Attack for God's sake!! A.K.A. What am I doing wrong?

[Jabberwocky]

Just got my copy at noon today.. Played through the prelude then had to do real work.

Everything is simply stunning. What beautiful art direction. Just amazing....

But! I'm having trouble getting Geralt to 'get with the program.' When I need to attack someone I click on them, but Geralt just stands there. I mean, the combat is fine once I finally get him going and get the timing down, but it practically takes an act of congress to get him moving in the first place! It is very frustrating.

Just to make sure I'm clear: You left click ONCE to attack, correct?

I left click once, and he doesn't attack, or at least not immediately(?). So I click again, and it acts like I interrupted the first sequence (even though at this point he still hasn't done anything, and may have taken a blow or two by now).

What's going on here?

[elkston]

OK. I feel your pain because this threw me for a loop at first too. It's not a quick left click, nor do you hold it down. Its more like a medium "selection" click. And you only do it once and then wait for the attack to finish. After it is finished, you can use the click again. If you click again while an attack is in progress -- it will interrupt the attack as you saw and mess things up

Just keep at it and it will fall into place...

This was driving me crazy too! Geralt was just standing there seemingly deciding to attack on his own whim instead of my instructions!

[Maylander]

I have the same problem, my solution so far is to actually run around with Geralt (using WASD), put him in good position to start attacking, and then actually click. If it doesn't work, I move him a bit again, and try over. It usually works, but this is quite an annoying glitch.

[Prime Junta]

I had that problem too, but strangely it went away as I got more familiar with the controls.

The trick is not to get in too close to a fast-attacking enemy -- especially several -- before clicking: getting hit will break Geralt's attack, and being sniped at from all directions will kinda "stun-lock" him. If that happens, evade -- double-tap one of WASD to jump or roll out of the way, repeat if needed, attack again.

You can click to attack when quite far from your enemy: Geralt will run to the right distance and start the attack.

IOW, if Geralt is just standing there and taking it, get out of the way and try another angle.

If you try to take on too tough enemies too early, this may happen even with individual very tough critters; in that case, you will very likely get killed.

Bottom line: I don't think it's a glitch; I think it's meant to work that way. My only real beef with it is that there are some occasions where there's a bunch of baddies waiting for Geralt behind a door; that way, you're in the middle of them getting hit before you can do a damn thing. It feels a bit unfair, although you can usually solve these too by double-tapping W to somersault over their heads. Which, BTW, is a fine trick if you can do it. ;)

[Jabberwocky]

Okay, well it's good to know I'm not going crazy and others have felt the same way. I moved into Chapter 1 just barely, but haven't had time to play any today. Maybe I'll get better at this clicking thing... I'm just not used to this type of combat at all - I'm a lot better with the total control offered by Gothic and such.

This game totally rocks though and I would still play all the way through despite my current struggle with the controls!

[magerette]

Jabberwocky, if the controls are still giving you fits, you might try replaying the tutorial in easy mode. It has clear icons of when to click( sword) and not click(crossed out sword) and when to click for a chained attack(flaming sword). After you do this through a few combats, the rhythm is pretty easy to feel--there are also some visual clues listed in the handbook, but since I'm playing iso I'm not really close enough to pick them out.

Easy is way *too* easy to stay on for long, but it helps to get the sense of how combat works--it is definitely a different feel. It's more select(Geralt runs and does first attack)/wait/click/wait/click as opposed to click click click,if that makes sense. Sometimes you do have to move to retarget, also. :)

[Maylander]

I'm currently in chapter 3, and believe me, Geralt will still refuse to attack from time to time, whether you have your weapon ready or not. I think it's got something to do with the angle he's trying to attack from, so in most cases he'll start attacking if you just move him a bit and try again.

