Where's the Swordplay?

[Mike_S]

I miss the thief, dark project and thief, the metal age swordplay.
The dagger is a really cool addition, but as a standalone it makes me miss being able to swordfight. Anyone who's played the previous games will likely agree. It was the most fun element of the game.

It's probably too late to add that feature now, t'is a shame!

None the less...Great game, excellent replay value, difficult missions, good graphics!

I'm impressed

[Mike_S]

maybe a possible patch/mod??? (The swordplay is already programed into the AI, could technically be modded/translated to garret) i dunno, It could be harder than I think

[styphon]

well it wasn't the most fun part of the older games but I did sure miss my sword. Maybe make it an expensive upgrade to buy partway through the game? running around in circles stabbing at guards is dumb... makes it really hard for those of us that don't like to reload everytime we get in trouble.

[Mike_S]

Agreed....If a guard knows you are around...you either have to A)shoot 3 arrows at him before he can get to you or B) Stab him 4-5 time with that tiny dagger.

Sure, it encourages stealth...but it takes away from the realism.

[Kildread]

I only used the sword agaisnt Haunts and other non-human enemies (Who were normaly lots faster at melee than Garrett is, did dying make those Hammerites experts in handling that hammer or what?) in the previous games, I really don't see why anyone wants a large sword in a stealth game.

[Mike_S]

Well, I went through a lot of games before looking for a first person swordplay game. Thief gave me that, me and my friends loved it. Now, I can't really play thief1 or 2 because my computer is too fast for it. I get a graphics rendering error with my FX5900.

Are there any games out there with first person swordplay? because Eidos seemed to have broken that ice, I think it's a shame that they've abandoned it, even if it is "stealthier" to have just a dagger.

Anyone remember "Die by the Sword?" It was a game that was WAAAY ahead of it's time. The swordplay was 3D and controller by the swing of the mouse. You had the freedom to strike however you wished, Thief was the closest to that game in terms of immersive swordplay. I really miss it is all.

[phenopticon]

Jedi Knight 2 and 3 have pretty nice lightsaber fighting systems, but not very thiefish.

I'm just bugged by the fact that I can't pick up the weapons of my fallen enemies and sell them/use them. It'd be great every now and then to smash something with a hammer, or use one of those shiny golden daggers.

[Mike_S]

Thanks, I have played the JK games, and I own outcast. The only thing is, nothing will ever replace raw steel in combat. though lightsabers are fun. I agree with you, you should be able to pick up/use weapons....especially because other eidos games like the Hitman series rely on this feature, it would be nice.

[MrWynd]

actually i think its a good thing we dropped the sword. we're an assassin. if you get caught, throw a flashbomb. set a mine so they come after you and trip it, etc. swordfighting is for soldiers etc not thieves

[mardi]

I agree with MrWynd though everyone has thier prefered style of play. I only used the sword in the first two games when I was feeling especially vicious and did the hardcore back stab. I don't miss it in Thief 3 and I've yet to use the dagger, or the flash/gas bombs, oil flasks or mines. Maybe I'll need them later in the game.

I'm more of a blackjack and arrow player. In fact, I'd have to say the most valuable one of all, to me, is the water arrows. I hate running out of those but with this new 'keep all your gear from mission to mission' system I usually have 20+ all the time. Kinda lame but...

[shoppa]

I got pretty good with the sword in Thief 1, 2.

Garrett can hold his own against 2 guards easy if block is used.

I definitely did not pick sword fights, but when I was caught occasionally, it was easier to deal with that taffer hunter by going blade on blade and teaching him a lesson.

I do miss the sword. The dagger pretty much sucks.

[Kokopelli]

Swordplay was fun in the first two titles, but a phrase from the instruction books comes to mind. (paraphrased of course)

"...you're not a tank. If you plan on facing off with the guards, get fitted for your coffin now..."

You're a thief, not a soldier. IMHO, while I did enjoy the sword, I prefer the dagger. It forces me to think about my actions more instead of just charging in. Plus, it forces you to get up close and personal with your "prey," if your intentions are to kill it.

