Blocking is useless currently

[Chiptune]

I'm guessing it'll be tweaked later as this is only an early build, but I've sunk a decent amount of hours in the game and after finding good success with builds that just use aggressive methods with sharp weapons I thought it'd be really cool if I tried to play defensively, sniping hands and blocking hits.

As it turns out, the reason aggressive playstyle works so well (aside from the obvious lethality of a real fight which this game tries and mostly succeeds to emulate) is because everyone's arms are limp noodles essentially.

In HEMA, an important early lesson everyone must learn is about structure. You extend your arms in a way that is strong and won't easily be knocked over before you step in to strike. With this game's ragdoll system, you can swing a wooden shovel around and pretty much knock aside a guard, there's no incentive to try blocking anything since you'll get hurt either way, it's better to just attack.

I feel like that's one of the biggest issues current gameplay has, it's too easy to knock enemies around and it's too easy for them to ignore your own defense. Blocking a wooden shovel or a small hammer with a polearm shouldn't send you to the ground unless you're facing a behemoth I feel

[VenomB]

Have you tested to see if your block is stronger with better shields? I know closer to 4-5k you should start getting proper heaters and Pavises

[Paper (the cooler 1)]

Agreed. Everything's a bit too floppy so it makes combat not all that interesting.

[TheOakTree]

I just smacked a spear out of the way with my scythe so I could go in for the kill. In HEMA, the worst position to be in with a spear is with the enemy closer to you than the tip, and yet in this game it is the best position because they can either slice you in half with the back end of the spearhead or instantly change to blocking/thrusting stance and teleport the spear to impale you even after you smack the spear out of the way.

Blocking is pointless.

[THANKS OBAMA]

Hilariously the best success I've gotten out of using shields is just putting them in right hand, one hander in the left, and ignoring lmb.

Got no clue why it's become effective for me to do that, but it do.

[Paper (the cooler 1)]

Originally posted by Paper (the cooler 1):

Agreed. Everything's a bit too floppy so it makes combat not all that interesting.

So I just beat the demo (though with heavy use of savescumming). Getting 2 1handed weapons and wiggling them in front of you is the best strat for most armor levels. Two changes I think the game needs:
1. Better character balance. I trip over people's legs too much.
2. Better weapon animations. You're too floppy and the swing animations suck so just wiggling two weapons to maximize your hits per second is stupidly strong

[Jack Niggleson]

lmao, this isn't a HEMA game, it's third person Exanima. If you want HEMA play Mordhau or Chivalry or something.

[Atasuki(NotPro)]

Because you can't block correctly in the game. The only defensive move that's working in the game is using shields to push away enemies' weapons thus create opening. Then we just swing our weapons like a frail with our noodle arms. We can't make a precision strike to stop enemies' weapons on its way, or steadily hold our weapons in position.

[Chiptune]

Originally posted by Jack Niggleson:

lmao, this isn't a HEMA game, it's third person Exanima. If you want HEMA play Mordhau or Chivalry or something.

I've been playing Exanima since before arena mode, it utilizes a lot of elements of HEMA such as a heavily footwork-focused combat system and striking with structure slightly before you step into a blow, and I can honestly find some of these in this game as well.

Goofy physics doesn't mean proper fighting technique goes out the window, footwork and good offense are applicable here and I believe defense should also be as viable. What I want isn't HEMA, I like the goofy physics and if you cut your fingers cut off and became helpless and couldn't heal as you would in real life this game would be awful. What I want is to block hits without my character's arms flying to the side like they're made of sponge, it's feedback for a game that right now is in a very early stage.

[Norðmaður]

Blocking was awkward at first but now i'm able to block most attacks and even slap away spears and such to go in for the kill. I don't get you guys saying it's pointless. Cuz it's not and it works.

[Realm]

Originally posted by Jack Niggleson:

lmao, this isn't a HEMA game, it's third person Exanima. If you want HEMA play Mordhau or Chivalry or something.

Those two games are probably the worst kind of game you could recommend for HEMA, lmao. They're more ballet/dancing than any kind of martial art.

As for OP, you can sort of block but it depends on the weapon. I like the 2Hers since I can knock a spear upwards that's heading my way, and if my 2H is an axe I can use the same grip to give a nasty draw cut across the enemy's body in a follow-up motion.

[Paper (the cooler 1)]

Originally posted by Víkingr:

Blocking was awkward at first but now i'm able to block most attacks and even slap away spears and such to go in for the kill. I don't get you guys saying it's pointless. Cuz it's not and it works.

I'd say that it becomes more useful the higher you go up in armor level. When you and the enemies don't have armor everyone attacks faster and dies easier and it's easy to just push your way through a block.

[Chiptune]

Originally posted by Víkingr:

Blocking was awkward at first but now i'm able to block most attacks and even slap away spears and such to go in for the kill. I don't get you guys saying it's pointless. Cuz it's not and it works.

Originally posted by Realm:

Originally posted by Jack Niggleson:

lmao, this isn't a HEMA game, it's third person Exanima. If you want HEMA play Mordhau or Chivalry or something.

Those two games are probably the worst kind of game you could recommend for HEMA, lmao. They're more ballet/dancing than any kind of martial art.

As for OP, you can sort of block but it depends on the weapon. I like the 2Hers since I can knock a spear upwards that's heading my way, and if my 2H is an axe I can use the same grip to give a nasty draw cut across the enemy's body in a follow-up motion.

I'm not talking about knocking weapons aside. That's easy to do, considering the aforementioned noodle arms everyone has in this game. I'm talking about intercepting blows with your weapon or shield, which in this game results in you taking blunt damage to an absurd level. Knocking aside weapons is recommended to survive in this game whereas blocking is a complete waste of time and just loses the initiative and deals damage to you.

I'd recommend trying to outrange or instantly countering with an attack and never really try to intercept anything, a spear shaft will instantly break all of your bones if you block it so yeah just hitting the point away and striking is the only real tactic

[ASAS22355]

Skill issue

[Chiptune]

Lol found the guy who doesn't read threads

[Kashra Fall]

I've actually had a pretty good amount of fun trying to deflect/parry/block. Most of my fights are won because I slapped the weapon away and advanced forward. Sure, you can win by just swinging your mouse like a madman with two weapons outstretched infront of you, but where is the fun in that?

Manipulating the physics to do some pretty fun stuff, is pretty damn great. Using the hoe to slip behind their leg, pull forward, make them kneel before you and them switch to the haft, to smack their weapon away, leads to them literally begging you for their life. He was on his knees, grabbed my arm and was begging me, he even hugged me lol. I know this wasn't actually happening, but it looked that way and it wouldn't of happened, had I just cleaved in twain =P.

There was another fight last night, pretty much just as I had started, where it was my wooden shovel, vs a candlebra and the amount of "Ding! Ching!, Bing!" going on from the weapon connections was just awesome.