[HiddenX]

to hit an enemy the following conditions must be set:

a) you have to stand at the right distance (not too close and not too far away)
b) click on the enemy and not on anything else
c) your parry/defend sequences must be over (can be difficult in a crowd of enemies)
d) you are not stunned
e) you are not punished at the moment for a "too fast" attack
f) depending on your current combat situation use the right attack type ->
fast attacks, power attacks, group attack

I like this rules - clicking to death is not possible. Listen to the sword - "zooosssch" sound helps.

I like the limited inventory, too - because the business model cannot break so easily (= collect all 100 swords of your enemies and sell them).

[Jabberwocky]

Thanks for all the advice. The problem isn't so much once I get the combat started - I can keep up with the rythym of the clicking, the problem is getting him started in the first place.

I'll implement these suggestions and see if I get any better :)

[txa1265]

I find keeping the angle right to get combos during battles against multiple enemies annoying ...

[magerette]

It's also the right distance as HiddenX says--so it's definitely tricky at times, especially when there's a ring of enemies at different distances and angles. I'm still in Easy and it's really more like god mode, so obviously I'm not having a lot of trouble. I do plan to go back and start at an adult difficulty later, but I keep playing a bit more to see what happens next..:]

[txa1265]

My problem is not wanting to lose the 'flame sword' cursor ...

[JonNik]

I think HiddenX got it right.

Btw I dont find Hard very difficult to coordinate (havent tried the easy and
medium modes to know how much of a difference it makes) both the streak
and sound at the end of the swing are enough to get you going imo...

[Jabberwocky]

Mike the flaming sword icon stays on medium setting. That's what I'm playing on...

[txa1265]

Mike the flaming sword icon stays on medium setting. That's what I'm playing on...

Me, too. What I think has happened more than once is that I shift around a bit during attacks and therefore get the first attack in, but my mouse moves off the initial target enough that although I see the flame sword, clicking not on the enemy disengages attack. Perhaps I'm wrong, but that seems to be the way it is working.

[magerette]

Know what you mean; sometimes it seems like it's gone before you can click--I wouldn't be surprised if that were it, as least some of the time.

[Jabberwocky]

Played a little this morning and only been in one combat sequence... still had trouble, but so far none of my encounters have been particularly life threatening.

[Prime Junta]

It's also possible that you got blocked, dodged, or parried -- if you're using the wrong style, or fighting an enemy that's too tough, they'll do that and break your sequence.

[magerette]

I'm getting to the point where I can actually hear the "swoosh" and the rhythm part is getting a lot easier. I find the only times I have Geralt standing around sucking up damage is when he's mobbed--then if I switch to F2 camera mode, a little pause, and I can target. I like using OTS as much as possible, though, because it's easier to manuever with the WASD keys--in particular, the double hit on the W that gives you a spin or somersault, and the S that lets you back up and lure the enemy toward you.

[KazikluBey]

... and the S that lets you back up and lure the enemy toward you.
And over an Yrden sign before you push the enemy right back over it, amirite?

[magerette]

Haven't got that far yet, but good to know. :)

[booboo]

i am also having having trouble - I applaud them trying to avoid button mashing - but the feedback you get as to *why* an attack has failed is next to useless. I have moved in...then out...this way and that, clicked on the target etc etc - sometimes it all flows, other times it just doesn't work. *click* "Why the ^##!! aren't you attacking, you white haired son of a *$@#!" That's a broken interface - the fact that people can learn to deal with idiosyncrasies does not make it good - it shows how adaptable our species is ;-)
I'm enjoying the game though - just worried I may die when some serious fighting begins

[Jabberwocky]

Yep, I'm getting much better, but I'm thinking this problem may be due to the mouse targeting having to be so exact. I think it is a significant enough problem to warrant a fix.

[Maylander]

True booboo, the feedback could definetly be better. Welcome to the forums, by the way. :)

[Acleacius]

I am seeing crowds as a problem for the combat system, the "not attacking" is annoying, but my true yell at the game moments are those when I am attacking and friendlies have joined in.

I am doing my sequences fine, but have found if your cursor is not exactly over an enemy when you click for your combos, the "hit boxes" of the enemies and friendlies are easily confused by camera angles.

