Fencing System

[Puddle_of_muck]

The ninja tournament mod for Doom 3 features an interesting way to fight with swords. Instead of simply clicking a mouse button to execute an attack, you move the mouse, thus moving the sword in that direction.

 

I have thought of this before, but never really in depth. It looks like fun, is it too much to ask for implementation?

 

Ninja tournament @ Filefront

[Gildoran]

Sounds like the game "Die by the Sword".

[Dram]

Hey! sounds cool. Don't think it'd be right with thief though.

[SneaksieDave]

Sounds like the game "Die by the Sword".

Indeed. You know, it's really sad that all these years later - since 1998! - not only has no one followed up on the innovation introduced by 'Die by the Sword', but niether has anyone... *SLAP!* Sorry. Deep breath. I digress, rant cancelled.

 

As a devout follower and defender of DBTS, I might needs investigate this.

 

 

Thanks for the link/info (although the link currently needs copy/paste/edit before being usable).

 

(...and not to be negative/doubt their efforts in advance, but there is no way in hell they could match Peter Akemann's VSIM system...)

[Vadrosaul]

I remember DBTS. The sounds effects were terrible. Sounds of melons splashing and trampoline bounding did not help the atmosphere, especially in the temple levels.

[Ishtvan]

@Puddle: Thanks for the info. We may want to talk to them about how they got weapons to collide in the physical world and set up parrying, etc, since we'll also have to do that eventually.

[SneaksieDave]

Blaspheme! Are you joking? The sounds were fantastic - gory and hilarious (though I'll agree about the trampoline sound). There was nothing like severing a limb; that sshh-THOCK! sound. Mmm, satisfying, and disgusting.

[ironpants]

Die By The Sword has a combat system that never gets old, and I heartily support a robust combat system in The Dark Mod - directional blocking, for example, creates a fun challenge when you need to get out of a sticky situation alive (rather than simply holding a 'block' button). I think a successful combat system emphasizes defense and keeping your guard up, which is appropriate for the situations our thief character would use the sword in (last ditch defense / escape tool).

 

Mount & Blade is another excellent example of first person melee combat - http://www.taleworlds.com

It has blocking / attacking by mouse movement: hold block / attack while moving the mouse left, right, up or down to either block or ready an attack in that direction (down is thrust). As a practicing swordsman, it feels very natural.

[Dram]

I actually bought a serial no. for Mount & Blade

 

I love that game.

[New Horizon]

Die By The Sword has a combat system that never gets old, and I heartily support a robust combat system in The Dark Mod - directional blocking, for example, creates a fun challenge when you need to get out of a sticky situation alive (rather than simply holding a 'block' button). I think a successful combat system emphasizes defense and keeping your guard up, which is appropriate for the situations our thief character would use the sword in (last ditch defense / escape tool).

 

I don't think it's something we will have time to impliment ourselves. There are far more important systems to code and tweak in a Thief inspired mod. If we are able to impliment a basic Thief 1 and 2 style sword combat system, we will have accomplished a great deal. Don't underestimate the amount of work that we have ahead of us. It's great to dream big, but reality dictates a whole different set of terms.

 

Find us two or three more coders to spread the work amongst, and I'm sure we could impliment what you're looking for.

 

Considering that combat is a last defense in this type of game, I think it's safe to say that the standard Thief 1/2 type system will suffice.

[bob_arctor]

M&B for the win. Serialed up here. Brilliant value, I've played it loads, it's really addictive.

[Taffer36]

I do hope that the fighting system will be better than Thief 2 though. Guards were actually pretty easy because of the cheap overhead swing. Move out, charge attack, move in, release. Then repeat that until they die.

 

I didn't like how the guards didn't really mind a sword. Range is always something to keep in mind while swordfighting. You have to keep your distance and wait for an opening. In Thief the guards would rush right in front of you, directly in range so you could swing at them over and over. But what if guards kept their distance and only ran in to take a swipe, then they would move back out.

 

Maybe you could allow for fakes? Like in the middle of a swing you could press the block button to stop the attack. Would it be hard to code for the opponent reacting to this?

[Springheel]

Don't worry, we've only barely implemented swordfighting and already the guards cut you to ribbons four times out of five.

[Order of the Hammer Bureaucrat]

No more "haunt stadium" eh?

[SneaksieDave]

Yep, I rank M&B very high for its combat up there with DBTS. They both have their individual strengths, to be sure, so it's tough which is really "better." DBTS has more "freedom", due to the control method, but as a result, sometimes it's a bit inelegant. M&B has a bit less freedom (it uses really tight user control of pre-canned swings and blocks), but makes for very nice combat. It's hard not let out a gruesome wicked laugh after taking down a footman with a single horseback charge-swing of a broadsword to his face. Again, the sound is both disgusting and terribly satisfying.

 

I'm a registered M&B'er too, as of about a month now. Best $14 ever spent on a game. I currently have a 20th level squire with an army of 23 swadian knights. Fall at my feet, scoundrels!

[bob_arctor]

Well I don't like the on foot combat of M&B. I use the old enemy relative position control system too. Basically I find it annoying in my steel armour I can't run as fast as the enemy so they swamp me.

 

Solution: either run with a pack of dismounted Vaegir knights, or charge around on my Heavy Charger smashing people up!

[Dram]

@M&B owners: You guys should try the Roma Invicta mod. It adds roman weapons and armour and looks really sick when your army of legionaries charges at the enemy

[Irenices]

Sorry off topic but also try Story Mod (for M& lots of new stuff, best mod iv tryed so far.

[Ombrenuit]

Personally, I like the sword combat system from thief. It is simplistic, yet diverse with everything you possibly need.

[Taffer36]

I agree that the Thief sword system is good, but the AI's fighting system was horrible. The controls for the player were so simple and left out everything unnecessary for a stealth system, yet it was enough to suffice for a full on combat. However, the enemies had horrible swordfighting. They blocked randomly, dodged at the wrong times (i.e. dodged while you were charging up and ran back up to you as you released your attack), and they could not attack while running. I hope the Dark Mod makes it so that guards can swing while running. This way the player can't just run around in circles (I've done this for fun), and actually manage to stay alive for as long as they want.

[Dram]

Sorry off topic but also try Story Mod (for M& lots of new stuff, best mod iv tryed so far.

cheers will try

[SneaksieDave]

Also try the Arena mod if you aren't already, and aren't running Story Mod (it's built-into it, I believe).

[Forsaken]

Hey, someone played M&B here! That game absolutely rules!

 

Did anyone try the Last Days mod, Tolkien-like?

Edited April 16, 2006 by Forsaken

[Dram]

Last Days? Nah have'nt tried, will check it out too, thanks

[Forsaken]

It's LotR based - has Gondor Knights and Rohan Riders and all, but I didn't see it, people really seem to like it. But I'm currently just traveling and being robbed by Dark Knights every once in a while, me and my Borcha...