What's so great about breakable weapons and armor?

I see some people are complaining about it being removed in Skyrim, and I just don't get it. It bothered the hell out of me in Oblivion. The weapons break down too fast, and it just doesn't make any sense to begin with. I understand that in real life a blade will eventually wear down and become less effective, but I also understand that it's highly unlikely that it will break in half and be completely unusable. In my opinion, good riddance. Dead Rising 2 also had breakable weapons, and guess what? Yup. I hated it there, too. What do you think? Diophage

I'd prefer they keep that but remove encumbrance.

Nothing immersive about running back and forth to town a dozen times selling stuff because I can't carry everything at once.

I agree with that. Pointless really since it just forced you to carry repair tools like hammers to fix it. I didn't find it fun to go into the inventory and just do a click fest on repair tools every hour or so after several fights.

[QUOTE="Diophage"]I see some people are complaining about it being removed in Skyrim, and I just don't get it. It bothered the hell out of me in Oblivion. The weapons break down too fast, and it just doesn't make any sense to begin with. I understand that in real life a blade will eventually wear down and become less effective, but I also understand that it's highly unlikely that it will break in half and be completely unusable. In my opinion, good riddance. Dead Rising 2 also had breakable weapons, and guess what? Yup. I hated it there, too. What do you think? topgunmv

I'd prefer they keep that but remove encumbrance.

Nothing immersive about running back and forth to town a dozen times selling stuff because I can't carry everything at once.

[QUOTE="Diophage"]I see some people are complaining about it being removed in Skyrim, and I just don't get it. It bothered the hell out of me in Oblivion. The weapons break down too fast, and it just doesn't make any sense to begin with. I understand that in real life a blade will eventually wear down and become less effective, but I also understand that it's highly unlikely that it will break in half and be completely unusable. In my opinion, good riddance. Dead Rising 2 also had breakable weapons, and guess what? Yup. I hated it there, too. What do you think? topgunmv

I'd prefer they keep that but remove encumbrance.

Nothing immersive about running back and forth to town a dozen times selling stuff because I can't carry everything at once.

I think they should keep that but, make horses have bags on them so you can store stuff on your horse. I thought that was one of the better ideas from Nehrim. Just make the overall amount you carry a good size more than what it was in Oblivion.

I agree with that. Pointless really since it just forced you to carry repair tools like hammers to fix it. I didn't find it fun to go into the inventory and just do a click fest on repair tools every hour or so after several fights.

sleepingzzz

Obviously it's a very deep gameplay mechanic. You have to make sure your weapon is in good working order before every single fight.

It's just like having to buy ammo in Counter Strike. Such a pointless extra step that could screw you if you forget about it. Luckily CSS removed that and it's been much better because of it.

Its alright for certain games that really want realism but in most cases its annoying like in dead rising, and even dead island.

I never liked it, you were always pigeonholed into taking the repair skill just to keep your things working.

I didn't mind it if i was an armorer....but as a mage or a theif, im not going to take armorer, and many of my pieces of clothing wore down to the end after 2-3 dungeons, sometimes less, and paying to have it fixed would be over 1k gold each time...I often found myself cheating to get the exact change to pay the bill

You have to be resourceful. DR2's systems means you're never a zombie killing god walking around with an infinite lightsabre, and you're always experimenting with alternatives. It depends on the game design, honestly I'm surprised they got rid of it.skrat_01

The problem is unlike in DR2, you can't just pick up every weapon the enemy drops and expect it to be good in Elder Scrolls games. What happens is you end up having to carry a backup weapon, which burdens you more. Really it's just a hindrance. A repair skill is so useless if you ask me. I hope Skyrim keeps the traditional Elder Scrolls styIe leveling system though so you could literally level up everything. I like that more than Fallout's sytem.

I actually don't mind weapons and armour degrading over time, because it is more realistic. In reality, iron and steel blades could certainly snap in the midst of battle if you didn't spend time honing and getting all the nicks out of them - bronze blades were actually better at keeping an edge and less liable to breaking. If you didn't unstring a bow after use, it would eventually lose some of its power, and of course the string would break if under constant tension. So when Oblivion (and Morrowind) included this kind of degradation of equipment, I found it added just a little bit extra immersion to the game world.

