Hard to form an opinion

[Torvaldr]

I haven't posted much about D3 because to quote my favorite pointed eared, green blooded, Vulcan I have insufficient data.

While I have liked Diablo and Diablo 2 there were always those little things about both that I did not like. I still to this day can not stand the save system of D2. I DESIPSE the way point save system. I can't save a game where I am at the moment I want. And when I come back in I HAVE to fight and reclear the same areas. I have never liked it I never will, and D3 appears to be headed in the same direction for the save system.

As the game now stands from the descriptions I wouldn't play it if you paid me. BUT I still do not know what the other 2 classes are going to be. The classes are the interesting point for me. I can't stand the Witch Doctor, the Barbarian never thrilled me even back in D2. The Wizard looks interesting but on his own is not enough to entice me to spend my money. So they have two chances left to catch my interest and my money. But I will have to yet wait a year or more to find out the direction they are going. Blizzard calls all this secrecy, hedging, and misinformation part of their marketing strategy to keep interest up and alive during the development stage. Never mind the fact that we fans have been screaming at the top of our lungs for D3 almost since D2 was released. So they dribble info and string along the very people who have been BEGGING them for D3. You KNOW that they have already decided on all the classes for the primary release, but they want to keep us all dangling along.

Preset stats? Nope. Hate it. But they are already hedging that by saying that you can use runes and maybe other items to change them. Then why not just make them adjustable and have done with it? You are over complicating the issue.

Too often when someone is working on a sequel to something they try to "improve" it or "make it theirs" by changing systems that have no need to be changed. I am not saying that we just need a newer version of D2. Not at all. But in their zeal to make D3 all theirs and separate from D2 they may be trying too hard to be creative and original.

There were, and still are, game balance issues in D2. Some skills, powers, and spells, that are either useless or too powerful. Lots of class specific items for some classes, virtually none for others.

So for the new game, have new classes. Be careful about power balance, and play balance. Avoid prerequisites that have little to no value on their own. Have the set stat option for new players, but allow experienced ones to opt out and control that themselves. And stop trying so hard to make "Your" game, and make a game the players will enjoy. One that builds and enhances the legacy of the first 2 while proving to be a worthy successor.

Dribbling the info out with a tear dropper does not peak the interest of all your fans. In fact in some cases like mine it severely decreases interest, as can be seen by the infrequency of my posts and comments.

Can I form an opinion on D3? Not yet. I have insufficient data. What data has been offered has been disappointing or uninteresting, at least to me. To be entirely honest I would very much like a re-release of D1 with improved playability. I have just recently started playing it again, and find I really miss some the true improvements that were introduced in D2. If they were to apply some of those improvements to D1 I would happily buy it again.

[AGTJ]

...when I come back in I HAVE to fight and reclear the same areas. I have never liked it I never will, and D3 appears to be headed in the same direction for the save system.

Preset stats? Nope. Hate it. But they are already hedging that by saying that you can use runes and maybe other items to change them. Then why not just make them adjustable and have done with it? You are over complicating the issue.


Don't quote me, but there are save points along your journey where encase you die you'll be spawned at that point, when you log out & in you may also be put back at one of these nearby spots. But I'm not entirely sure... unless someone from blizzcon tried it?

Preset stats will always be a double edged topic. Since items will only have level requirements and not stat requirements, I could care less if they auto-locate, but that's just my opinion.

My worst fears are lag issues and hacking/duping/botting. If they can get that done (for the most part) I'll be a happy camper with almost anything they feel has to be changed for the better.

And as for information being released, I figure they want fan sites to release videos/screens/ect from Blizzcon and let them sink in our brains before feeding us more. However, some Act 2 screens of enemies and such would be nice in the upcoming month or so :thumbup: (also skill trees on the site would rock!)

[Torvaldr]

Well I can tell you right now that as long as I knew what the classes are going to be, I could tell you if I am going to buy the game or not. No High Caste warrior of some kind, then no. I will not buy their game. Paladin, knight, cavalier, Angel, Nephalim, cleric, hierophant. I do not care. Do I think it likely that they will have one? Yes. But I see no true reason to keep the classes under wraps the way they are. Story line, yes. We should be learning the story line as we play. Powers, skills, yes and yes. Again those are things that do not need full explanations as they will also be learned as we play. Quest. Same thing, we learn as we play. But holding back the characters just means I have to wait longer to decide if I will buy the game or not. It really is a simple equation for me. I liked the other two games enough that as long as I like the classes available I will buy the new game. If I do not like the classes available I will not. And I do not care how much better any other part of the game is. If I do not like the options of the character types I will not play. Period. So if you are going to release the identity of any of the classes, release them all. Or don't release any until you are ready.

