Backpedaling and tanking

Emarthepaladin Profile Options #1

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Emar Lvl.60
Mount Tyrannas (PVP)
High Elf Priest
I was having a very heated debate with someone over a Tera live stream about backpedaling in Tera or rather lack thereof. They said backpedaling would have been nice for tanks in tera such as the lancer because it keeps them facing the enemy. But I figured since Tera is not like WoW and you don't lose out on your ability to block / parry because your enemy is behind you it wouldn't matter right?

You can't block at all while moving in Tera and when you are backpedaling you are moving so it would seem to me that it wouldn't matter whether or not you're facing an enemy while not blocking unless there are some other factors that I don't know about that make taking a hit from the back more punishing than taking one from the front. Also, and this is important, we are talking from a pve perspective so no backbiting crystals unless that's something that's like built into mobs.

What are your thoughts on this? Have I overlooked anything? They couldn't seem to understand why I couldn't imagine that backpedaling would matter for pve tanking, and I couldn't understand why they thought it would.
ImperialPanda Profile Options #2

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You can't block while moving. You turn instantly. No "backpedaling" does not matter.
Esmoire Profile Options #3

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Yue Lvl.60
Tempest Reach (PVE)
Human Priest
I would have liked backpedalling, just because it forces people to make drastic movements to turn around and escape danger at full speed. That is of course assuming backpedalling would have a movement speed penalty. I just like how it offers more options in control.
GenName Profile Options #4

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It would have no impact on tanking. Facing the creatures doesn't change damage as far as I'm aware (players is a whole other story after factoring in crystals), and the lancer's block ability instantly places the shield in the direction of the crosshair. This means that the tank could run towards the screen, then suddenly switch to block and be facing the enemy in time to mitigate all damage taken. While back-peddling would add a somewhat more realistic approach to character movements, it's simply not needed in TERA.

Basically, you're correct OP, it wouldn't matter at all for PvE in any way.
Emarthepaladin Profile Options #5

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Emar Lvl.60
Mount Tyrannas (PVP)
High Elf Priest
See that's exactly what I was thinking, and somehow we just couldn't come to an agreement, and truth be told it was two guys who were arguing against me.
ImperialPanda Profile Options #6

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Emarthepaladin on 03/17/2012, 09:03 PM - view
See that's exactly what I was thinking, and somehow we just couldn't come to an agreement, and truth be told it was two guys who were arguing against me.


There is only one way to argue on the internet, and that is PvP. =p
GenName Profile Options #7

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ImperialPanda on 03/17/2012, 09:05 PM - view
Emarthepaladin on 03/17/2012, 09:03 PM
See that's exactly what I was thinking, and somehow we just couldn't come to an agreement, and truth be told it was two guys who were arguing against me.


There is only one way to argue on the internet, and that is PvP. =p


Maybe then they'd learn the OP is right when he blocks while running backwards, only to negate all their attacks.
ImperialPanda Profile Options #8

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GenName on 03/17/2012, 09:36 PM - view
ImperialPanda on 03/17/2012, 09:05 PM
Emarthepaladin on 03/17/2012, 09:03 PM
See that's exactly what I was thinking, and somehow we just couldn't come to an agreement, and truth be told it was two guys who were arguing against me.


There is only one way to argue on the internet, and that is PvP. =p


Maybe then they'd learn the OP is right when he blocks while running backwards, only to negate all their attacks.


Exactly. xP
Roda Profile Options #9

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Roda Lvl.60
Celestial Hills - Roleplay (PVE)
Castanic Sorcerer
From what I've read, tanks CAN be attacked at full damage if attacked from the back. If that's the case, being able to backpedal, even if you aren't actively blocking, would be very useful for blocking classes, so they don't have to re-position themselves when performing a "tactical retreat." Hell, I could think of ways I could use this as a sorc, with all our circle aoes...
GenName Profile Options #10

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Roda on 03/17/2012, 09:42 PM - view
From what I've read, tanks CAN be attacked at full damage if attacked from the back. If that's the case, being able to backpedal, even if you aren't actively blocking, would be very useful for blocking classes, so they don't have to re-position themselves when performing a "tactical retreat." Hell, I could think of ways I could use this as a sorc, with all our circle aoes...


They'd take full damage from an arrow to the face if their shield isn't up too. Blocking simply faces your character the direction of the camera, and places the shield/axe down. Back-peddling would do the same, but with the added bonus of moving slower (assuming they want to make it seem reasonable, as running backwards at full speed is ridiculous). But we're talking PvP now, and the original argument between the OP and the stream viewers was regarding PvE.