Combat Is Hard!

[Finarfin]

This is not like other games. At level 3 I'm still getting destroyed by everything in the swamps. I pretty much can't do many quests because I just can't kill anything.

[lionhart]

Yes, the combat in Risen is hard. It is supposed to be. There is no level scaling in this game, and you are not meant to be able to defeat every enemy you meet right away. You need to pick your battles wisely, run away from fights where you are overmatched, and return later when you are stronger.

If you don't already have a shield, get one, it will make a huge difference when fighting the creatures. And check out some of the combat tips in these threads:

http://steamcommunity.com/app/40300/discussions/0/810939351459865889/

http://steamcommunity.com/app/40300/discussions/0/684839199470912073/

http://steamcommunity.com/app/40300/discussions/0/810939351547970264/

[Finarfin]

Just an example, at what level should you be able to easily take out some creature like a spinerat or whatever it's called? I can sometimes win if I rely on my shield, but then each battle takes 5+ minutes to fight. That doesn't feel very heroic.

[TGC> The Games Collector]

Well, eventually you need some combat training. Even if it's just the first 3 levels.
If you're going for the mage, you'll need staff combat. If you don't care about magic, then go for the sword skill.

Being able to parry attacks is a useful skill to have in the beginning of the game.

You also have to watch creatures closely, with a shield you can just put your little wall in between and see how they attack.
The point of that is; if you time your dodge correctly, it'll turn into a side-step and you can do a counter attack which almost always hits. Knowing how and when they attack to time that trick correctly will speed up alot of combat.

[lionhart]

Have you put any points into strength? Even ten learning points invested into strength will make a very noticeable difference when fighting weaker creatures like stingrats and grave moths.

Also, try to execute complete combinations. At the beginning of the game, your character can combine three attack blows in rapid succession. The third stroke (the big sweeping downstroke) does more damage than the first two strokes put together.

[Finarfin]

I've put a couple of points into strength training. I've definitely been working on circling my opponents so that when they lunge they leave themselves vulnerable to a flanking attack. I often can't get the 3rd blow of the combo in, though, as they usually recover to hit me before then. I also saw an onscreen message that said something about a quick parry right as they attack but I can't seem to pull that move off.

[lionhart]

Originally posted by Jeff George:

That doesn't feel very heroic.

One more point, and this is more about how you approach the game mentally. Your character is not a hero at the beginning of the game. He is the lowliest grunt on the island, a stranger who no one likes or trusts, weak and penniless from having been shipwrecked. He will eventually become much more powerful, and your struggles early in the game will make your later success that much more satisfying. Try to immerse yourself in the game, and remember it is all part of the experience you are meant to have: the experience of rising up from nothing to become the strongest, most important person on the island.

[lionhart]

Originally posted by Jeff George:

I also saw an onscreen message that said something about a quick parry right as they attack but I can't seem to pull that move off.

The counter-parry only works against opponents who wield a weapon. You cannot counter-parry against the animals. The trick to fighting the creatures is to block with your shield, wait for an opening in their attack, and then hit them quickly when they are off guard.

Keep practicing your combos; it is almost always possible to land all three blows without taking a hit if you get the timing right. The combination executes faster if you put a small delay between mouse clicks.

[Finarfin]

Thanks for the tips. I've been focusing on the immersion. I think this game is just a shock to me as I'm not used to a game where you really are the underdog at the beginning. It's not a bad thing, however, and it's reassuring to know that this is the way the game is supposed to be and I'm not just super bad at it.

[lionhart]

All Pirahna Bytes games are like that. If you think Risen is hard, try playing the Gothic series! In the original Gothic, the "nameless hero" is tossed into a penal colony at the start of the game, and the other convicts welcome him by beating him up and stealing all his money. He literally has to go around begging people for help just to survive his first few days in the colony. PB makes hardcore RPGs, and their fans like it that way.

[Plaid]

However, I'm pretty sure you can parry the vulture's attacks.
I guess his beak is considered a weapon.

[Firespite]

I'm in chapter 3 or so and I still haven't gotten used to parrying. I get through combat without doing it though, and it's hard to understate the importance of putting points into Sword skill to improve combat effectiveness.

I learned the hunting skills and bought the trophy tools quick so I could make extra cash. I also lured enemies into friendly NPCs so I could finish them off and get the reward. Serious flashbacks to Gothic II. This game really doesn't pull any punches. After a certain point though, I had more money than I knew what to do with. The pickpocket skill is extremely useful, and lockpicking is a must.

[lionhart]

Originally posted by Plaid:

However, I'm pretty sure you can parry the vulture's attacks.
I guess his beak is considered a weapon.

You are getting confused between a parry and a counter-parry. A parry just means blocking with your weapon instead of a shield (by holding down the right mouse button). You can parry most creatures, but the ones that hit at the knees or lower -- mainly wolves and stingrats -- pass underneath the parry. That is why you need a shield to block them.

A counter-parry is when you quickly tap the right mouse button just as the enemy is about to strike. If you time it right, the counter-parry knocks his weapon aside, stunning him and creating an opening for you to strike.

[lionhart]

Originally posted by Firespite:

I'm in chapter 3 or so and I still haven't gotten used to parrying. I get through combat without doing it though, and it's hard to understate the importance of putting points into Sword skill to improve combat effectiveness.

The power attack is the most important sword skill by far. It's a complete game changer once you get it. The counter-parry is more of a trick move that is useful early in the game against weak opponents. Once I start fighting the Saurians, I switch to power attack combinations almost exclusively.

[Plaid]

Originally posted by lionhart:

Originally posted by Plaid:

However, I'm pretty sure you can parry the vulture's attacks.
I guess his beak is considered a weapon.

You are getting confused between a parry and a counter-parry. A parry just means blocking with your weapon instead of a shield (by holding down the right mouse button). You can parry most creatures, but the ones that hit at the knees or lower -- mainly wolves and stingrats -- pass underneath the parry. That is why you need a shield to block them.

A counter-parry is when you quickly tap the right mouse button just as the enemy is about to strike. If you time it right, the counter-parry knocks his weapon aside, stunning him and creating an opening for you to strike.

Ah, you are right, I misread your post.
I suppose after noticing I couldn't parry the lower creatures attacks, I just gave up and kept using the shield.
I do know what a counter parry is, however.

[lPaladinl]

Just be glad you can even parry or block creatures at all in Risen. In the Gothic Games, you can't usually block Animals or Beasts -at all-.

I consider Gothic/Risen to be a much more hardcore vein of Action RPGs. And I love every bit of it.