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Change blocking mechanics.

Luvsfuzzybunnies
Luvsfuzzybunnies
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I think personally that blocking is an issue in this game and needs to be adressed. When you can effectively negate 75% of all incoming damage in 360 degrees something is wrong. I understand the game is based in fantasy but people expect it to have realistic elements for combat I think. Don't they? So if you don't want to add lots of checks for position here are my thoughts.
1. Holding block should stop stamina regeneration or even drain it like stealth does. Let's be serious knights holding shields couldn't hold them up forever and if they tried their arms would steadily tire on them when they did.
2. Instead of making block another mitigation on top of armor and Spell resist if you hold your sheild up you should gain a slight increase in armor and Spell resist. As it is now if you have a Magicka based sheild (harness Magicka, healing ward, hardened ward, etc) your damage mitigation even vs a nightblade marking you is somewhere around 80%.
Any other constructive thoughts welcomed.
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  • Artemiisia
    Artemiisia
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    no they dont, everything we do in combat is unrealistic, saying this should be realistic is just....
  • KBKB
    KBKB
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    Stam should not regen while holding block, and you should not be able to attack while blocking

    =

    problem fixed.
  • GRxKnight
    GRxKnight
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    Get rid of the 360° blocking and I'm fine
    Member of Victorem, RÁGE ; Decibel Alumni (RIP)

    Kalista Schefer: VR16 AD Sorcerer; Alliance Rank 22

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  • Thechemicals
    Thechemicals
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    GRxKnight wrote: »
    Get rid of the 360° blocking and I'm fine

    Yeah thats really well thought out. Fully geared trial tank gets one shotted by one of the 6 mobs attacking him from behind/sides/w/e. New tank strat, fight against walls.....

    In Cyrodiil, you come out heavily armored with massive mitigation and get one shotted by a nightblade in who hiding behind you at 44 meters.

    Worst idea ever. 360 block is never going to be changed because you leave an area of the player bare, totally against the gear and build he worked to create. Think on it, then live with it.
    Edited by Thechemicals on August 14, 2014 4:24PM
    Vr14 Templar since release- dual resto
    Vr14 Dk bow/2h

    Brayan Blackthunder
    Goddick
    Daggerfall Covenant

  • Kewljag_66_ESO
    Kewljag_66_ESO
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    Make it so you cant cast insta spells while blocking, this is the main problem, being able to spam high damage atatcks and heals while never lowering your blocking of 75%+ damage mitigation. Make it so blocking is just like sprinting and all your hotbar abilities are blacked out
  • Xnemesis
    Xnemesis
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    Already made a thread about the changes I would make, but it got lost in the forum shuffle feel free to either repost the contents here or revive the old thread. It has a bunch of great ideas that could be tweaked and worked upon.

    http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/discussion/110320/this-is-how-block-should-function
  • Artemiisia
    Artemiisia
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    damn im happy, you people aint the once actually designing the game
  • GRxKnight
    GRxKnight
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    GRxKnight wrote: »
    Get rid of the 360° blocking and I'm fine

    Yeah thats really well thought out. Fully geared trial tank gets one shotted by one of the 6 mobs attacking him from behind/sides/w/e. New tank strat, fight against walls.....

    In Cyrodiil, you come out heavily armored with massive mitigation and get one shotted by a nightblade in who hiding behind you at 44 meters.

    Worst idea ever. 360 block is never going to be changed because you leave an area of the player bare, totally against the gear and build he worked to create. Think on it, then live with it.

    So you're saying that it makes perfect sense to hold a shield IN FRONT of you and be perfectly safe from stuff BEHIND YOU? I'm sorry but that's just dumb. If anything getting rid of the 360 block would make you more self aware of your positioning in a fight and need good mechanics for once other than just holding a button. Think from the attacking players perspective. If you see someone's back exposed you shouldn't see only a small percent of damage go through.

    Tanking should be more than just sitting away from the group, but still in heal range, and hold block. It would require skill, which judging from your post you would need to attain, and proper positioning.

