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Anthony DuLac
United States
Minnesota
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So I just got into the D3 beta (finally) and after playing it some, I have some thoughts on it:
- For all the hubbub and fussing over the early screenshots, it still definitely captures that Diablo look, imho. It does have a bit more color in some ways but Blizzard's clever use of fog/smoke and lighting, manages to still capture that original Diablo look, for the most part.
- The graphics ARE really, really attractive...however...(see next point)...
- On the opening, pick-your-character page, the character models looks a bit underwhelming and somewhat blurry (it's weird - hopefully they tweak it before launch)
- I like how - on that choose-your-character screen - Blizzard shows you an animation of your character's attacks and some other cool info.
- At least in Act 1 (which you only play a part of from the Beta), there were a few times early on where mini-Boss characters just sat around while I smashed them into oblivion. Bad AI or something. Hopefully they tweak some of those baddies to be a bit more challenging
- One gripe is that the skill system seems sort of limiting or simplistic - I'm really hoping this isn't due to their console version but I suspect it might be, unfortunately.
- Loved that the classic music seems to have returned. Very atmospheric and very cool to listen to.
- Voice-acting is fantastic as always
- Some clever tweaks to the standard enemy types - Zombies who when initially defeated, break into a still-undying upper torso crawling towards you.
- While you can still buy/acquire potions, you now get healed up more easily via dropped health orbs - convenient to be sure but they make things a bit TOO easy. This is a change that I could do without, honestly.
- Was annoyed that the game allowed me to equip a sword but then refused to let my guy actually use it. I imagine I just need to learn the details/rules for how the classes work but the smart simple solution would be to NOT allow me to equip something that I cannot use.
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Andrés F. Pabón L.
Colombia
Bogotá
DC
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wytefang wrote: - One gripe is that the skill system seems sort of limiting or simplistic - I'm really hoping this isn't due to their console version but I suspect it might be, unfortunately.
That would be just about the only thing deterring me from buying it. I hope it's just a minor issue due to the beta, and not a direct result of its "consoleification".
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Allen Vailliencourt
United States
Greer
South Carolina
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I actually like the skill system because it makes you decide on how you want to build and with limited slots (at least initially) you have to figure out how to win with what you have or change it and wait 30 seconds (so no changing in Jar of Souls for example).
Speaking of JoS quest. If I had known what I was getting into I would have changed out my build but couldn't once it started and had to survive with Rapid Fire, Bola, and Caltrops (I'm running a DH). I probably would have picked something else like Tumble instead.
Loving the demo though. It's D2 all over except better for me.
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Chris
United States
Newark
Delaware
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I prefer the skill system here to the previous Diablos, really. The decisions you make are much more interesting, as you're not restricted to one single branch (mostly) that you have minor decisions to make about. Here, your choice is more directly, "What is the most fun way to play with these skills", or, if you're like some people, "How can I maximize my efficiency with only 6 skills?" I think that these kinds of decisions are more interesting and more immediately gratifying than applying points to a tree. But, that's just how I like to play.
(Actually, it's been a REALLY long time since I've played Diablo 2: You COULDN'T max out every single skill, right? You had a max level and then you couldn't gain any more skill points, right? That seems right to me.)
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Joe Wasserman
United States
Portland
Oregon
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ColdFrog wrote: (Actually, it's been a REALLY long time since I've played Diablo 2: You COULDN'T max out every single skill, right? You had a max level and then you couldn't gain any more skill points, right? That seems right to me.)
You definitely couldn't max out every single skill. Each skill topped out at 20 points, and if you got to, say... level 85, that would mean 91? skill points (including quest rewards, I think there are two per difficulty?). So you could max out about 4 skills.
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Meshell Brown
United Kingdom
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Thanks for this! I didn't get a beta but and soo looking forward to the game
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ErikPeter Walker
United States
New Haven
Connecticut
Uplifting
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I've been playing a bit and I have a couple of comments to add.
First, it's whelming right now (i.e., not over- or under-). I'm very happy with how the formula has evolved so far. Waiting to 6th level to get a third active skill slot does make it feel a bit simplified but that'll go away as more skills and slots are unlocked.
- Item drops appear to be weighted by the class of your active character. This is great--it means that your barbarian will still get the occasional monk item, which you could hand over to an alt, but you get a lot more barbarian drops to keep things interesting.
- All of your characters have one gold pile. Very nice. There's plenty to do with gold--I don't know what the penalties for defeat are yet.
- Gold can be spent to upgrade your stash and maybe more importantly train your crafters.
- Crafting! D3 has a straightforward, sensible way to handle it. Crafters gain levels/recipes through training ($$$), and components through salvaging (trashing magic or better items). Then for a small fee they can create stuff that is WAY better than the other stuff of similar level. It's pretty cool, and it means later on you can grind items of a specific type hoping for good enchantments. Like gambling in D2, but less stupid. And once again your characters all have access to the same crafter (the cash came out of the same pool, after all)--for example when your first crafter levels up his smithy improves, is fixed up and represents a permanent change in the landscape of New Tristram. It's basically what I've wanted to see in a roguelike for a decade now.
- Did I mention that I like how all of your characters are interconnected? I do.
