Dodge and Block Keys

Isawa

Back when I was playing Zentia for a bit, the game had a pretty solid pvp in small numbers due to a dodge and block keys that responded quite well. You really needed to learn for each class how moves started (their appearance) in order to correctly dodge,block, or out distance them. Also each class would have a move or several that could bust through the block, so you'd better see it coming and dodge or do a faster counter kd of your own. The game is pretty much empty now, but duels were sweet as well as small scale pvp for this reason - skill.

How many games have a similiar feature? I feel like i've played alot of mmorpgs and not many do...most of them just have run around in circles while pressing the 1,2,3s.

Wolfenpride

Vindictus has active blocking/dodging.

Upcoming Tera will have it as well, but i've no idea when that game is getting a NA release, hopefully by the end of this year at the very latest.

Isawa

Thanks, I'll go check Vindictus out. I'm surprised so few have such a feature, I feel like it adds far more depth to combat.

Disdena

DCUO has a block button, for what it's worth. My limited experience with the game did not uncover any situations where it was advantageous to block.

Unknown

 

DDO has had active blocking and dodging for years.  The blocking is based upon D&D DR though not pure damage stoppage.  So your shield contributes a certain DR amount say 15, this means if you get hit for 20, 15 is nullified and you take 5.  DDO also has dodging via the Tumble skill, with enough point in tumble you can do black flips and front flips.  With only a small amount you can do rolls in any direction.

However doding in DDO is a little cludgy as it can be hard to tell if you will make something miss.  It is important to note that some spells can be dodged (any ray or arrow type spell).

 

Champions Online has blocking but not real dodging.  The blocking is important as it adds alot of % damage resistance but also because it counter "super moves" which have special animations to let you know you may want to black.

 

Vindictus has a very full featured Action-style dodging/block system which can be expanded upon by taking certain character skills.  Probably one of the better systems in the MMO space.

 

Guild Wars 2 will have these sorts of features.

 

 

Honorable mention should go to Asheron's Call.  While they had no block or dodge animation, you could increase your speed and run out of the way of missles and spells.  AC is the granddaddy of the action MMO and in some ways I would say did certain things better than many modern MMOs.

Quizzical

Spiral Knights has both dodging and blocking.  And they're effective enough that in most cases, if you take damage at all, then it means you messed up.  There isn't a dodge key though.  You dodge an attack by being somewhere else when the monster attacks in a particular spot.