    360 block is a dumb mechanic and I believe ZOS said that they were going to change it or look into changing it during gamescon in the twitch stream. As an assassin based nightblade is very frustrating to hit a target from behind, but because they're holding block they get full damage mitigation. It's just dumb.
    Member of Victorem, RÁGE ; Decibel Alumni (RIP)

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  • Thechemicals
    Thechemicals
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    Realism... like when an enemy player walks inside and through your body.
    Vr14 Templar since release- dual resto
    Vr14 Dk bow/2h

    Brayan Blackthunder
    Goddick
    Daggerfall Covenant

  • Glantris
    Glantris
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    I think personally that blocking is an issue in this game and needs to be adressed. When you can effectively negate 75% of all incoming damage in 360 degrees something is wrong. I understand the game is based in fantasy but people expect it to have realistic elements for combat I think. Don't they? So if you don't want to add lots of checks for position here are my thoughts.
    1. Holding block should stop stamina regeneration or even drain it like stealth does. Let's be serious knights holding shields couldn't hold them up forever and if they tried their arms would steadily tire on them when they did.
    2. Instead of making block another mitigation on top of armor and Spell resist if you hold your sheild up you should gain a slight increase in armor and Spell resist. As it is now if you have a Magicka based sheild (harness Magicka, healing ward, hardened ward, etc) your damage mitigation even vs a nightblade marking you is somewhere around 80%.
    Any other constructive thoughts welcomed.

    have you blocked before? every time you are hit while holding block, you lose stamina. it doesn't even matter what attack, which is why you can have a bit of fun poking perma-blockers with light attacks before actually wasting any resources on them. there's no point holding block unless you're being hit or about to be, so... i don't get your point.

    armour and spell resist do very little in the way of mitigation as well - find a friend on another faction and test different levels of spell pen/armour versus your attacks and you'll see what i mean. also, what is a magicka based shield? harness cuts incoming spell damage by around 50% - that's something unique to harness. none of your passive mitigation like armour or elemental resistances (or anti-mitigation, such as spell and armour penetration rating or mark) applies to the active mitigation of damage shields. it just eats up the damage regardless.

    360 degree blocking is a bad idea, and should be fixed, but i feel like people definitely are overestimating block. block is doing what it's meant to - what IS broken is people firing skills from underneath block.
    Glantris | VR14 AD Templar | Main Group Heals/Support
    Officer of Decibel, Officer of Legend, Sender of Congealed Cheese
  • IKilled007
    IKilled007
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    Artemiisia wrote: »
    no they dont, everything we do in combat is unrealistic, saying this should be realistic is just....

    I agree. Night Blades should be able to summon Tie Fighters to strafe enemies with lasers since realism is pointless.

    The only substitute for victory is overkill.
  • midnight_tea
    midnight_tea
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    Full damage mitigation? Also you do know that blocking drains stamina, right? I mean - do you not block at all in this game to not notice that?

    My sorc can't really stand in the middle of a zerg, hold block, spam impulse and expect to win - most of the time my stam is drained in seconds and I die.

    On 1v1 situation I only occasionally hold block, because I usually have to save stamina for rolls, interrupts or activating e.g. immovable ro caltrops, when i actually have enough stam left to use that ability.
    I believe ZOS said that they were going to change it or look into changing it during gamescon in the twitch stream

    Believe what you like, but if you don't have sources, you can't make such claims and expect for people to just accept it at face value. Most games I played used 360 or close to 360 block, simply because enemies tend to swarm the player. So good luck having a fun experience while you constantly keep dying.

    Also - while I myself don't want to see games being entirely disconnected from our reality, asking for one realistic combat mechanics in an unrealistic combat system (hardly any combat in games in what could be called realistic) is just dumb.
    Edited by midnight_tea on August 14, 2014 5:21PM
  • Cody
    Cody
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    put some block penetration in the game!
  • madangrypally
    madangrypally
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    What I wouldn't mind seeing is this.

    Block reduces the players damage by 20% for 1 second after activating block.
  • KBKB
    KBKB
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    What I wouldn't mind seeing is this.

    Block reduces the players damage by 20% for 1 second after activating block.

    Feels too wowish to me =(
  • GRxKnight
    GRxKnight
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    Yes I do die...I don't block often because I'm a nightblade and try to roll dodge away from enemies and use cloak to try and escape. I escape and get kills. Average kda for a night is probably around 20. But good try writing me off as a bad player.

