is melee combat completely ducked now

[782B 6]

Or is it just me, before i could knock out a whole line of 20 in a row with out a scratch! but now i cant seem to hit zombies any more with out them hitting me. Well 9 times out of ten anyway they hit me, i was just wondering is it just me or is that the way things are now? zombies also seem to hear better, but see worse now.

Edited October 16, 2013 by 782B

[mzltv 2281]

It's definitely just you.

 

Maybe you need to spend a couple of hours in the 'Armory' with the hatchet?

[782B 6]

its all right i found a post that says the zombies attack was changed its not just me. Post: 1:8 makes melee nearly pointless. Phew its always worth checking things out yourself i suppose instead of waiting for usless uninformed posts like the one above.

[Jex 1104]

Yeah don't you have to hit closer now as well?

[Gwraspe 318]

the hatchet seemingly had a 5235 foot range before, so it's about right they sunk it tbh. time had it you could swing your hatchet from zelenogorsk and take out a zombie in tulga

Edited October 16, 2013 by Gwraspe

[Bludy 324]

i've noticed that with machete. hatchet seems like before for me..

[kichilron 8550]

Also: we just found out, that the hatchet is a bit off. If you stand still and look at a wall not moving you will always hit to the right and even though you're not moving you've got a box of 0.5 by 0.5 meters where you hit.

[meat pie 632]

I dunno

[Diggydug (DayZ) 331]

Far from pointless, but it does seem like a zombie can hit you if you can hit it, at least with the hatchet, which is silly, considering a hatchet adds length to your hit.

 

Try to get 'em from behind if you can, if not, keep practicing it's not pointless, but isn't as effective as it once was.

[Dancing.Russian.Man 1631]

its all right i found a post that says the zombies attack was changed its not just me. Post: 1:8 makes melee nearly pointless. Phew its always worth checking things out yourself i suppose instead of waiting for usless uninformed posts like the one above.

Way to be a massive douche.

Personally I have no trouble whatsoever when using the hatchet. I'm not getting it, hardly even aggroed.

You're definitely doing something wrong. Are you standing up? Are you moving forward or standing still?

If you're doing either, fix your strategy.

Besides, it's been a rather long while since 1.8 came out.

Going by your first post, someone could easily take it as "Did they change something in 1.8.0.3?"

[Brew78 27]

Haven't used the hatchet since I got the machete, but maybe now I will.

I've definitely noticed that melee is "different" than it was before, specifically that its much much harder to hit a zombie that's right in front of you.

 

I've done some practicing in a large barn, too.  With them walking slowly its easier to test swing distance and whatnot.  Time after time, swing and miss.  Let him get closer, swing and miss.  Back up a little since he's getting within punch range, swing and miss.  Let him get closer, swing and miss.  Let him get closer, swing and miss.  He starts to swing and leans forward into you, swing and miss (I think the swing actually ended up *behind* him, and therefore didn't connect).  He continues to punch and do damage, I continue to swing and land a hit after several swings.

 

It seems like their attack animation screws up their positioning and makes it far more difficult to hit since you can only make contact when they're within their own melee range but are also between attacks.

 

Sometimes on staircases, like the smaller barns with the sets of stairs on either side, the melee seems to work fine but other times it follows the same pattern of being unable to hit them unless they're actively hitting you.  It IS easier to hit them when you're above them and they're climbing up, but you're also at higher risk of a broken leg.

 

I dunno.  Maybe my memory is a little biased.  I should record a demo.

[FreshmeatDK 22]

I have no problem as long as I am using the hatchet, preferably indoors. But if a zombie starts attacking, I cannot seem to hit any more. It is probably something in the way animations are handled by the ArmA engine.

[NagsterTheGangster 388]

Ohhh SA, SA, when will you come release us from this mod nightmare? lol But id try some different methods if it's not working even if the Zeds have been changed, maybe walk towards them right before they get in range to avoid the hit?

[h4yw1r3 64]

Definitely a positive change in my opinion.  Used to be able to kill seemingly endless numbers of zombies (another reason zombies weren't a threat) with an axe.  Between the axe's incredibly long range and the pause in the zombie's attack animation, you could easily dodge in and out, timing your swings and never get hit.  The smoother transition between zombie movement and attack combined with the shorter range of melee weapons was a definite improvement in my book, and made zombies more of a threat, which they should be in a zombie apocalypse survival game.  You can still easily kill them.  One zombie isn't going to take you out in melee unless you're about dead anyway.  If you can't beat a zombie with a melee weapon otherwise, the problem isn't the patch.

Edited October 16, 2013 by H4YW1R3

[beavis_5000 111]

I hope they fix melee in the SA. Its broken really, even if your good at it and land consistantly you have to admit its broken.

 

If there is a zombie coming at me, or even a person, I doubt im gonna miss when hes right in front of me. Thats not to say I wouldnt ever miss and Im sure if I was trying to hit a person who was aware and could dodge I may not be able to hit him as easy. But it seems highly unlikely zombie, person or whatever would be able to consistantly hit me three+ times before I even get two swings off. I dont think so, even if my dude was just that incredibly weak I still see it as highly unlikely even tho my dude is obviously somewhat beast considering he runs a 5 minute mile.

[StrangeOrange 15]

It's definitely just you.

 

Maybe you need to spend a couple of hours in the 'Armory' with the hatchet?

Definitely not just him. The zombies have been buffed to the point where they can hit you IMMEDIATELY after they stop moving, and their range actually extends beyond some melee weapons. If fighting a zombie head-on with a hatchet, you will suffer some hits while you hit them, but don't even try the machete. Unless you are able to sneak up on a zombie (highly unlikely given their inconsistent alertness), the machete has been made obsolete, worthless, and broken. I used to be able to kill zeds out in the open with skillful machete usage (which was somewhat of an achievement given that it was still harder than using a hatchet before), but now I have to go into a building or a pine tree every single time.

