I guess I have plenty to learn. 5 years with WoW and got all the way to Elden Ring, but for some reason I die within three minutes in this game. Blocks don't seem to block, and my shots often go off.

Buckler is extremely difficult to block. In terms of blocking, it is concerned in general. There's something that flies at you. You don't just hold that right click. You have to block in that direction. A weapon swings downward direction towards you. Your shield is moved upwards to absorb the impact.

If something appears to be swinging from the side. A type of sweeping attack. You need to shift your shield to the left or the right to stop this direction of attack. I'm not trying to confuse you by adding blocking advice, but it's much more then the basics. This is merely the beginning.

Concerning the swinging of weapons is related. You keep referencing WoW. You should erase that from your mind. I feel like you are drawing comparisons with WoW and trying to bring it into the game. WoW is just about as far away from the game as it are able to. You're missing weapon strikes. It's due to a couple of reason. Timing or the aim. A majority of guns have different swing distances and timing. The weapons' ranges are different. Faster weapons tend to create a huge object the target is. While slower weapons tend to be able of hitting from longer distances.Why the circle in Dark And Darker

There's no reason for the circle. It isn't logical. Place portals, and then add more than the mandatory hell portals. If you don't get an orange one, you'll be condemned to hell. It's not a matter of dying to a circle that doesnt even have to be taken away from your health. If they do leave the circle, they can take the darkness mechanic that is consumed.

I'm really enjoying the game however it's like they are trying to slam three types of games into one.

It's about taking out the circle. Would kinda make the whole thing a Coinflip (as as in, if having to go down is Purely due to luck)
If you want to learn more about Dark And Darker,please vist MMOexp