blocking and tumbling returning noob questions

[odeath]

I trialed DDO 2 years ago and thre was a nice tutorial about how to fight. i remember vaguely you could press a button to block attacks or tumble about and then hit back. It created a combat system that was less about running about like a chicken and wildly swinging your sword. Now most people still did the latter I found it a neat function. Well I have activated a new account to explore the upcoming "free" play. There is a new island series which is fun and mostly based on existing dungeons revamped. But the combat training dummies are gone.

Does blocking still do something or is it a waste of time to even press the button?

Tumbling?

I have never seen a foe trip. Is it worth clicking?

Does backstabbing and flanking just happen?

Where did these tutorials go?

[Mr_Ed7]

I love tumblling, all my characters except for my heavily armored fighter and clerics use it.

For is to be effective though, one must also have Dodge & Mobility to get the +4 bonus.

I think utilizing tumble makes for a more dynamic and fun experience.

It is very effective for my two handed weapopn barbarian who tumbles towards his next group of victims, great for my arachers to tumble back and continue firing.

Not alot of people use tumble. I tend to go with aestetics (what I like) over what is best if one actually looked at the numbers.

[bandyman1]

I love tumblling, all my characters except for my heavily armored fighter and clerics use it.

For is to be effective though, one must also have Dodge & Mobility to get the +4 bonus.

False.

Tumbling is effective at reducing the damage on falls, regardless of weather or not you have dodge and mobility.

The main benefit to tumble ( on a melee ) IMHO, is that when you are skilled with it, it is faster than straffing, allowing you to dodge ray spells with ease, and position yourself quickly in combat. When you reach the level of somersaults, it's even faster, and you travel further.

Mobility ( which has dodge as a pre-req ), will give you a +4 AC bonus while tumbling, but you do not need that feat in order for tumbling to " be effective ". It's useful for a lot more than an AC bonus.

[odeath]

thanks for the input everyone. I am enjoying the game again and brought a few guildies for a lord of the rings break.

[tralese]

OK, I've been going through the forums using the search feature to figure this question out and basically landed here and decided to simply ask the question now.

Assuming you have the Tumble skill, how do you tumble in game?

I can't seem to be able to drag the tumble skill in my shortbars, and checked the feats section of my character sheet since I noticed move silently was in that section, but didn't see tumble in there.

[Tarrant]

OK, I've been going through the forums using the search feature to figure this question out and basically landed here and decided to simply ask the question now.

Assuming you have the Tumble skill, how do you tumble in game?

I can't seem to be able to drag the tumble skill in my shortbars, and checked the feats section of my character sheet since I noticed move silently was in that section, but didn't see tumble in there.

If you press shift (or whatever you've set block to) and then press a direction (forward, back, strafe left, strafe right) you'll tumble in that direction. Enjoy!

[VKhaun]

Hold shift to block. Tap a directional key while holding it.
You must actually have a base of 1 tumble TRAINED, not just from items.
Your total score must be at least 1 after penalties from armor/stats, including items.

EDIT--
Ninja answered first by Tarrant!

[Arianrhod]

OK, I've been going through the forums using the search feature to figure this question out and basically landed here and decided to simply ask the question now.

Assuming you have the Tumble skill, how do you tumble in game?

I can't seem to be able to drag the tumble skill in my shortbars, and checked the feats section of my character sheet since I noticed move silently was in that section, but didn't see tumble in there.

Assuming default keymapping -
Hold down the Shift key and use a movement key (W,S, Q or E) at the same time. Shift without moving shield-blocks, shift while moving tumbles.
Note that you need at least a +1 total modifier (after armor check penalty) to tumble - if the total is negative, you'll just do a little hop instead.

[Grond]

False.

Tumbling is effective at reducing the damage on falls, regardless of weather or not you have dodge and mobility.

The main benefit to tumble ( on a melee ) IMHO, is that when you are skilled with it, it is faster than straffing, allowing you to dodge ray spells with ease, and position yourself quickly in combat. When you reach the level of somersaults, it's even faster, and you travel further.

Mobility ( which has dodge as a pre-req ), will give you a +4 AC bonus while tumbling, but you do not need that feat in order for tumbling to " be effective ". It's useful for a lot more than an AC bonus.

Excellent points, bandyman1.

[The_Phenx]

Does blocking still do something or is it a waste of time to even press the button?

Tumbling?

I have never seen a foe trip. Is it worth clicking?

Does backstabbing and flanking just happen?

Where did these tutorials go?

Blocking. Give you damage reduction vs incoming attacks, it also negates monsters special attacks, such as minotaurs runing trip, spiders poison spit, devils curse attacks. If you have a shield the damage reduction is improved.

Tumbling is ony handy for a few minor things. You can tumble away from an enemy and if you have the mobility feat youo will get +4 to your ac while actively tumbling. Its single greatest benefit however is passive, the higher your tumble skill the less damage you take form falling, which is very handy in some raids. (reaver)

Trip is useful, IF, you have a vertigo item, or a high strength, or put enhancement points into it. If you are a sorc or a dex based toon...forget it.

Backstabbing and flanking are passive skills.. they work automatically when situations are correct.

As for where the tutorials went??? Dunno....

[Mr_Ed7]

Tripping seems to work best if you are strong, and perhaps surprise the enemy and attack first...just seems to be so...

and yes it does not seem to work at higher levels.

Although I get a certain satiisfaction of tripping and 8-legged bugger!

[Arianrhod]

I trialed DDO 2 years ago and thre was a nice tutorial about how to fight. i remember vaguely you could press a button to block attacks or tumble about and then hit back. It created a combat system that was less about running about like a chicken and wildly swinging your sword. Now most people still did the latter I found it a neat function. Well I have activated a new account to explore the upcoming "free" play. There is a new island series which is fun and mostly based on existing dungeons revamped. But the combat training dummies are gone.

Does blocking still do something or is it a waste of time to even press the button?

Tumbling?

I have never seen a foe trip. Is it worth clicking?

Does backstabbing and flanking just happen?

Where did these tutorials go?

The tutorials were done away with when the new beginner area (Korthos Island) was added. I believe there are "tips" that show up during the new tutorial quests that explain some of how combat works, and there are also NPC "experts" scattered around Korthos Village that you can talk to for more details about how to do things ingame.

Backstabbing and flanking can "just happen" if you're in a group and everyone is moving around. I don't know of any way to avoid sneak attacking (say, for roleplaying purposes with a paladin/rogue or the like) other than to avoid getting in a position where it's possible. Solo, it's pretty hard to backstab or flank anything unless you sneak up on it/catch it flat-footed.

think others have already answered the other Qs.

Welcome back, and good luck

[ElPayasoMalo]

Solo, it's pretty hard to backstab or flank anything unless you sneak up on it/catch it flat-footed.

I haven't had a problem backstabbing anything on my rogue while soloing if I use the bluff skill.