Bulwark: parry or shield bash?

[SievertChaser]

I may be whinging because the use of the same button creates an artificial difficulty for parrying as a Bulwark, even with a duelling sword (you may have seen my thread from about a month back; yeah, I'm whining again). However, maybe that can be turned into an advantage? Has anyone tried a build relying on interrupts from a shield bash rather than parries and gunstrikes?

[Tao314zdin]

Not sure why you say "or" in the title as bulwark can always do both.

But regardless, if you want to try other play styles not relying on parry into gun-strike - take block weapon.

You stack your block-bonus when majoris do their chain attacks and for minories you use shield-bash in combination with melee attacks into gun-strikes to regain armor.

[Naus]

What you suggest is driving 30 km to work on bus when you have car in your garage.
Game is obviously build around parry, not block. I mean it can be fun to play it different but good luck with it on Lethal or Ruthless.

So for me it's 100% parry. They should either make shield cover more usefull - for example not allowing enemies to grab you when you put shield up (good vs raveners and lictors), blocking zoans attacks and beams or giving some buff to block weapon - or just delete it. I would rather move faster and attack holdin my sword in 2 hands than carrying around useless 200 kg block.

[Tao314zdin]

Originally posted by Naus:

What you suggest is driving 30 km to work on bus when you have car in your garage.
Game is obviously build around parry, not block. I mean it can be fun to play it different but good luck with it on Lethal or Ruthless.

So for me it's 100% parry. They should either make shield cover more usefull - for example not allowing enemies to grab you when you put shield up (good vs raveners and lictors), blocking zoans attacks and beams or giving some buff to block weapon - or just delete it. I would rather move faster and attack holdin my sword in 2 hands than carrying around useless 200 kg block.

Lethal mb a bit rough, but Ruthless - easy.

Also if you need a specific crunch to beat lethal it kind of defeats the purpose, but to each their own.

[Brother Atheos]

There's something fundamentally wrong with how the Bulwark works in general.

[SievertChaser]

Originally posted by Brother Atheos:

There's something fundamentally wrong with how the Bulwark works in general.

Oh, you don't say! Not only is Parry and Shield paired up, but switching between the two modes on the Power Sword is... well, amidst a fight, it's downright impossible.

[Tao314zdin]

Originally posted by SievertChaser:

Originally posted by Brother Atheos:

There's something fundamentally wrong with how the Bulwark works in general.

Oh, you don't say! Not only is Parry and Shield paired up, but switching between the two modes on the Power Sword is... well, amidst a fight, it's downright impossible.

I honestly came to thinking you are not supposed to do it (cause yeah simply stopping for it might outright kill you on lethal or even ruthless).

It is like 2 versions of the sword in one, but you only switch if you see in advance that you benefit from one or another. The perk system also promotes using primarily just one version.

[Lowbei]

its paired up because youre intended to be able to push into a group with shield bashes, and parry incoming attacks, and its very effective at this.

[SievertChaser]

Originally posted by Tao314zdin:

It is like 2 versions of the sword in one, but you only switch if you see in advance that you benefit from one or another. The perk system also promotes using primarily just one version.

...Except for one of the mastery perks that gives you a short-lived bonus after switching.

[Kotzi]

Using sword switching stances all the time, even mid fight, works great for what they are supposed to be used for. Never use shield bash, dont even see any reason for me personally, parry does the same.

[Tao314zdin]

Originally posted by SievertChaser:

Originally posted by Tao314zdin:

It is like 2 versions of the sword in one, but you only switch if you see in advance that you benefit from one or another. The perk system also promotes using primarily just one version.

...Except for one of the mastery perks that gives you a short-lived bonus after switching.

Ups, forgot that one...

Well someone claims they can switch mid-fight no issues, not sure how (since it requires to stop for a moment which is pretty detrimental in a middle of an enemy hord), but mb they can elaborate.

[Kotzi]

Well you create opportunities by parrying or dodging.

[Silverquick]

Originally posted by SievertChaser:

I may be whinging because the use of the same button creates an artificial difficulty for parrying as a Bulwark, even with a duelling sword (you may have seen my thread from about a month back; yeah, I'm whining again). However, maybe that can be turned into an advantage? Has anyone tried a build relying on interrupts from a shield bash rather than parries and gunstrikes?

Admittedly Bulwark is kinda frustrating to play because the Block/Parry with Shield/Sword is the same button and the controls think you mean to to Shield Block just as often as Parry, even I haven't really gotten the this one down yet and doubt I ever will.

That said, the Shield Bash in a swarm of small ones is spectacular, It does work wonders when you use it. Especially when you have the skill perk set to stun or knock down your enemy.