Artwork fine. It lets us see the improved graphics, or at least gives us an idea of the atmosphere of the game. But to be brutally honest 90% or better of what they have released so far is of no interest to me without knowing what classes there will be. So I scanned the articles and write ups from Blizzardcon, but didn't read too much in depth. I have looked at the artwork and it looks as good as any other professional quality game. The classes will be the make or break for me.

[AcidReign]

I agree, it is very difficult to form an opinion on Diablo III this early of it's development, but there are certain things in Diablo III that I probably would enjoy, and probably dislike if I were to play it.

Even from the day it was announced, I was concerned with the new Health Globe system, and having the belt slot buttons replaced with skills. Seems to me like you'll be able to spam all your skills in a matter of seconds, creating a visual catastrophe and confusing of what's going on. However, a skilled player could use the hotbar effectively without creating a mess - I think you will have to, to conserve mana/rage/energy or whatever.

Health Globes sound fishy, but as I think about it, I'd rather maneuver to get them, rather than spamming potions, becoming damn near invincible. I'd rather have a Diablo game that kept you on your toes, and produced a challenge to stay alive (unlike Diablo II).

Automatic stat distribution. Sounds bad, I know, but I really don't care. The Diablo team already said that items won't be stat specific, and that any class can use pretty much any item (except for class specific items). Personally speaking, I was the most frustrated with the stat system for builds in Diablo II. I never knew what the hell I was really doing, only knowing NEVER to use energy, and use whatever you have left for stats for vitality. Pretty lame actually. There were numerous times where I instantly regretted placing points into specific stats. There were also numerous times where I would get beat in PvP by someone 9 times out of 10, merely because my stats were slightly different. So now everyone is equally matched, and you better have better gear than your opponent - which I think the Diablo III team is attempting to achieve.

Respecing. Thought about it, and loved it. I think everyone here has messed up with skills more than once in their Diablo career, and it is unpleasant to deal with to say the least. Again, if your build wasn't perfectly made, you could be easily defeated in a duel, due to lack of synergy bonuses and the like.

Randomly generated dungeons, but set outdoor maps. Fine by me. As long as there are monsters to kill. It also sets up the game world for that Next-Gen Diablo MMO that Blizzard is working on... (I mean come on - do you really think Blizzard is going to start a new franchise with an MMO? Pfft. Get outta here...)

Art direction. I was very disappointed with the people that actually complained about this. Obviously the Diablo team knows what works, and they verified it. They showed the "happier parts of Sanctuary" at the WWI and at this past weekend's BlizzCon, they really brought out the gothic, foggy, evil environments that everyone thought they wouldn't have. And I personally think things are gonna get a whole lot more creepy. Someone from the Diablo team (pretty sure it was Jay Wilson) said they need to make it more horrific. Hell yeah. Both thumbs way, way up. :thumbup:

Spell Runes. Oh god. This was the best thing I learned about this weekend. This adds a lot of customization and functionality with your skills, and it's going to be VERY interesting to see what the extremely high skill runes offer...

The Barbarian. Well, I personally didn't favor the Barbarian from Diablo II - but I understand that Diablo III needs a primary melee class, and I guess the best option to go with would be the Barb. Fits with the lore, fits with the class, and fits with the Barb enthusiasts from Diablo II. Maybe I'll enjoy him more in D3.

The Witch Doctor. Seems pretty Necromancer-like, but certainly not his replacement. Fine by me - I hated the Necromancer (sorry to everyone that likes them). The WD looks a lot more physical than the Necro, and it will be fun to see what other skills he will have. So far I like the WD.

The Wizard. Well, we all knew Diablo III would need a caster - and we got it with the Wizard. Seems like a solid spellcaster, with some pretty neat effects. Haven't seen many party-benefitting skills or buffs, but I'm sure that will come with time. So far I would want to try this class the most. Nothing cooler than shooting wicked sick missiles and disentigrating beams at guys :yes:

My overall opinion of Diablo III: It looks great so far. I questioned a lot of the new ideas at first, but after realizing that this ISN'T Diablo II, I'm much more open to accepting the new ideas for the benefit of hopefully having a new-feeling, awesome game. Keep up the good work.