Having said that, Oblivion didn't go far enough in having different materials degrade at different rates - the rusty iron gear should have degraded a lot more quickly than, say, the Elven weapons and armour. So yes, after a while it just became a pain to constantly look after your gear, and cart around 20 hammers to repair stuff with (which never made any kind of sense at all, because a hammer is very unlikely to break even after very extended use, and very easily repaired if the head flies off the handle).

I certainly won't lose sleep over it if item degradation is taken out of Skyrim, although it would make sense to keep it as a crafting skill.

The durability system was a bad in previous elder scrolls games. But I feel the system could still work well if implemented correctly. Some games have had excellent uses of durability systems, like the Dead Rising games as someone here previously mentioned.

What I want personally is some kind of limitation on more powerful weapons.

But as usual, devs take the easy and short way out and remove things that dont work perfectly.

The removal of breakable items in Skyrim is both good and bad ... good becouse you won't have to level up the repair skill as a maniac just to get something repaired, plus the durability loss gave a tiny bit of "realistic" touch ... and bad becouse it goes a bit more down the path of the usual hack n slash genre since you literally could kill every living thing out there, be it humanoid or whatever while exploring cities, outposts, dungeons and etc.

This is slightly off topic, but does any one know of a mod that removes weapon and armor durability from Oblivion? I want to replay the game again, but this time without all the things that annoy me.

This is slightly off topic, but does any one know of a mod that removes weapon and armor durability from Oblivion? I want to replay the game again, but this time without all the things that annoy me.

Diophage

this is the only decent sounding one i could find

http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=1827

I hated it too, so im very happy that it is gone. I found it a hassle that you have 3 weapons to repair but only the tools/money to repair 1 :(

I mean, I do see where breakable weapons will be missed by the hardcore Elder Scroll fans. It just gives you that sense of realism. Its just like in real life with guns man. Always has to be cleaned and maintained. My only beef was how FAST the weapons broke down. I personally will not miss this feature, because I was left Nerd Raging many times in Oblivion when my best weapon would break during a boss fight or during an insane fight against 4 people. I didn't however like the whole carrying a certain amount of items. Its worse enough that wearing heavy armor slows you down already, but you couldn't even fast travel if you had too much stuff on you. Maybe they will go the Fallout New Vegas route and add in a Hardcore/Realism mode, where weapons break over time and such.

This is slightly off topic, but does any one know of a mod that removes weapon and armor durability from Oblivion? I want to replay the game again, but this time without all the things that annoy me.

Diophage

Thanks for the help, dudes. I'll try them both out.

Sure lets take out everything out of a game that makes it realistic, immersive, and challenging. Lets just turn everything into a button masher so that you feel invincible the whole time and you are really just watching a movie while pushing buttons.

I miss the old days when developers didn't cater to the instant gratification crowd. Games are too damn easy now.

I can't wait for Dark Souls. Those guys dont care to pander to spoiled cry baby. Thats why it will be a good game.

Sure lets take out everything out of a game that makes it realistic, immersive, and challenging. Lets just turn everything into a button masher so that you feel invincible the whole time and you are really just watching a movie while pushing buttons.

I miss the old days when developers didn't cater to the instant gratification crowd. Games are too damn easy now.

I can't wait for Dark Souls. Those guys dont care to pander to spoiled cry baby. Thats why it will be a good game.

Mr_Ditters

[QUOTE="Mr_Ditters"]

Sure lets take out everything out of a game that makes it realistic, immersive, and challenging. Lets just turn everything into a button masher so that you feel invincible the whole time and you are really just watching a movie while pushing buttons.

I miss the old days when developers didn't cater to the instant gratification crowd. Games are too damn easy now.

I can't wait for Dark Souls. Those guys dont care to pander to spoiled cry baby. Thats why it will be a good game.

Diophage

Dark Soul's will become a cultural phenomenon. Mark my words. It will cure the spoiled brat gamers of their need to have everything handed to them and show them that there is more fun to be had by having a sense of accomplishment.

If you don't play Dark Souls you will be missing out on the best, most artistic, and fun gaming experience in the past decade. After playing many hours of Demon's Souls and realizing how good it really is, I understand that From Software can do no wrong. They are ingenious artists.