 

Here, I made a thread about it back when it was first an issue. Check it out to see others' opinions on it (though I wouldn't suggest posting there as you'd likely necro the thread): http://dayzmod.com/forum/index.php?/topic/148196-18-makes-melee-nearly-pointless/#entry1472819

 

EDIT: Lol just figured out you quoted my thread above. :P

Edited October 17, 2013 by StrangeOrange

[bibbish 49]

Was at a castle on the steps so the zoms slowed down. Was able to hatchet them no probs. When trying to hit their heads (that helps for the viral ones, right) I tend to aim high.

 

I haven't noticed any reduced range from my hatchet, but then I wasn't really paying attention. 

[Brew78 27]

Oh right, forgot to mention - the addition of knockdown makes things even worse.  If you decide that you don't want to use a loud weapon but don't want to attempt to melee since maybe you're low on blood and have been scavenging for food or a survival item (knife, matches), you're kind of screwed. 

 

I was hauling ass out of a town the other night, running into the forest and up a hill, looking for steep points I could try to hang the zeds up with, and *BAM*, I'm knocked to the ground from behind.  The bugger caught up to me at a full run, landed a blow, knocked me to the ground, and proceeded to beat the hell out of me.

 

I was in fairly good health and still had half a cooked cow in my backpack so I was fine, but I think I was lucky.  Problematic melee that only intermittently connects + zombies that can catch up to you and instantly attack + knockdown from a single punch + zombies now aggro'ing each other if you spook even a single one = a potentially very very bad day.

[782B 6]

Well I use the hatchet only now and only fight in spaces big enough to move back a step or two if they rush me. It does seem the "dayz" of running into town and getting a following of 20 -30 zeds then bringing them to a house to make a big pile of chopped zombie are over! which is fair enough this aint L4D2 I suppose. I also found that zeds lose sight of you more easily now so sneaking around behind them seems a good move, oh I also only use melee now if I use the first person view the zoom/scope and the hold breath but idk if that really makes a difference or if it's just one of those gamer superstitions I've developed

 

Oh and "dancing russain man/twat" BITE MY BIG LAD!

Edited October 18, 2013 by 782B

[Howler in Darkness 2]

I get hit sometimes, but usually I am fine with taking them out. Yes you have to adjust and its harder, but you can still melee just fine. Practice.

[beavis_5000 111]

I get hit sometimes, but usually I am fine with taking them out. Yes you have to adjust and its harder, but you can still melee just fine. Practice.

 

 

 

I would in no way say its just fine. Even if your the best melee artist in DayZ you have to admit its a broken system.

 

I can be inside with one zombie directly in front of me and kill that zombie in one blow but the zombie still hit me twice before it dies.

 

And if there are people out there who can consistantly kill a zombie with a melee weapon outside and not get hit then I take my hat off to you.

 

If I am 1v1 against a zombie outside its a gaurentee that zombie is gonna hit me 3 or more times even if I kill it in the first swing.

 

imo the melee system is so bad its unrealistically bad. But if melee was good perhaps it would make the game too easy so it should stay that bad?

Edited October 19, 2013 by electricfuneral

[madmark 0]

Definitely a positive change in my opinion.  Used to be able to kill seemingly endless numbers of zombies (another reason zombies weren't a threat) with an axe.  Between the axe's incredibly long range and the pause in the zombie's attack animation, you could easily dodge in and out, timing your swings and never get hit.  The smoother transition between zombie movement and attack combined with the shorter range of melee weapons was a definite improvement in my book, and made zombies more of a threat, which they should be in a zombie apocalypse survival game.  You can still easily kill them.  One zombie isn't going to take you out in melee unless you're about dead anyway.  If you can't beat a zombie with a melee weapon otherwise, the problem isn't the patch.

A smoother transition between  Zombie movement and attack  an improvement now. What servers do you  play on? 1.8 made it even worse now for me. Worst part of Dayz since the MOD started .

Edited October 19, 2013 by mad mark

[bibbish 49]

Was at a castle on the steps so the zoms slowed down. Was able to hatchet them no probs. When trying to hit their heads (that helps for the viral ones, right) I tend to aim high.

 

I haven't noticed any reduced range from my hatchet, but then I wasn't really paying attention. 

Actually I then had some trouble fighting zoms in a barn. My hatchet range has definitely been nerfed. That said by stepping backwards after each missed swing and slowly letting the zoms get nearer I was able to take them all out without taking damage. It was tricky but then surely it should be? IRL I could have nearly any melee weapon of my choosing and if I had to kill a raging infected I would struggle to without getting the shit kicked out of me.

 

After that I had to take a couple out with my hatchet in a house. I got backed into a corner but was still able to hatchet the zom in the face without getting hit before or otherwise. In fact I've never had that much trouble with melee, out in the open I am able to sneak up on zoms and hit them from behind. I always have to concentrate though.

 

We shouldn't have the luxury of near silent kills while running around the country side with uber range and attack speed. But I do think that different melee weapons should have different ranges. Low end gear could include a small hatchet with low range and high end gear could include a fire axe which obviously has more range but perhaps a slower swing speed? Then of course in the SA there could be pool cues and broom handles which can be crafted (with the use of a blade) into 'spears', these would have more range but break easily.

 

But back on topic... with a hatchet I found the range to be fine. It brings balance. Melee is silent but dangerous, handguns are not too noisey but give a safer attack range. Rifles/shotguns are risky because of the noise but at least you can turn the weapon on another player should the situation go south, sniper rifles and scoped weapons take practice but put you at a safe distance and finally people sometimes treat silenced weapons like gold dust but then rightly so, surely?