It's just like trying to pick up loot sometimes, if they are close together, you might visually be clicking exactly where you see you should be clicking but because the area of another body or object is "invisibly" in your way you actually are clicking on another object/enemy/friendly even though you don't intend to or know you are.

Since my system is currently of only medium power, the constantly loading and reloading, is taking it's toll to some degree more on me, than maybe some of you with more powerful systems, at least 50% of my playtime has been waiting on loading screens.
This is mostly due to, I refuse to take responsibility for attacking guards or friendlies, I don't intend to attack. :)

[Shrapnel]

Your stance and your stats also play a big part.
If you dont have enough dexterity or youire trying to initiate battle in the wrong stance, you are going to miss and miss alot. I'd go for the F1 view as well
OTS in battles is a good way to die fast, wait til you get to the swamp and other battles that start right after cutscenes. Dbl clicking on the floor in birdseye view acts as escapes as well (sidesteps, pirouettes, front/backflips)

[Jabberwocky]

There have been a few times that F1 and 2 views have helped in combat, but other times when I got my butt kicked and did better with ots. Go figure, but I'd say I spend about 85% of my game time in OTS.

[magerette]

The longer I play, the less I use the iso views, and since Act 3 it's pretty much been OTS. It does take a while to get used to in combat, and sometimes F1 has saved my bacon, but I prefer the sense of immediacy in OTS.

About the non-attacking that sometimes happens--I've found that when Geralt is being hit a lot or even sometimes one on one and won't attack, casting a sign will have the effect of initiating attack again. It helped a lot in my last boss fight where I was down to a sliver of health(when the world turns grey and you can hear that ominous heartbeat sound)--I threw an AArd and all of a sudden the left-click sequences started.

[xSamhainx]

just started today, sorta getting the hang of it. Some things need to be the perfect distance, it's kinda quirky.

[magerette]

It is a bit hinky at times--even after you get used to it--my own tendency is to panic and click the LMB like a castanet, which is of course the worst thing to do--next playthrough (after the patch) I'm going to try playing at the "no flaming sword " difficulty and see how that goes.

Glad to see you playing Sammy--hope it lives up to all the gushing around here for you. :)

[Jabberwocky]

Yeah Sammy, you just started playing but I gaurantee you'll be finished before me. I'm still in Chapter 1!! I read some spoilers that made me realize a bunch of stuff that I missed before I got locked into the final course of action, so I reloaded with the aim of doing everthing else...

[Cm]

I have had a few "frozen" animation glitches in the crypt fights. Only place so far, so be sure to do a save often in there. As was mentioned somewhere by someone, changing weapons can solve it at times.

[Acleacius]

magerette, hinky? Is that an Okie word. :p

Cm, stun works both ways, so in case your getting hit, with low Dex you can get stunned pretty easily, iirc.

[magerette]

magerette, hinky? Is that an Okie word. :p



We have many colorful perversions of the Queen's English down here. You know you've been Okyfied when you answer the question "Where's so and so" by saying"Over yonder." :)

[Jabberwocky]

I dunno. I don't think "hinky" is an Okie word - at least I've never heard of it. :D

[magerette]

I learned it from my husband. He's a native, but has been all over the world. Maybe it's a military word--they also have many colorful perversions of the language going on. :)

[HiddenX]

Slangsite: (http://www.slangsite.com/slang/H.html)

hinkie: Out of sorts, irregular or weird feeling.
Example: I don't know, boss... something's hinkie... Robert Biggs, The Fugitive

hinky: The right way to spell hinkie. :)
Something that is out of whack, just a bit off, wrong, confused, suspect.
Example: His directions were a bit hinky, no? That milk taste hinky to you?

[Jabberwocky]

:lol: Once again it is demonstrated that there is nothing that can't be found on the internet!

Did "Slangsite" give any indication as to regional use? Did they mention Oklahoma in particular? ;)

[magerette]

Great site Hidden X--just the stuff on the H page alone had me laughing for twenty minutes. :) Honeysprinkles--what a great word!