Its because they said to themselves, "how can we make the best game"--not "how can we make as much money as possible from as wide an audience as possible." The 2nd attitude is why all games look and play the same now and are generally something that a monkey could play and win in several hours.

I only wish there were a PC version of that game. It would be so incredible with mods.

[QUOTE="Diophage"][QUOTE="Mr_Ditters"]

Sure lets take out everything out of a game that makes it realistic, immersive, and challenging. Lets just turn everything into a button masher so that you feel invincible the whole time and you are really just watching a movie while pushing buttons.

I miss the old days when developers didn't cater to the instant gratification crowd. Games are too damn easy now.

I can't wait for Dark Souls. Those guys dont care to pander to spoiled cry baby. Thats why it will be a good game.

Mr_Ditters

Dark Soul's will become a cultural phenomenon. Mark my words. It will cure the spoiled brat gamers of their need to have everything handed to them and show them that there is more fun to be had by having a sense of accomplishment.

If you don't play Dark Souls you will be missing out on the best, most artistic, and fun gaming experience in the past decade. After playing many hours of Demon's Souls and realizing how good it really is, I understand that From Software can do no wrong. They are ingenious artists.

Its because they said to themselves, "how can we make the best game"--not "how can we make as much money as possible from as wide an audience as possible." The 2nd attitude is why all games look and play the same now and are generally something that a monkey could play and win in several hours.

I agree with that. Pointless really since it just forced you to carry repair tools like hammers to fix it. I didn't find it fun to go into the inventory and just do a click fest on repair tools every hour or so after several fights.

sleepingzzz

Although I didn't play this game, you're touching on the fundamental question about gameplay issue - is it fun? If the addition of a feature isn't fun, then why add it? Kudos to you keeping it simple.

Well in other games it is another resource to manage, and if done well it adds to the atmosphere. However it has been years since a game did eating right let alone armor degration, look at Ultima Underworld for a game with both done right.

In Skyrim's case people are whining because they are streamlining in a way that seems to be taking out the useless crap. The branch of magic they removed I remember almost never using even as a mage since all you needed was destruction and restoration. Different armor pieces never did much because it wasn't hard to get the 'best' armor really quick thanks to the leveling system, fewer armor pieces maybe make it harder to get the 'best' armor. The armor degration in Oblivion served no purpose and is better left out because the mechanic wasn't very well thought out.

I didn't mind it in Morrowind but would like to see something like being able to use similar weapons to repair a weapon. That way drops will be more significant, and it won't turn into a Diablo type game where you leave 99% of items on the ground because they are utterly useless.

[QUOTE="Mr_Ditters"]

[QUOTE="Diophage"] Well, good thing those days are over. Have fun with your masochist rpg, though. wis3boi

Dark Soul's will become a cultural phenomenon. Mark my words. It will cure the spoiled brat gamers of their need to have everything handed to them and show them that there is more fun to be had by having a sense of accomplishment.

If you don't play Dark Souls you will be missing out on the best, most artistic, and fun gaming experience in the past decade. After playing many hours of Demon's Souls and realizing how good it really is, I understand that From Software can do no wrong. They are ingenious artists.

Its because they said to themselves, "how can we make the best game"--not "how can we make as much money as possible from as wide an audience as possible." The 2nd attitude is why all games look and play the same now and are generally something that a monkey could play and win in several hours.

Well I've spent enough time around spoiled brats to get very annoyed with laziness and the need to have everything given to you. Its a disease that is pervading the youth in our culture. Everything--not just games--is getting dumbed down. Thisis nowhere more seen than in the change in gaming in the past few years.

So yeah--lets keep the breaking swords and shields. Give us an RPG that aims for immersion and realism--not another skin of some other button masher game. And its ok too if playing the game involves some reading.

[QUOTE="wis3boi"][QUOTE="Mr_Ditters"]

Dark Soul's will become a cultural phenomenon. Mark my words. It will cure the spoiled brat gamers of their need to have everything handed to them and show them that there is more fun to be had by having a sense of accomplishment.

If you don't play Dark Souls you will be missing out on the best, most artistic, and fun gaming experience in the past decade. After playing many hours of Demon's Souls and realizing how good it really is, I understand that From Software can do no wrong. They are ingenious artists.

