How do I block?!?

[Phew]

There are lots of play styles that don't require getting proficient at blocking:
-Archer/Horse Archer
-Xbow/Horse Xbow
-Thrower/Horse Thrower
-Lancer
-Spec 18/24 or similar, wear light armor, and just backpedal and use a long weapon (glaive/greatsword/etc)
-Spec 36/3 or similar, wear plate, and just never stop swinging

So if you don't feel like learning how to block, just play one of the above, and you'll still have fun.

[CrazyCracka420]

You do need to block as a lancer, even if you try to avoid other cavalry you'll get blind sided some time when you're in the thick of it.  But I cheat and use a shield, so I don't ever have to think about it, just right click when in danger.

[Kafein]

Also, a great way to learn to be consistent at blocking when you can already fight is to go to the duel server and ask people mouse-only duels. No movement, no kicks/nudges etc. just attacks and blocks.

It also separates men and babies

[Phew]

Also, a great way to learn to be consistent at blocking when you can already fight is to go to the duel server and ask people mouse-only duels. No movement, no kicks/nudges etc. just attacks and blocks.

I'd like to see a Cyranule/Miley "mouse-only" duel. Actually, I wouldn't. It would last until one of them got carpal tunnel and had to go to the hospital.

[CrazyCracka420]

Miley/Cy mouse only duel would only work if they were using weapons that aren't blockable, but you can still chamber with (like the rondel in secondary mode).  Or until one of them had a muscle cramp. 

[Elindor]

There are lots of play styles that don't require getting proficient at blocking:
-Archer/Horse Archer
-Xbow/Horse Xbow
-Thrower/Horse Thrower
-Lancer
-Spec 18/24 or similar, wear light armor, and just backpedal and use a long weapon (glaive/greatsword/etc)
-Spec 36/3 or similar, wear plate, and just never stop swinging

So if you don't feel like learning how to block, just play one of the above, and you'll still have fun.

36/3 with great maul coming up.




jk.

[CrazyCracka420]

I think you'd be better off with a longsword or morningstar with a 36/3 build

[Phew]

I think you'd be better off with a longsword or morningstar with a 36/3 build

Anything but a Rondel should work pretty well. I did 6 gens as 33/9 with a great long bardiche/long bardiche, and my right mouse button went largely untouched.

[Fredom]

Most of cRPG players play for more than 2-5k hours. Mostly you learn it by finding a person who shows you how to do it ( in my case, 3 years ago^^) or you learn it yourself. Then just select manual block and play. After a time of playing you will get bettwr. Just try up-side-side-down block combination at the beginning of the round. That's what I do/did to get warm before meeting an enemy. I hope I could help you a little bit but here are so mqny posts, you will get a good suggestion^^

[Ellie]

36/3 with great maul coming up.




jk.

I actually did that with a long maul once. Was... not the brightest idea ever

[Carthan]

I am not sure if anything similar has been posted above but here are some things that may help.
~Make a skip the fun with near pure strength and lots of ironflesh (powerstrike optional) that way you can survive longer.

~Disable automatic repairs and run around in anything you want for free (Items will degrade though). A good amount of people should be afraid of someone running around in very heavy armor.

~Focus on peasants (maybe some tincans too), they love to spam and should be slow enough to be good for practice.
BEWARE FAKE PEASANTS!

~Do whatever you are good at, chances are you will do alot better with your own style than narrow advice from strangers. Or atleast try to find a good balance.

~ Why not combine everything above, should be either informative or hopefully entertaining. Hey maybe both.

[Phantasmal]

My biggest problem in learning to block (while I am still not too good at it) was that I would make "overcompensating" mouse movements. For example, to block right I would move my mouse like 3 inches to the right (rotating my player) and be completely out of position for a leftside block. Try to make your mouse movements concise, which will allow you to better respond to feints (and feint spammers). Also, learn the animations for each swing. I usually only bother blocking feint spammers if their swing is 25% of the way completed (which means it is probably an actual swing). Lastly, learn to use your movement to your advantage in combat. If you are moving the right, your opponent is most likely not going to swing at your leftside (due to a horrible speed bonus), limiting the number of efficient attack directions.

[Vodner]

When I first started learning the game, a friend of mine (Racecar) started playing at the same time as me. This made things a lot more fun, since we could both measure our progress by how long our duels lasted. You might consider trying to do the same.

[Jona]

I'd like to see a Cyranule/Miley "mouse-only" duel. Actually, I wouldn't. It would last until one of them got carpal tunnel and had to go to the hospital.

It would be a god-awful duel only because cyranule relies on hilt slashing which requires footwork (need to be up close and in a BJ-giving position) and miley is an S key hero with either a long 2h or pole. If they didn't move it would be as lame as any other slightly-competent blocker not moving. Or miley would just pick a flammy and sit right outside cyranule's lolstabbing range. 

(click to show/hide)

Not to mention that they are also both really overrated players and duelists, anyways.

On the topic of learning how to block, I like to bring my new recruits / less-melee-proficient friends up to speed by doing the following training method:

1) A mouse only duel where you just block and your partner tries their best to hit you... resorting to massive feinting, spamming, and even holding. You just block until you die.. its really easy to block when not moving around and having just one thing to focus on, their weapon.
2) Once you get proficient at mouse only, do the same exact thing (where you only block still, and they spam you) but now with footwork and WASD added. This makes it significantly more challenging, but once again you just need to see past their tricks and focus on their weapon. (of course if they are a kicking nerd, be on the lookout for kicks ...or just make the rule that nothing but WASD + mouse allowed).
3) Go back to mouse only, but this time you attack as well as blocking.
4) Now add movement, same as step 2 but you are once again trying to attack.. basically this would be a full-fledged duel now. The only recommendation is that perhaps they take it a little easier on you to start if their skill level is far above yours.
5) Go duel other people, have your partner / mentor watch you, and then they can see from a bystanders perspective your strengths / weaknesses, and if you need any final adjustments before you are ready to go and take on the world!


If you want, I have no problem helping you out, just send me a message.

Good luck with your training!

[Kafein]

Well that's the point of mouse-only duels, you can't compensate errors and weak blocking just by movement and spam.