[Mike_S]

Well, I do see your points, and after playing a little more seriously, the dagger is equally as much fun. I do, however, still believe that more motions for the dagger should be required.

I've seen a slash, backslash(rare) and backstab. Being able to swing only one way can get a little tedious.

[Winterborne]

I do not miss the sword. There are plenty of RPG's and MMO's I can play if I want to hack around with a sword. A flashbomb will get me out of trouble everytime. To me, it's all about skulking about, avoiding trouble and getting away undetected. Not being a brigand with a feather in my cap shouting, "HA HA! Avast ye scurvy dog, and draw your weapon!"

Although a pirate game would be cool...perhaps we need one.

[phenopticon]

Sid Meier's Pirates! comes out in the fall :D

The swordplay should be in there, even if you don't plan on using it, think of it from a story/realism standard. Garrett is a master thief, he doesn't plan on getting caught generally, but from all the years of stealing and occasionally getting caught and having to fight be it a city watchman or rat creature, he's had to learn to fight over the years. This in itself speaks that if I just kill a city watchman with my dagger, and his buddy spots me, I should have at least enough know-how with the sword to be able to pick up the dead watchman's and parry some strikes then run.

Carrying around a large broadsword while sneaking is a different story entirely though, that is something I'm kinda glad they got rid of.

Call me a bloodthirsty psycho, but I'd LOVE to be able to collect lots of weapons from my fallen enemies and keep them in Garrett's house somewhere, just in case I feel like I might run into some trouble later on.

And they could be used to cut off the heads of those pesky zombies :)

[Winterborne]

While it's true dead men tell no tales, I still think a thief is more likely to run than butt-heads with more than one enemy. To me that says pirate, which is kind of like a thief, but with some fencing and sword skills. I can see a pirate going toe-to-toe with one, two or possibly three foes, and then being a braggert with stories of his victory. I think the idea behind the thief in this series, is that he's a quiet loner, and more focused on shiney riches than kicking butt.

The game does give you quite a few outs if you get caught. And it's not like they took out fighting completely, it's just your not a melee powerhouse, which makes perfect sense to me. If it were possible to run around slashing down 2-3 enemies at a time, this game would not have near the appeal it does for me currently.

[UniTom]

Originally posted by Mike_S
Well, I went through a lot of games before looking for a first person swordplay game. Thief gave me that, me and my friends loved it. Now, I can't really play thief1 or 2 because my computer is too fast for it. I get a graphics rendering error with my FX5900.

Are there any games out there with first person swordplay? because Eidos seemed to have broken that ice, I think it's a shame that they've abandoned it, even if it is "stealthier" to have just a dagger.

Anyone remember "Die by the Sword?" It was a game that was WAAAY ahead of it's time. The swordplay was 3D and controller by the swing of the mouse. You had the freedom to strike however you wished, Thief was the closest to that game in terms of immersive swordplay. I really miss it is all.

Severance: blade of darkness has great sword play, I dont think you have first person though.

[Dmocritus]

Haven't played too many swordplay-extensive games, but I do recall Gothic 1 and 2 having a pretty good interactive system for that sort of thing. Using various keys one can pull off different offensive or defensive moves, including the tricky-but-sweet slash/spin/overhead-slash. I think Gothic 2 had a first-person option, too. Both titles woth checking out, regardless.

[phenopticon]

Yes, but he had always been able to handle a sword before, and that he can't pick up any weapons is just silly.

[shoppa]

I understand the folks who dont care about the sword or picking up weapons such as those nice looking hammers, but dang, it would be fun to gank a hammer and go around popping npc's on a replay of the missions.

I for one would love to see the addition. I do play most missions in complete stealth, ahhh but to cut loose and swing like a mad man with a ranged weapon in T3 would be sweet!:D

[Mike_S]

I agree, yes, for a stealthy thief a broadword or hammer doesn't usually have a place....but in an inevitable combat situation or even just to let loose as it has been mentioned would be unbelievable. I'd say, if you can make it happen, do it