Its because they said to themselves, "how can we make the best game"--not "how can we make as much money as possible from as wide an audience as possible." The 2nd attitude is why all games look and play the same now and are generally something that a monkey could play and win in several hours.

Mr_Ditters

Well I've spent enough time around spoiled brats to get very annoyed with laziness and the need to have everything given to you. Its a disease that is pervading the youth in our culture. Everything--not just games--is getting dumbed down. Thisis nowhere more seen than in the change in gaming in the past few years.

So yeah--lets keep the breaking swords and shields. Give us an RPG that aims for immersion and realism--not another skin of some other button masher game. And its ok too if playing the game involves some reading.

[QUOTE="topgunmv"]

[QUOTE="Diophage"]I see some people are complaining about it being removed in Skyrim, and I just don't get it. It bothered the hell out of me in Oblivion. The weapons break down too fast, and it just doesn't make any sense to begin with. I understand that in real life a blade will eventually wear down and become less effective, but I also understand that it's highly unlikely that it will break in half and be completely unusable. In my opinion, good riddance. Dead Rising 2 also had breakable weapons, and guess what? Yup. I hated it there, too. What do you think? sleepingzzz

I'd prefer they keep that but remove encumbrance.

Nothing immersive about running back and forth to town a dozen times selling stuff because I can't carry everything at once.

I think they should keep that but, make horses have bags on them so you can store stuff on your horse. I thought that was one of the better ideas from Nehrim. Just make the overall amount you carry a good size more than what it was in Oblivion.

[QUOTE="Diophage"][QUOTE="Mr_Ditters"]

Sure lets take out everything out of a game that makes it realistic, immersive, and challenging. Lets just turn everything into a button masher so that you feel invincible the whole time and you are really just watching a movie while pushing buttons.

I miss the old days when developers didn't cater to the instant gratification crowd. Games are too damn easy now.

I can't wait for Dark Souls. Those guys dont care to pander to spoiled cry baby. Thats why it will be a good game.

Mr_Ditters

Dark Soul's will become a cultural phenomenon. Mark my words. It will cure the spoiled brat gamers of their need to have everything handed to them and show them that there is more fun to be had by having a sense of accomplishment.

If you don't play Dark Souls you will be missing out on the best, most artistic, and fun gaming experience in the past decade. After playing many hours of Demon's Souls and realizing how good it really is, I understand that From Software can do no wrong. They are ingenious artists.

Its because they said to themselves, "how can we make the best game"--not "how can we make as much money as possible from as wide an audience as possible." The 2nd attitude is why all games look and play the same now and are generally something that a monkey could play and win in several hours.

I only wish there were a PC version of that game. It would be so incredible with mods.

They should get rid of items altogether. Whatever class (or skills) you pick should give you all the items you could need or want. That way you don't have to waste time trying to upgrade gear.KHAndAnime

They should get rid of items altogether. Whatever class (or skills) you pick should give you all the items you could need or want. That way you don't have to waste time trying to upgrade gear.KHAndAnime

[QUOTE="KHAndAnime"]They should get rid of items altogether. Whatever class (or skills) you pick should give you all the items you could need or want. That way you don't have to waste time trying to upgrade gear.Just-Breathe

[QUOTE="Diophage"][QUOTE="KHAndAnime"] It's easier, so obviously it's better. [QUOTE="Just-Breathe"][QUOTE="KHAndAnime"]They should get rid of items altogether. Whatever class (or skills) you pick should give you all the items you could need or want. That way you don't have to waste time trying to upgrade gear.KHAndAnime

[QUOTE="Just-Breathe"][QUOTE="KHAndAnime"]They should get rid of items altogether. Whatever class (or skills) you pick should give you all the items you could need or want. That way you don't have to waste time trying to upgrade gear.KHAndAnime

[QUOTE="KHAndAnime"][QUOTE="Diophage"] Thats a terrible idea :?Diophage

While it does add realism, I can't really stand it either.Treflis

[QUOTE="KHAndAnime"][QUOTE="Diophage"] Thats a terrible idea :?Diophage

[QUOTE="Diophage"]

[QUOTE="KHAndAnime"] You say that now, but when they implement it into the next Elder Scrolls - you'll be glad they did. Think of all that wasted time trying to find gear? This way, you start out with it so now you can get straight to the action, 100% of the time. A huge step forward if you ask me.KHAndAnime