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About this mod
Yet another mod that reduces movement speed when running backwards. This one lets you run backwards at full speed for a fraction of a second, which is more realistic and also quite helpful when dodging power attacks.
- Permissions and credits
Reduced Backwards Running Speed (RBRS) with Initial Burst
Version 1.0
By MrMurphy (Esgalduin on TESNexus)
DESCRIPTION
In default Oblivion, you can run backwards as quickly as you can run forwards. This is clearly unrealistic and, more importantly, makes it far too tempting to "kite" away from your opponents, running backwards and firing arrows or spells at them as they chase you. The kiting "strategy" is a cheap and unsatisfying way to win a battle.
A number of mods address this issue by reducing your speed when running backwards. However, all of these mods apply the speed penalty immediately. In my opinion, there are two problems with this.
First, as a practical matter, the ability to move backwards quickly (at least for a fraction of a second) is important for dodging power attacks. Second, reducing backward movement speed immediately is not physically realistic. It's true that your maximum *sustained* speed is much less when running backwards, but that isn't what melee combat is about. Try it for yourself (preferably without other people watching): stand in a combat-ready position, then take a few steps forward as quickly as you can while maintaining a defensive posture. Now repeat, but take a few steps backwards. You probably covered a similar distance in a similar time. You cannot defend yourself while sprinting. People in combat take a few quick, controlled steps at a time, and can move at about the same speed in any direction.
This mod applies the usual speed penalty when running backwards, but waits (for an adjustable interval of time) before doing so. The effect is to give you an initial burst of speed when moving backwards, as if you are quickly dodging an attack. If you continue to move backwards, then you are presumably running away from your opponent, and the speed penalty kicks in.
The mod consists of an .esp file that does the actual work, and an .ini file where you can configure the time interval (in tenths of a second) before the speed penalty is applied (or put another way, how long the initial burst of speed should last). The default value is two-tenths of a second, which is very subtle but actually works well for melee fighting, at least in my experience. Of course, you may find a different value more suitable for you. In particular, mages and archers may want to back away further than fighters, so a higher value might be appropriate.
CREDITS and HISTORY
The original script for reducing backwards running speed was developed by Krytonix. This was not an easy task within the confines of the vanilla Oblivion scripting language, and the solution is very impressive. This script is used in MOBS (the Medieval Oblivion Equipment Balance System), both the standalone version and the version incorporated into Francesco's leveled creatures/items (a.k.a. Fran's).
Next came Reduced Backwards Running Speed Optimised by Martigen, who used OBSE (the Oblivion Script Extender) to achieve the same effect with a much shorter and less CPU-intensive script. Martigen's version had a few limitations that were overcome in Reduced Backwards Running Speed Revived by Deathless Aphrodite. This mod, in turn, was incorporated into Deathless Aphrodite's Oblivion Running Revised, which is a comprehensive overhaul of the running system. Quantitatively, all of these mods apply the same speed penalty; a slightly different tack is taken in Mentalor's Reduced Backwards Running Speed Mentalorised, which disables running when the player is moving backwards.
My own script is a slight variation of Deathless Aprhodite's. I simply added a timer and used a slightly different OBSE command. You're welcome to modify and redistribute this work, but please give credit to Krytonix, Martigen and Deathless Aphrodite for their work, and give me credit for the initial burst idea (which is new, to the best of my knowledge).
INSTALLATION
This mod requires OBSE (available at obse.silverlock.org). It should work with v0013 or later, but was developed and tested with v0017. Place the .esp and .ini files in your Oblivion\Data folder, and activate the .esp file in the Oblivion launcher.
You can adjust the length of the initial burst by editing the configuration file. And yes, you can set the burst time to 0, in which case my mod will behave exactly like the others.
This mod will conflict with any other approach to reduced backwards running speed, including those built into MOBS and Fran's. You cannot solve the problem with load order (i.e. by loading my mod last); you must deactivate the other implementation. Fortunately, this is easy to do; see the included ReadMe file for details.
Version 1.0
By MrMurphy (Esgalduin on TESNexus)
DESCRIPTION
In default Oblivion, you can run backwards as quickly as you can run forwards. This is clearly unrealistic and, more importantly, makes it far too tempting to "kite" away from your opponents, running backwards and firing arrows or spells at them as they chase you. The kiting "strategy" is a cheap and unsatisfying way to win a battle.
A number of mods address this issue by reducing your speed when running backwards. However, all of these mods apply the speed penalty immediately. In my opinion, there are two problems with this.
First, as a practical matter, the ability to move backwards quickly (at least for a fraction of a second) is important for dodging power attacks. Second, reducing backward movement speed immediately is not physically realistic. It's true that your maximum *sustained* speed is much less when running backwards, but that isn't what melee combat is about. Try it for yourself (preferably without other people watching): stand in a combat-ready position, then take a few steps forward as quickly as you can while maintaining a defensive posture. Now repeat, but take a few steps backwards. You probably covered a similar distance in a similar time. You cannot defend yourself while sprinting. People in combat take a few quick, controlled steps at a time, and can move at about the same speed in any direction.
This mod applies the usual speed penalty when running backwards, but waits (for an adjustable interval of time) before doing so. The effect is to give you an initial burst of speed when moving backwards, as if you are quickly dodging an attack. If you continue to move backwards, then you are presumably running away from your opponent, and the speed penalty kicks in.
The mod consists of an .esp file that does the actual work, and an .ini file where you can configure the time interval (in tenths of a second) before the speed penalty is applied (or put another way, how long the initial burst of speed should last). The default value is two-tenths of a second, which is very subtle but actually works well for melee fighting, at least in my experience. Of course, you may find a different value more suitable for you. In particular, mages and archers may want to back away further than fighters, so a higher value might be appropriate.
CREDITS and HISTORY
The original script for reducing backwards running speed was developed by Krytonix. This was not an easy task within the confines of the vanilla Oblivion scripting language, and the solution is very impressive. This script is used in MOBS (the Medieval Oblivion Equipment Balance System), both the standalone version and the version incorporated into Francesco's leveled creatures/items (a.k.a. Fran's).
Next came Reduced Backwards Running Speed Optimised by Martigen, who used OBSE (the Oblivion Script Extender) to achieve the same effect with a much shorter and less CPU-intensive script. Martigen's version had a few limitations that were overcome in Reduced Backwards Running Speed Revived by Deathless Aphrodite. This mod, in turn, was incorporated into Deathless Aphrodite's Oblivion Running Revised, which is a comprehensive overhaul of the running system. Quantitatively, all of these mods apply the same speed penalty; a slightly different tack is taken in Mentalor's Reduced Backwards Running Speed Mentalorised, which disables running when the player is moving backwards.
My own script is a slight variation of Deathless Aprhodite's. I simply added a timer and used a slightly different OBSE command. You're welcome to modify and redistribute this work, but please give credit to Krytonix, Martigen and Deathless Aphrodite for their work, and give me credit for the initial burst idea (which is new, to the best of my knowledge).
INSTALLATION
This mod requires OBSE (available at obse.silverlock.org). It should work with v0013 or later, but was developed and tested with v0017. Place the .esp and .ini files in your Oblivion\Data folder, and activate the .esp file in the Oblivion launcher.
You can adjust the length of the initial burst by editing the configuration file. And yes, you can set the burst time to 0, in which case my mod will behave exactly like the others.
This mod will conflict with any other approach to reduced backwards running speed, including those built into MOBS and Fran's. You cannot solve the problem with load order (i.e. by loading my mod last); you must deactivate the other implementation. Fortunately, this is easy to do; see the included ReadMe file for details.