    Let's step into the world of elder scrolls here and imagine you are your character for just this example. You're behind your enemy and cast crystal fragments. That person has no knowledge that you just used that skill, however they have their shield (or defenses) up for what they're fighting in front of them and when your attack hits they don't get knocked down or take as much damage as you expected. Even in a fantasy world this doesn't even make sense that you gain a 360° of protection when you hold your shield or weapon up in a defensive posture in front of you.

    In any hand to hand or sword combat game that I've played if you didn't block properly you got hit. Why is adding skill to a game such a bad idea?

    And yes I do realize that every time you block something it drains your stamina... But there are plenty of ways to reduce that cost and it seems that whenever I'm fighting a dk all they do is spam dragon's blood and hold block and never run out of stamina no matter how many times I'm hitting them.

    As an aside since you mentioned it is the armor skills, they're need to be addressed imo. E.g you shouldn't be able to use immovable if you're not wearing x amount of heavy armor and same for the other two.
    Edited by GRxKnight on August 14, 2014 5:47PM
    Member of Victorem, RÁGE ; Decibel Alumni (RIP)

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  • midnight_tea
    midnight_tea
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    "hat person has no knowledge that you just used that skill, however they have their shield (or defenses) up for what they're fighting in front of them and when your attack hits they don't get knocked down or take as much damage as you expected. "

    Same will happen when they have immovable, unstoppable pots or break out of CC recently. Also - show me a person who keeps using block all the time, which not only slows you to a crawl but eventually you'll run out of stam. My crystal frags may not knock a blocking person, but they definitely cost him or her a decent portion of their green bar.

    Also - you're talking about the world where magic permeates everything. We're having so many magical effects that we use, and you're surprised that a blocking stance can create a barrier around the player? There's even a shining glyph appearing when the player or NPC blocks - it's supposed to inform us that the person is blocking, but I fail to see how it also wouldn't inform us that there's some magickal hokey-pokey going on when a person uses a blocking stance. It would be perfectly reasonable in TES universe.
    In any hand to hand or sword combat game that I've played if you didn't block properly you got hit. Why is adding skill to a game such a bad idea?

    Because ESO is more than just a hand to hand or sword combat game? I've also played RPGs where there were more blocking mechanics, but either way holding block just meant holding block and mitigating a certain amount of damage around me.
    Edited by midnight_tea on August 14, 2014 6:19PM
  • pitdemon_ESO
    pitdemon_ESO
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    Also - show me a person who keeps using block all the time, which not only slows you to a crawl but eventually you'll run out of stam. My crystal frags may not knock a blocking person, but they definitely cost him or her a decent portion of their green bar.

    Every DK and Templar is going to have block up most of the time. Actually, the only time block is NOT up is when they're going for the Invasion/Talons or Invasion/Spear combo to exploit the perma-CC bug.

    I guess my question would be do you ever do any 1v1 or are you usually balls deep in a blob? Because that's like Dueling 101 (and has been since beta)

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  • Tamanous
    Tamanous
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    360 degree block and blocking while casting has to go. Honestly block being up when casting is the worst failing for this mechanic. It is one more reason why caster builds will continue to be most effective because it is far more effective for instant cast ranged builds than for a melee build.
  • Xnemesis
    Xnemesis
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    what about if we reduce damage output while blocking. I would also like to see a sliding scale of stamina cost on blocking depending on how long the shield has been up. It would never cost more than the max that it does now but it could benefit those who know how to block on a reactionary basis.

    For example a person who has had their shield up for 5 seconds and blocks an attack would be charged the normal amount that it cost to block, however a person who brings their shield up just as the blow lands would only be charged a fraction of the normal costs. It would reward those who block as needed and help stam builds while not rewarding those who just hold block to win.