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Joe Wasserman
United States
Portland
Oregon
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Voxen wrote: - Crafting! D3 has a straightforward, sensible way to handle it. Crafters gain levels/recipes through training ($$$), and components through salvaging (trashing magic or better items). Then for a small fee they can create stuff that is WAY better than the other stuff of similar level. It's pretty cool, and it means later on you can grind items of a specific type hoping for good enchantments. Like gambling in D2, but less stupid. And once again your characters all have access to the same crafter (the cash came out of the same pool, after all)--for example when your first crafter levels up his smithy improves, is fixed up and represents a permanent change in the landscape of New Tristram. It's basically what I've wanted to see in a roguelike for a decade now.
That sounds a lot like how enchantments and crafting works in WoW, in terms of leveling up crafting skills, purchasing recipes separately, and trashing magic items to get components. True/false?
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Chris
United States
Newark
Delaware
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Mymil wrote: Voxen wrote: - Crafting! D3 has a straightforward, sensible way to handle it. Crafters gain levels/recipes through training ($$$), and components through salvaging (trashing magic or better items). Then for a small fee they can create stuff that is WAY better than the other stuff of similar level. It's pretty cool, and it means later on you can grind items of a specific type hoping for good enchantments. Like gambling in D2, but less stupid. And once again your characters all have access to the same crafter (the cash came out of the same pool, after all)--for example when your first crafter levels up his smithy improves, is fixed up and represents a permanent change in the landscape of New Tristram. It's basically what I've wanted to see in a roguelike for a decade now. That sounds a lot like how enchantments and crafting works in WoW, in terms of leveling up crafting skills, purchasing recipes separately, and trashing magic items to get components. True/false?
Maybe on an EXTREMELY simplified version. There's just one guy who makes stuff. Recipes are the reward for leveling up the blacksmith, so every time you train him with gold, he gains some patterns. Additionally, unlike WoW, there aren't specializations, there's just one guy who does everything you need. The intention seems to be to have you make a quick town pitstop to make a new piece of gear, train him if you have money to spare, then run back into the fray. You don't find materials or anything, and you can get your items converted from the character that crafts, so it's a one-stop place for it. At least, as far as the Beta is concerned anyway. They might add more stuff later, who knows? But I have a feeling it won't feel like an additional task to spend hours on like WoW's gathering and crafting was.
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ErikPeter Walker
United States
New Haven
Connecticut
Uplifting
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Yeah. It's not really part of the progression besides "dump more cash into him to get better recipes".
So I've had a couple annoying issues crop up--the first one is benign but irritating, a recently introduced bug makes it constantly remind me I have an empty equipment slot (not that it's one I can fill with something). And if I try console commands like "/bug" it tells me to type "/?" for more information. Then when you type "/?" in the console, it tells you how to /whisper to people. Er, what? So being part of a beta with no good way to give feedback ain't great.
Also, LAG. I am at core a proponent of the constant connection requirements, but I've gotta hand it to the haters, it sure isn't fun to lag out in a single player game--especially because there is no (at least by default) connection disruption notice. Just "Oh, look my attacks are doing nothing and I can't pick stuff up...", and then a minute later a bunch of crazy stuff happens as it tries to resync. I haven't had a ton of problems, but noticeable latency issues are immediately aggravating.
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Anthony DuLac
United States
Minnesota
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I can't even begin to fathom why anyone would be a proponent of always-on DRM but each to their own.
 
On a sidenote - I really miss getting to assign my stat points. Sucks that it's gone. In a way this really just feels like "WOW Lite."
Still, it does have some great production values but it definitely isn't as amazing as it (seems) it could've been. 
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Allen Vailliencourt
United States
Greer
South Carolina
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wytefang wrote: I can't even begin to fathom why anyone would be a proponent of always-on DRM but each to their own. On a sidenote - I really miss getting to assign my stat points. Sucks that it's gone. In a way this really just feels like "WOW Lite." Still, it does have some great production values but it definitely isn't as amazing as it (seems) it could've been.
I don't miss the stat point allocation. It was so broken in D2 in the fact that every build was str/dex for armor/block and rest in vitality. In fact last character I had a few months ago (mid-40's wizard) I think I had 20+ unused points since I didn't have anything to put it in at the moment...
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ErikPeter Walker
United States
New Haven
Connecticut
Uplifting
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wytefang wrote: I can't even begin to fathom why anyone would be a proponent of always-on DRM but each to their own.
I like the fact that a friend can hop on, see that I am playing single player, and join my game seamlessly.
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Anthony DuLac
United States
Minnesota
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Hmm, I suppose that's a plus but it's not enough for me to be happy about not having an offline mode.
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Allen Vailliencourt
United States
Greer
South Carolina
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wytefang wrote: Hmm, I suppose that's a plus but it's not enough for me to be happy about not having an offline mode.
I can see that viewpoint but when I look at my D2 playing habits I think I only played SP offline back in version 1.0...
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Joe Wasserman
United States
Portland
Oregon
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I'd like to be able to play D3 over a LAN without needing to connect everybody to the internet! That was, and continues to be, my primary mode of playing D2.
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Posted Fri Feb 3, 2012 12:49 am
