Diablo III - New patch 2.1 Coming Aug 26

[3 Justin 3]

So I just heard an article on IGN.com saying they totally revamped the skill system. Basically made it n00b friendly, gutted the old system, and made a new one where you can experiment until your level 20+. Apparently the old system "confused" their alpha testers.

I want to love this game, but almost every new article I read just makes the game worse and worse. First they revamped the graphics which look like a WoW rip-off, then 4 players max, skill tree, etc. I want new graphics, but it looks like a cartoon.

WTF Blizzard? I have a feeling that this game won't live up to the hype for me, everything I hear just pisses me off more and more.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

So I just heard an article on IGN.com saying they totally revamped the skill system. Basically made it n00b friendly, gutted the old system, and made a new one where you can experiment until your level 20+. Apparently the old system "confused" their alpha testers.

I want to love this game, but almost every new article I read just makes the game worse and worse. First they revamped the graphics which look like a WoW rip-off, then 4 players max, skill tree, etc. I want new graphics, but it looks like a cartoon.

WTF Blizzard? I have a feeling that this game won't live up to the hype for me, everything I hear just pisses me off more and more.

I'm beginning to think the same thing. I'm going to get it for sure, but my expectations for it are falling rapidly.

[Thor]

Always better to go in with low expectations anyhow

[3 Justin 3]

Originally Posted by Thor

Always better to go in with low expectations anyhow

From everything I have seen so far and read, it seems like D3 is going to be nothing like D2 except the same camera view. Honestly, that is the only thing that looks to be the same, everything is different. How does the old saying go, oh yeah, if it ain't broke don't fix it.

Seems like the people they have testing their games are a bunch of tools/noobs who never played D2, or were terrible at it, and Blizzard is taking everything they say as "well we need to change it".

As of now, my expectations are this: it won't be anything like Diablo 2, it will be too noob friendly, and it just won't be as good as D2. To me D2 was the pinnacle of computer gaming and I don't think D3 will live up to the hype.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

So I just heard an article on IGN.com saying they totally revamped the skill system. Basically made it n00b friendly, gutted the old system, and made a new one where you can experiment until your level 20+. Apparently the old system "confused" their alpha testers.

I want to love this game, but almost every new article I read just makes the game worse and worse. First they revamped the graphics which look like a WoW rip-off, then 4 players max, skill tree, etc. I want new graphics, but it looks like a cartoon.

WTF Blizzard? I have a feeling that this game won't live up to the hype for me, everything I hear just pisses me off more and more.

I agree, some of the things I've been hearing haven't been very exciting to me. I think I'll miss the skill tree the most, but I guess I'll have to see how the new system works first.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by SebC

Basically:

Blizzard is legitimizing the market. This makes buying and selling easier. Making selling easier brings more suppliers into the market.

More supply means more farmed items, at lower prices. Yes, lower prices offsets part of the effect that legitimizing the market has on quantity supplied - this is what allows to find a new equilibrium. But that equilibrium is higher quantities at lower prices.

Heh, I know how supply and demand works, I guess we're just viewing the end result in a different light.

I just don't think it'll be that huge a problem. If the quantities are high enough, or the prices low enough, people won't waste their time on farming them.

If anything, a truer 'free market' may keep the equilibrium better?

I do admit, I could be wrong though. I guess it'll be an experiment for everyone, including Blizzard, as this hasn't really been done before (allowing real money in the online game market). Except for some other much more unpopular games I guess. Like Second Life.

[Komskies]

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

From everything I have seen so far and read, it seems like D3 is going to be nothing like D2 except the same camera view. Honestly, that is the only thing that looks to be the same, everything is different. How does the old saying go, oh yeah, if it ain't broke don't fix it.

Seems like the people they have testing their games are a bunch of tools/noobs who never played D2, or were terrible at it, and Blizzard is taking everything they say as "well we need to change it".

As of now, my expectations are this: it won't be anything like Diablo 2, it will be too noob friendly, and it just won't be as good as D2. To me D2 was the pinnacle of computer gaming and I don't think D3 will live up to the hype.

