.)

Aim to get your alchemy to 16. That allows you to brew Henry-quality "Fox" potions, which accelerate your xp gains by 50%. It makes the following slightly less of a chore, but I'm extremely patient, so the following might still not work for you.

Once you've got enough money from that and bought yourself some semi-decent gear, it's time to restore your strength, agility and vitality. Once the stats for the first two rise, you will find weapons easier to handle and also do more damage. There are two ways to do this. The first is to overburden yourself and walk around. I do this by taking circuits of the wagoners' inn in Zhelejov. Tedious? Yes, but so is recovery from any injury, and you just fell off a cliff.

Once strength and vitality are above 16, get yourself a bow and start competing at archery, outside Trosky castle or elsewhere. That will also very slowly improve your agility. Or don quiet shoes and creep upstairs from chest to chest at the Troskowitz inn (above where you carried the sacks) when there are lots of people seated outside. Works wonders for stealth and agility.

Somewhere along the line, visit Semine for your horse. There are normally no bandits on that route and even early-game Pebbles makes travelling much easier.

Then visit the blacksmith and start his mission to attend the wedding. He will soon send you back to Semine. Finish that part of the quest, then the next day seek out Semine's captain for training (by the horses). He turns up after about 10.00 each day. Train, train, train, train.

Then you can do anything you like, even if you're as clunky as me.

[SkaldedDawg]

I actually like QTE events in games like Until Dawn and such. This game isn't using QTE. You can move as well as strike, and block. It might not be good enough, but it's not QTE.

[Hunter Saul Fulman]

u need to do the training and learn techniques
to do the instant riposte or learn to get around guards