[xSamhainx]

One of my gripes with the game so far is that right out of a cutscene/ right after an area loads it seems to take too long for Geralt to bust out his sword and get with the program.

He doesnt always get right to the attack in a fight, especially if facing the other direction. BAM I'm getting hit left and right, im clicking on the foe, Geralts standing there like an idiot, it's like the game's getting some cheap shot in on me. Really ticks me off, I'm yelling TAKE OUT YOUR ^$%^*% SWORD ALREADY! SWING. YOUR. SWORD...

My blood pressure went thru the roof a few times on that one.

I just would like to be able to have my weapon out if I know I'm heading into a threatening situation. Like a building that you know contains enemies. Even worse if I happen to enter a building w/ weapon out, the area loads, and while youre getting smacked on by a couple enemies Geralts putting his damn weapon away! Redraw your weapon (now losing vitality like crazy) and try and position yourself and start fighting back.

He just doesnt draw fast enough in my opinion. It's retarded that he keeps putting away his weapon all the time like he does in the first place.

[Sir Markus]

I just had that happen and it's so annoying I had to turn it off for a while. There was a huge, long cutscene where someone was trapped outside the city gates about to get attacked by a bunch of demon dogs or something, and nobody would go out to help this person. The hero steps up, and says I'll go do it. Another load, then I'm immediately thrust into battle getting torn to shreds. Blech.

[Acleacius]

Sad to say it never gets better in this regard, however to game in general is so good it's worth playing. Though I highly suggest, at least until we get some confromation from the developers that Save games will work with patch 1.2, you might consider playing something else, for a the next week. Just as an effort to help spare you guys the torment of those mechanics many of us have suffered through for the last month. Since there have been so many complaints about this, it's possible they will do something about it and if not then you really still lose nothing, but worst case is you get to chapter 2 or 3 and boom the patch won't work with old saves, forcing you to start over. :(

[Jabberwocky]

I didn't think about the save thing. I don't think I can wait to play it though, I'll have to risk it.

Incedentally I have always felt the opposite about the speed of Geralt's 'sword-drawing'. He's lighting in my opinion, and I've said before that's the only redeeming thing about getting jumped right off the bat. Maybe I'm just attaching reality to the game a bit too much, but I've drawn two-handed swords off my back before (don't ask) and it doesn't work like that in real life... so be thankful he isn't slower.

Could the speed be slightly related to framerates you are getting Sammy? I know I've had times (pre NVidia 8800 days) where a game would lag and I didn't even realize it was a performance issue until playing it again with more power.

The part I totally agree on is that they should allow you to draw your weapon whenever you want to and sheath it when you want. A ridiculous design to have it any other way.

[Acleacius]

Good point, Shadows are usually the biggest culprit for lagging out an action sequence.

[Vio]

In group battles, take care to target the closest enemy, not one Geralt will try to run to.

Moreover, these are the situations where the KING AND QUEEN bomb shines - keep a stack of those on a quickslot. Much faster than powering up an Axii, cheap to produce, and you even find some early.

[Corwin]

I've never made or used bombs. Are they really that effective?

[Acleacius]

Me either, I hate Fear effects, with scripted, uninterrupted animation effects. If you trying to catch those little buggers while they run, it takes a second to play the attack animation, they will just run out of the way, leading you into previously unaccessed areas where more monsters come join in the fun. :)

I guess if groups are a problem then you could stand still and let them come back to you, as you whittle their ranks.

I really prefer the Stun, then Coup de grace, there might be a bomb for Stun, Pain?

[Vio]

>stand still and let them come back to you

That's the idea. And usually not everyone runs.

Enemies might become more resistant later but up to where I am now (end of act 3)
I find them very convenient "panic buttons". Much more useful than charged signs at least, and they don't need endurance.

There is a stun bomb, and also a blinding bomb (for that fast silver bonus) but I don't know these yet.