Blizzard Quote:

But Bash, it doesn’t address the drawback…no more character customization. Surely you guys recognize that RPG’s are about building a unique character? If everyone has access to the same skills, at the same power level, aren’t we all now inter-changable? (besides our gear?)

Bashiok: Leveling to 60, finding gear, finding runes, all go toward making a viable build with 6 skills and 3 passives. Diablo III is a more complex game, combat-wise, you can’t max out a single attack skill and Whirlwind to victory. We have around eight different types of skills (attack, cc, escape, etc.), each class has around twenty four, and with only six slots that’s some hard decisions on how you can build your character. Limits mean variety if we do our job right.
Yes you’ll be able to see some guy with his skills and passives set a certain way and copy him, but that’s always been the case. What’s important is experimenting and finding unique builds, and finding the items to support it.
There’s far more build potential in Diablo III, especially with the recent changes.

Did you guys ever explore the idea that perhaps you could freely be able to add subtract and move skill points freely? That would address the issues you experienced while testing and allow for people to keep unique builds based of skill distribution. That can’t be too bad of an alternative?

Bashiok: Yeah, I mean that’s essentially what respecs are, just a bit more wholesale.
The base problem with skill points is that we found they simply put too much incentive toward pumping up one or two skills. If we wanted to balance the game it means we’d have to let someone be able to essentially beat the game with that build since it’s the most obvious. You’re not going to put a few points here, a few there, you’re going to go the D2 route, horde points, and dump them all into a core skill or two. It really limited builds since points always went toward specific types of attacks that scaled well with additional points, and we’re not going to keep systems that are stifling (viable) build potential and (meaningful) character customization.

I think when they tes and work through things they try and eliminate the cookie cutter builds from the game so everybody isn’t doing the exact same thing to be “good”. While it does take away customization changing it they way they did it makes all builds viable regardless of which skill you choose (= which if you think about it is really cool, cause you can still be unique through runes, especially with how they changed the runes. I kinda have sad feelings over not being able to make a oddball build like I could in D2 even if it did suck but I much would rather make a oddball build thats viable rather than a oddball build that can’t progress in the game if you know what i mean.

Bashiok: There’s definitely still “wrong” builds, and thus plenty of non-optimal builds to tinker with. You have a big set of skills, but it’s important to note that not all of those skills serve the same purpose. If you pick a bunch of CC/escape/buff type skills, you’re going to be hurting. But if you build your character in a way where you’re sopping up resources, using damage reduction and control skills, and one giant damage output, it could work. Change any one of those skills though and the whole build could break.

[Mazrim]

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

From everything I have seen so far and read, it seems like D3 is going to be nothing like D2 except the same camera view. Honestly, that is the only thing that looks to be the same, everything is different. How does the old saying go, oh yeah, if it ain't broke don't fix it.

Seems like the people they have testing their games are a bunch of tools/noobs who never played D2, or were terrible at it, and Blizzard is taking everything they say as "well we need to change it".

As of now, my expectations are this: it won't be anything like Diablo 2, it will be too noob friendly, and it just won't be as good as D2. To me D2 was the pinnacle of computer gaming and I don't think D3 will live up to the hype.

Diablo 3 is still the same kind of game as Diablo 2. You're going to run around maps, mashing your mouse click to kill mobs, then enter randomly generated dungeons to kill higher-end minions and bosses and collect lots of loot. You're probably going to do the same levels hundreds of times while leveling up to max. You're going to enter passworded games with friends, and boost them through chapters quickly. The difference is that Blizzard is adding in other features from today's MMOs to make a more complete online game than Diablo 2 was (which was essentially a LAN game with an online lobby). This will be enough to make people say "oh great it's Diablo 2 with new graphics" and give up on it early.

I think it's great that Diablo 3 is going in a new direction. If I wanted to play Diablo 2, well...I would go play it now. I have it sitting on my battle.net account and can re-install it at any time! I would almost be disappointed that after a decade, Blizzard couldn't innovate their own games to satisfy the hardcore that want no real changes.

