Dying Instantly

[Energist]

Hello,

I've had this game forever. Since it came out. Played it for a bit, coming back to it now.

I'm getting wrecked right off the bat. enemies just swing every .75 seconds or so, endlessly. If I get two enemies at once ( which happens all the time) I'm doomed.

Am I missing something? Is there some depth to this other than left clicking between enemy swings?

[LazyTavi]

Dying early was always a thing, don't worry. What class are you playing as? A direct fight is best handled by characters with lots of armor and CON, everyone else is gonna have a bad time. It's a good idea to utilize ranged attacks, magic, and hit-and-run techniques before starting a fight and to block with an offhand item (preferrably a shield) once the fight has begun. If your character is on the weaker side, it's best to avoid direct conflict altogether and focus on sneaking around and picking them off at a distance.

[Energist]

Originally posted by LazyTavi:

Dying early was always a thing, don't worry. What class are you playing as? A direct fight is best handled by characters with lots of armor and CON, everyone else is gonna have a bad time. It's a good idea to utilize ranged attacks, magic, and hit-and-run techniques before starting a fight and to block with an offhand item (preferrably a shield) once the fight has begun. If your character is on the weaker side, it's best to avoid direct conflict altogether and focus on sneaking around and picking them off at a distance.

Yeah it's been almost 10 years since I played. I recall it being hard, but I'm sure a lot has changed too. Seems familiar.

I'm playing as a barbarian atm.

[mistersneak]

I remember my first runs, feeling like Melee was impossible. But most veterans find melee to be overpowered compared to the other classes! IMHO the most important thing is staying in control of how you start an encounter, and being able to leave one if you need to. I'd recommend the Cleric for early play because that mace is devastating versus skeletons, and you have a couple health potions.

If all else fails, use the Assist Shrine! You can keep your achievements active if you're conservative with your Assist Points.

[Energist]

Originally posted by mistersneak:

I remember my first runs, feeling like Melee was impossible. But most veterans find melee to be overpowered compared to the other classes! IMHO the most important thing is staying in control of how you start an encounter, and being able to leave one if you need to. I'd recommend the Cleric for early play because that mace is devastating versus skeletons, and you have a couple health potions.

If all else fails, use the Assist Shrine! You can keep your achievements active if you're conservative with your Assist Points.

Nice to hear from the Developer on the forums of a game that's been out for so long. Cheers.

I think I am remembering now. It's all about fast paced timing. Got to get a hit in when you can while friends and allies do their part. Cool stuff.

I appreciate the recommendation. It looks like this game has come a long ways since the EA days when I last played.

[mistersneak]

Love to see you returning to the game after ~10 years. I hope you have fun!

[Pride Lizard Pride Lizard]

Generally, if you're on a head-on fight and you plan on staying there, you want to swing, block, swing, block. Timed to the enemy swings. You block when you think the swing is coming, swing when they aren't swinging.
Early game is gonna be rougher because you have no gear, and Barbarian has like.. no starting armour. Barbarian DOES start with some really strong melee and that only snowballs down the line - you need to be quick on your feet and end fights fast, or play it safe and fish for attacks you can pull off safely and retreat.
If you're out numbered, fall back and try again when the enemy loses interest.

Early game is always a bit tough, more so depending on what race/class you've picked, and it's largely because you don't have the health to make mistakes or ways to recover health. Usually, anyway.

[Energist]

Originally posted by Pride Lizard Pride Lizard:

Generally, if you're on a head-on fight and you plan on staying there, you want to swing, block, swing, block. Timed to the enemy swings. You block when you think the swing is coming, swing when they aren't swinging.
Early game is gonna be rougher because you have no gear, and Barbarian has like.. no starting armour. Barbarian DOES start with some really strong melee and that only snowballs down the line - you need to be quick on your feet and end fights fast, or play it safe and fish for attacks you can pull off safely and retreat.
If you're out numbered, fall back and try again when the enemy loses interest.