    Its a bit difficult to explain but things would remain the same for those who don't care but would reward people who know better. Hope you understand the change.
    Edited by Xnemesis on August 14, 2014 7:16PM
  • GRxKnight
    GRxKnight
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    Basically my problem is with those DK's and Templar tanks who just sit there and hold their right mouse button (or whatever their block is bound to). When I see that I don't even bother going for them. There's no counter play to it. At least allow the attacker to change the angle of attack, either forcing the blocker to adjust their blocking angle or dodge all together. I want something that involves more interaction and more gameplay mechanics instead of something that's linear and stagnant across the board. How can you sit there and be satisfied with how the block system functions now? There's literally no negative ramifications to holding block up and INSTANTLY gaining protection from every imaginable angle, regardless if you can see the attack or not. Comparing blocking to immovable or an unstopable potion is like comparing auto attack and casting a spell. Immovable is a spell that costs a fixed amount of stamina and has a duration for which the buff is active, same concept with the potion. With block your duration is limited to only your stamina pool, which does not deplete the longer you hold up block, only when you get hit. If you're not hit, guess what, you don't lose any stamina for it. Offering no counter play aside from continuously whaling on the blocker until they run out of stamina is a stagnant/linear game state which needs to be addressed. There's multiple counter plays to every single other game mechanic aside from block. What fantasy world logic are you using that allows you to raise a shield/sword/bow/staff/w.e. in front of you and grant you 360 degree protection. If an arrow is aimed to hit your backside it should just magically hit your stick which is positioned in front of your chest?

    Blocking itself should be a mechanic that separates great players and good players. Knowing when to block and being positioned properly to block incoming damage should be how it's done. Not sitting in one spot, holding up your shield, and saying "come at me". 7 people hitting one person from every angle while they're holding up block shouldn't take forever to kill, and that's what it seems like is going on now. Just using the excuse "oh it's a fantasy world it doesn't have the same rules being applied is if it were real life" doesn't really fly with the majority of the PvP community. We all understand that it's unrealistic to throw meteor's at each other, Jesus Beam people to death, etc. But there are some basic mechanics that feel like they should just apply how they would in actual combat. Auto attacking functions like this, roll dodging functions like this, why should the blocking be any different?

    Member of Victorem, RÁGE ; Decibel Alumni (RIP)

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  • Hortator Indoril Nerevar
    Hortator Indoril Nerevar
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    agree, blocking is derp atm...
  • nikolaj.lemcheb16_ESO
    nikolaj.lemcheb16_ESO
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    The defense block gives is fine, you just shouldn't be able to use any abilities while blocking.
  • Persephonius
    Persephonius
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    Black-Bird wrote: »
    Stam should not regen while holding block, and you should not be able to attack while blocking

    =

    problem fixed.

    Well, again, another thread with complete disregard for the PvE content of the game. Doing this will be very drastic for PvE tanking.
  • p_tsakirisb16_ESO
    p_tsakirisb16_ESO
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    PvP in Cyrodiil is already pretty poor to CRAP state at the moment, since there are no defences.

    A nerf on blocking, which is the ONLY damage mitigation method, will make the game completely unplayable.

    So I would counter propose. Yes nerf blocking in Cyrodiil, but while in there ZoS SHOULD remove completely the critical and armour/spell penetration stats.

    And I do not only mean the Cyrodiil buff, but completely those stats from any damage equation while in Cyrodiil.
    In addition should also add player collision, since as unrealistic is to have 360 degrees block defence, walking through your opponent to hit them on the back is unrealistic also.
    Edited by p_tsakirisb16_ESO on August 15, 2014 8:17AM
  • KBKB
    KBKB
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    Black-Bird wrote: »
    Stam should not regen while holding block, and you should not be able to attack while blocking

    =

    problem fixed.

    Well, again, another thread with complete disregard for the PvE content of the game. Doing this will be very drastic for PvE tanking.

    I'm sorry I must have forgot this was the Alliance war section. It would make people think about their blocks not just hold it 24/7 would the impact really be THAT bad for PvE?
  • Xsorus
    Xsorus
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    1. You cannot cast while Blocking, this is a false statement. You can use instant cast abilities but anything that requires an actual cast time you will not block while doing it.

    2. Most of the people you run into in PvP aren't running 5 Heavy, Aren't using Defensive Stance, aren't using block cost reduction jewelry or using anything but 1 handed and shield. Which means each time you hit them with any damage while they're blocking ...they lose 200 stamina.
    If you run into someone who's able to block a lot....Guess what...They're built for blocking.