I'm glad they aren't going super high-end graphics for the game. Why does it need it? They've always done a great job of getting a great looking game out of lesser graphics because they take a style and really permeate the game with it. Also, if they went with high-end graphics in everything, you're going to cripple computers when you have 100+ mobs on the screen. I figured we're more concerned here with how the game will play than how it looks anyway.

Finally, I'm also unsure about the character skill stuff, but I don't mind changing it up, because the way you built characters in D2 and the way pretty much all MMOs do it now is completely different. To stick by that old system is just caving in to those who want no change from D2.

[Thumper17]

Well, I WAS looking forward to this game...

[Yasa]

I'm not looking for "high-end" graphics. I'm looking for a more serious, dark graphical enhancement. DII was pretty graphic for its time. DIII looks cartoonish, like WoW.

[Raekwon]

So now you are just going to buy it digitally instead of lining up at a midnight release? Give me a break.

Originally Posted by Thumper17

Well, I WAS looking forward to this game...

[Mazrim]

Originally Posted by Yasa

I'm not looking for "high-end" graphics. I'm looking for a more serious, dark graphical enhancement. DII was pretty graphic for its time. DIII looks cartoonish, like WoW.

Fair enough. I can agree with you there. I guess playing WoW made me appreciate what they can do with simpler graphics. Hopefully the spectacular (for their time) cutscenes stick around.

[Hack&Lube]

I get the feeling this game will be more like Titan Quest than Diablo. That game really turned me off mashing mouse 1 hack and slash games.

[Esoteric]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

I get the feeling this game will be more like Titan Quest than Diablo. That game really turned me off mashing mouse 1 hack and slash games.

Man, I loved Titan Quest; so much fun to pick up and play.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

I get the feeling this game will be more like Titan Quest than Diablo. That game really turned me off mashing mouse 1 hack and slash games.

i thought Titan Quest was better than either Diablo games. crafted levels beat randomly generated dungeons every time. plus fighting creatures from Greek mythology was awesome

[Flame Of Liberty]

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

So I just heard an article on IGN.com saying they totally revamped the skill system. Basically made it n00b friendly, gutted the old system, and made a new one where you can experiment until your level 20+. Apparently the old system "confused" their alpha testers.

I want to love this game, but almost every new article I read just makes the game worse and worse. First they revamped the graphics which look like a WoW rip-off, then 4 players max, skill tree, etc. I want new graphics, but it looks like a cartoon.

WTF Blizzard? I have a feeling that this game won't live up to the hype for me, everything I hear just pisses me off more and more.

Agreed 100%. Diablo II had a magic medieval atmosphere, D3 looks absolutely terrible, I hate everything about new graphics, especially outdoor scenes are a farce. That's not a Diablo world. I was looking forward to this game for the last 10 years and now it looks like I won't even buy it.

[Raekwon]

[3 Justin 3]

You ass.

[Raekwon]

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

You ass.

Its true, Actually there was just a leak on the Beta download client but i'm guessing the beta will be starting soon. I guess the Friends and Family beta started last week and they stated it would be a very short FnF beta.

http://www.d3sanc.com/diablo-3/diabl...client-leaked/

[llama64]

Originally Posted by Flame Of Liberty

Agreed 100%. Diablo II had a magic medieval atmosphere, D3 looks absolutely terrible, I hate everything about new graphics, especially outdoor scenes are a farce. That's not a Diablo world. I was looking forward to this game for the last 10 years and now it looks like I won't even buy it.

::sigh::

You won't buy a game you KNOW will be fun to play because the <comic book guy voice> graphics are a farce </comic book guy voice>

Seriously? Have you played Diablo 2 recently? The colours are BRIGHT, half the monsters are bright blue, green or purple half the time - oooh dark and scary. For god's sake, Diablo 2 has Deckard Cain... never has there been a more comically creepy old man. The dude makes me laugh every time I get him to identify a magical staff. Hell is a magical wonderland of color.

Yes you will buy it. Unless you've stopped playing computer games entirely, you will buy it because it is Diablo 3.

edit: just realized I replied to an old post - but whatever, I still mean it :P