Early game is always a bit tough, more so depending on what race/class you've picked, and it's largely because you don't have the health to make mistakes or ways to recover health. Usually, anyway.

Thanks for the input. I figured out the tempo to melee fights and it went much better. Enjoying the game quite a bit.

[Pride Lizard Pride Lizard]

Originally posted by Energist:

Originally posted by Pride Lizard Pride Lizard:

Generally, if you're on a head-on fight and you plan on staying there, you want to swing, block, swing, block. Timed to the enemy swings. You block when you think the swing is coming, swing when they aren't swinging.
Early game is gonna be rougher because you have no gear, and Barbarian has like.. no starting armour. Barbarian DOES start with some really strong melee and that only snowballs down the line - you need to be quick on your feet and end fights fast, or play it safe and fish for attacks you can pull off safely and retreat.
If you're out numbered, fall back and try again when the enemy loses interest.

Early game is always a bit tough, more so depending on what race/class you've picked, and it's largely because you don't have the health to make mistakes or ways to recover health. Usually, anyway.

Thanks for the input. I figured out the tempo to melee fights and it went much better. Enjoying the game quite a bit.

No problem! :D Hope anything I actually said helps you in someway.
Glad to hear you're enjoying the game, though! And nice work on figuring out the tempo to combat.

[Pretty Kitty]

Just started the base game and I have the same experience just dying, the melee speed of the monsters is too fast to block and hit consistently, and regen/healing is slow or non existent. Starting equipment (like the shield) wears out so fast that its useless. Have made it to the second level of first dungeon once or twice only to get insta-killed by a slime or troll. I love hard games and a challenge but this appears to be impossible with any class, oh well moving on

[Energist]

Originally posted by Pretty Kitty:

Just started the base game and I have the same experience just dying, the melee speed of the monsters is too fast to block and hit consistently, and regen/healing is slow or non existent. Starting equipment (like the shield) wears out so fast that its useless. Have made it to the second level of first dungeon once or twice only to get insta-killed by a slime or troll. I love hard games and a challenge but this appears to be impossible with any class, oh well moving on

So for melee, it's a tempo game. You have to swing, block, swing , block in fairly quick succession. Once you get into the rhythm it's pretty satisfying if simple.

Item management is a core part of the game. You need to keep moving, and looking for more food/ items.

While there is a lot of RNG, you have enough variables under your control to make progress. I do recommend playing with friends. It's more fun that way.

I'd be happy to play with you.

[Pride Lizard Pride Lizard]

Originally posted by Pretty Kitty:

Just started the base game and I have the same experience just dying, the melee speed of the monsters is too fast to block and hit consistently, and regen/healing is slow or non existent. Starting equipment (like the shield) wears out so fast that its useless. Have made it to the second level of first dungeon once or twice only to get insta-killed by a slime or troll. I love hard games and a challenge but this appears to be impossible with any class, oh well moving on

Genuinely, my advice for trolls is *do not take them head on EVER* unless you're SURE you can take their hits and win. Trolls are, likely, always going to 1-3 hit you in the early game. SOME classes in the early game can block them, and maybe even kill them in face-to-face melee combat - but generally you never want to fight a troll head on that early. Unless you have ranged or magic, your tactics are Hit and Run for trolls. Trolls have piss poor eye sight and are bad at tracking you, which makes them particularly susceptible to being snuck up on, backstabbed/critted, being fled from, and repeating.
Of course, you can just avoid them, too, if that's a possible option. You don't need to pick *every* fight if you can't win 'em!

Slimes are nasty ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ at times, too. Usually you can block them alright, but they're resistant to a lot of things (not swords!) and SOMETIMES they'll spray you with (whatever they're made of) and that's a magic attack. If you see a slime ready the spray move, you want to turn around and run. You might be able to run *around* the slime while it sprays, too, but be ready for it to immediately attack after the spray.
(Blocking is a full 360 radius, too! You can block foes you aren't looking at.)