Tumble - Do you use it?

[scampb]

Does anyone actually use tumble? If so, what kind of toon do you run with? What situations would warrant the use of tumble? I have been reviewing some builds and see tumble on many. I just can't see the importance of it nor do I see many use it in combat. Feedback please (I am asking for feedback because the build I saw that I liked puts a lot into tumble but I would rather use my points elsewhere if I can). Maybe I just have to get used to learning how to tumble!

[Turial]

Tumble lets you get away with not having a feather fall item on for smaller jumps. When tumbling and the mobility feat or item mod are combined you get an AC bonus when tumbling. Its a fast way to regen sp in the trees and pools in the shroud. Looks cool if you have enough.

Other then that not much.

[Talon_Moonshadow]

I find it difficult to use.

I've used it for running away.....as a last ditch effort to avoid dying. Trying to get to a safe spot to heal up.

Wish I was a better twitch player and culd actually put it to good use.

I think the Ftr mobility enhancement (and the mobility feat) should be a lot better then they are. Give us a reward for actually devoting resources to it. A rogue might be able to get a decent benefit from it, but a Ftr gets so few skill points that it seems useless for a Ftr to try to tumble or devote resources to it.

But maybe it's better than I think it is....maybe i just can't pull it off.

[MrCow]

I use tumbling for:

• Moving through Solid Fog/Acid Fog/other movement speed slowing effects.
• Hill Giants and their knockdown stomp.
• Getting out of stealth.
• Stopping the casting of a long cast time spell that I didn't mean to cast.
• Measuring things.
• Ranged attacking versus a ranged attacker.
• Adding flair to my combat when I feel the compulsion to do so.

[BlackSteel]

Tumble moves you at regular tumble speed (which increases distance with higher tumble) thru most types of movement impairing effects. Fog? Hamstring? Docent of Defiance proc? Crippled? Tumble lets you move with all that. Also helps if you're chained in the new raid. It wont work on slippery surfaces like grease or ice tho, atleast not if you're already impaired and on slippery surfaces. But it is the quickest way to move thru an enemy fog.

It also looks cool when you tumble from mob to mob instead of running around swinging your weapon like a crazed pyschopath.

Oh yeh, tumbling off ledges lets you fall a greater distance without taking damage.

[Deathseeker]

Ive started including it only recently...I find that being able to ignore having to worry about featherfall in most cases frees up a slot and an inconvenience of swapping gear around. I also roll out of trouble when overwhelmed to get that AC bonus (for toons that can take advantage). Is it great or necessary...nope. But if I have extra skill points to burn and looking for a home, I've started throwing them in tumble.

Oh, and it isn't too horrible to mitigate falling damage for the Reaver Anti-gravity thing either. That's a very minor detail of course...

[Galapas]

Does anyone use the super tumbling effects you get at around 31 and 36 tumble? I've seen people fooling around with them, but I haven't heard of them being tactically useful.

[Talon_Moonshadow]

I use tumbling for:

• Moving through Solid Fog/Acid Fog/other movement speed slowing effects.
• Hill Giants and their knockdown stomp.
• Getting out of stealth.
• Stopping the casting of a long cast time spell that I didn't mean to cast.
• Measuring things.
• Ranged attacking versus a ranged attacker.
• Adding flair to my combat when I feel the compulsion to do so.

Between you and Blacksteel, I've learned something new again.

Can you add a little detwail to some of these. Giants stomps? Ranging? Is it just the obvious, to get a better AC? or is there more of a trick to it?

My daughter actually taught me to use it to get out of stealth. She plays so little, but is extremely observant about a lot of things. She's also pretty good about avoiding damage.....all though she doesn't get many kiils, She will tumble around and avoid dying.

[baddax]

Tumble can also be used to continue attack progression. ie. attacks 1-3 out of enemy range, tumble, attacks 3-5 in enemey range. ie a higher ac with mobiltiy for closing the last few feet on mobs and then starting at a higher base attack. been working on perfecting this skill on my monk rogue build atm. i still need more practice though. not sure if tumble effects this as a higher tumble other than the distance you can cross before being in attack range.

[MrCow]

Can you add a little detwail to some of these. Giants stomps? Ranging?

When you see a giant lift that big ol' foot, tumble backwards and there is a good chance that you will be outside of the range of the giant knockdown stomp.

When ranging if you can get the timing down you can tumble to avoid the arrow(s), let loose a shot, tumble to avoid the next volley, let loose another shot, and repeat until the thing dies.