    3. Removing 360 degree blocking would do only one thing, Break pretty much every melee class and make the PvP (and PvE) god awful. Anything a Melee class charged into a fight, He'd instantly be CCed and killed because someone could easily go behind him and hit him. Since Mitigation in this game is basically blocking you'd pretty much kill what little is in this game. The game would end up being either Zerg Balling Pbae groups, or Range Fest with nothing in between.


    So in closing, If you're having trouble with that dress wearing guy with a staff blocking you..You clearly don't understand what is going on with the game. If you're not able to kill a dude who's blocking a bunch of people very quickly..Guess what..That dudes a tank...

    Edited by Xsorus on August 15, 2014 11:11AM
  • Persephonius
    Persephonius
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    Black-Bird wrote: »
    Black-Bird wrote: »
    Stam should not regen while holding block, and you should not be able to attack while blocking

    =

    problem fixed.

    Well, again, another thread with complete disregard for the PvE content of the game. Doing this will be very drastic for PvE tanking.

    I'm sorry I must have forgot this was the Alliance war section. It would make people think about their blocks not just hold it 24/7 would the impact really be THAT bad for PvE?

    Not being able to attack/cast/use an ability while blocking can be problematic. At the bare minimum you have to refresh your taunt before it expires. Usually there are several rotational abilities players would use while tanking, for example, keeping up green dragon blood. This would add another element where you would need to drop your shield momentarily to use any of these abilities, leaving you vulnerable. You do take very heavy hits in PvE that can knock you back if you don't block. Though usually there are very strong tells as to which are the heavy hits. Also stamina management is key. Particularly if the tank is needing to let the non status hits through (the ones that don't cause knock back for example) to sustain stamina for interrupts, blocks and taunts throughout the fight. The balance would be to minimize the number of unmitigated attacks through (the ones you don't block) while being able to have a sustainable stamina usage. Removing stamina recovery while blocking will shift this balance, you would have to let more hits through, as you can only recover your stamina while your shield is down. This increases stress on healers also. I believe it would make tanking in PvE more difficult than it currently is.
  • Xsorus
    Xsorus
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    Black-Bird wrote: »
    Black-Bird wrote: »
    Stam should not regen while holding block, and you should not be able to attack while blocking

    =

    problem fixed.

    Well, again, another thread with complete disregard for the PvE content of the game. Doing this will be very drastic for PvE tanking.

    I'm sorry I must have forgot this was the Alliance war section. It would make people think about their blocks not just hold it 24/7 would the impact really be THAT bad for PvE?

    Not being able to attack/cast/use an ability while blocking can be problematic. At the bare minimum you have to refresh your taunt before it expires. Usually there are several rotational abilities players would use while tanking, for example, keeping up green dragon blood. This would add another element where you would need to drop your shield momentarily to use any of these abilities, leaving you vulnerable. You do take very heavy hits in PvE that can knock you back if you don't block. Though usually there are very strong tells as to which are the heavy hits. Also stamina management is key. Particularly if the tank is needing to let the non status hits through (the ones that don't cause knock back for example) to sustain stamina for interrupts, blocks and taunts throughout the fight. The balance would be to minimize the number of unmitigated attacks through (the ones you don't block) while being able to have a sustainable stamina usage. Removing stamina recovery while blocking will shift this balance, you would have to let more hits through, as you can only recover your stamina while your shield is down. This increases stress on healers also. I believe it would make tanking in PvE more difficult than it currently is.

    A lot of people don't understand blocking, thus they make those silly type suggestions.

    Its kind of like AOE caps, People die to AOE's like they die to people blocking, So they're like...Its not me..Its AOE's thus lets put a Cap on AOE's so what could possibly go wrong.

    Things like making you unable to do instant spells while blocking, or 360 degree blocking removed ect ect all of these would break the game dramatically in not only PvP but PvE
  • Orchish
    Orchish
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    This would be yet another blow to already valueless Tanks in the end game. Both PvE and PvP. i am all for changes to blocking when it comes to holding a staff or bow and blocking 360 etc. But if i build my character around sword and board with his main role being a tank, then any changes would seriously hurt that character, Which sacrifices DPS for it's survivability.
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