[Galapas]

When you see a giant lift that big ol' foot, tumble backwards and there is a good chance that you will be outside of the range of the giant knockdown stomp.

When ranging if you can get the timing down you can tumble to avoid the arrow(s), let loose a shot, tumble to avoid the next volley, let loose another shot, and repeat until the thing dies.

It's very easy to dodge missiles without tumbling. In fact, it is easier to do without tumbling. Just use the "q" and "e" keys to sidestep. Does tumbling have some benefit, like keeping your attack progression or avoiding a penalty?

[MrCow]

It's very easy to dodge missiles without tumbling. In fact, it is easier to do without tumbling.

Tumbling allows you to make a rhythm that is easy to repeat. Keeping this rhythm actually makes it easier for me to avoid arrows. Although, I understand that for some people it may not be quite as easy. This is just a preference that works in my favor for playing.

Just use the "q" and "e" keys to sidestep.

Not everyone has their keyboard configured like you do.

[baddax]

you can tumble and keep attack progression. at least my monk can. not sure about avoiding a to hit penalty without spring attack though.

[Talon_Moonshadow]

When you see a giant lift that big ol' foot, tumble backwards and there is a good chance that you will be outside of the range of the giant knockdown stomp.

When ranging if you can get the timing down you can tumble to avoid the arrow(s), let loose a shot, tumble to avoid the next volley, let loose another shot, and repeat until the thing dies.

Thx.

For ranging, I try to find a corner to shoot around. it's a trick I've learned that very few others seem to know about or be able to pull off.
Requires auto-attack and some experimenting but I can usually find a spot where I can hit them and they cannot hit me. Not always though, and sometimes it takes a long time to find a good spot to do it from.

My favorite is the end named beholder in VON3. I watch all the other straffing rangers get disintegrated while I hit him from safety.

[Mithran]

The only one of my characters who cannot tumble is my cleric, and that's only because he uses the Madstone Shield and it's brought his ability score too low for his Tumble to be effective.
I primarily use it with the Mobility Feat to buy my healers time in chaotic melee situations where their attention is divided. It can make a huge difference. On my cleric, it's less useful, so I don't mind his not being able to, but for melee and for casters, I regard the ability to Tumble as extremely important.

[tihocan]

Does tumbling have some benefit, like keeping your attack progression or avoiding a penalty?

It keeps your attack progression (although I haven't checked on ranged attacks), and avoids a potential -4 moving penalty that can occur when you're not careful enough while using the movement keys.

All my chars can tumble, I use it a lot.

[Twerpp]

Its fun to front flip and back flip, hey its a video game! Fun! Also I take no damage on the Reaver, can make any jump no damage without swapping for FF. I didnt want to put a ton of points into something so nearly purely aethetic though, so i calculated so I had enough to front flip with my endgame dexterity, and a greater hero, thats prob where it will stay. On toons with a tighter skill point budget, just enough to somersault satisfies my ADD, and you can still back and front flip thru the air with that H4X!

[Cap_Man]

I use Tumble mostly to back flip out of danger when my hit points get too low. It get's you away from the mob faster.

I also use it in battle to quickly get to the next target. A single quick tumble in any direction can quickly get you in range to attack the next mob and I believe that a tumble does not break your attack chain.

I rarely worry about feather fall unless it is an exceptional distance. I can jump from the tavern in Meridia and sustain no damage

And these days I also use it to break sneak since it no longer breaks when you attack. (I wish they would allow us to toggle that on/off)

[Gratch]

With a +10 tumbling item, my partial rogue gets back flips... which is useful in Pit Fiend if the clerics dont want to heal you through the blades or you're not quite in the less-hit zone. The tumble gets you out fast. It's also nice that the new Hound Raid dex ring, Tumbleweed, includes +10 tumble... I'll probably toss my other tumble items if I can ever get it.

I believe tumble keeps your attack progression while ranging... and it's nice to help you avoid incoming arrows... especially the ones of hamstringing variety you find in the desert quests.

Though often in melee at 16... I don't tumble...because I want to reset the animation attack chain... when mobs move.

[Galapas]

Thanks for the responses. I have another tumble question.

I haven't changed my hot keys very much. In order to tumble, I use <shift> WASD. Can you hotkey single keys to tumble? For example, could I use YGHJ with no shift as a set of tumble movement keys? I haven't seen "Tumble forward", "Tumble Left" etc as options for hotkeying. Is there another way. I'll get carpel tunnel if I try tumbling in combat with the shift key. I'll also wind up trying to shield bash everything.