P.S. - I agree that Diablo II's game saving system was B.S. Worked fine for Battle.net, but there should be an option for single player to end having to kill everything for the 109,934th time.

[jasonmazzy]

I would love to see an upgraded d1. upgrade the graffix and change over some basic stuff. they could have it released in 3 months and have it play as well as d2. it would be sick lol

[Torvaldr]

Maybe we could start an on line petition to ask them to upgrade D1, not that I really believe they would. But some easy changes that I would like to see.

Make the auto map scalable like in D2. Right now your options are limited to no map or one that overlays the entire screen.

Add the option that allows you to push the alt button to highlight treasure drops.

Add the option that allows you to walk or run.

Add the feature that allows you to target an enemy with one click on the mouse button instead of having to keep clicking over and over.

Allow the automap to work in the village.

Just those little things would make the game hugely more playable.

To be honest I do not see why you could not do all those things with a patch.

[Torvaldr]

I created a thread and poll about a D1 upgrade in the D1 section of the forum.

http://diablo.incgamers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=699646

[TheReadMenace]

P.S. - I agree that Diablo II's game saving system was B.S. Worked fine for Battle.net, but there should be an option for single player to end having to kill everything for the 109,934th time.

Your opinions are your own, or course, and yes, it's tough to get a clear viewpoint with so little solid information. Concerning your mindset about "dangling us along" seems a little skewed to me, though.

It's common belief that the biggest reason Blizzard announced D3 2-ish years before release is to have discussion amonst fans and to hype the game. And while I do believe that to a certain extent, I don't think that's the main reason why. I think that no matter when they would announce it, be it two years away or three months, hype would spread anyway. It's my belief that the true reason they tell us so early is not for hype, but simply to tell all us ravenous fans that the game's in the works and we can stop pissing our pants and screaming at them for a sequel. There's so many people that wanted this game to come out, they kind of giving back to us by assauging our worries about how the next Diablo might have been an MMO or whatever. I hate them for keeping so much secret and keeping us in the dark about the new features they're alwas eluding to, but... whatever. The game's coming out. That's all that matters to me.

And concerning the save system: I like waypoints for the sake of getting to points A-Z in a simple way. I dislike the idea of checkpoints because it allows players to be reckless in playstyle; however, if they're planning on making the game more challenging (i.e., health globes, loss of most potions) it works for the game they're creating.

But when it comes to Save & Exit reloading monsters in all the areas... well, I think it's perfect. Perfect, to say, in the way the game operates. We all know items are king in this series. Because of the way item drops work, most often you have to rerun bosses or mlvl 85 areas over and over to find something that works on your character. Imagine your game where monsters don't respawn upon S&E; you get one run-through bashing monsters in whatever difficulty, and that's it. There'd be no rerunning of bosses since they're already dead. And compared to whatever characters you've got in the current set-up, these single-pass characters would be so weak that I bet you'd have a LOT less fun. The S&E respawn isn't a complete necessity, but it makes for a much better game, IMO.

Just to back up my ideas about monster respawns, I've played Champions of Norrath for the PS2 some. And I really hate that you can't rerun bosses for better items without doing complicated memory card swaps and having multiple characters at the same place in the game. I'd like to be able to rerun areas for more items, especially late in the game/difficulty. The only way to kill the final boss is to play through the entire difficulty again. After playing D2, this was the biggest annoyance for me; S&E respawns might have let me love the game, but I think it falls flat without area reruns.
Hmm. I didn't think I'd rant like that. Sorry. :coffee:

[Akse]

Well then don't make an opinion. Wait for the data. They can't release much data when there isn't anything final yet. Would you like that they release all the things they have on table now and then change them every month?

The data I have seen so far seems very promising and something that fits my needs from a NEW game.

[Torvaldr]

The game's coming out. That's all that matters to me.

Well I agree and disagree. As I said it is all about the classes they include. As it stands, and yes I know they have two more to go, but as it stands I would not buy it. Regardless of the art, graphics, game play, mechanics, storyline, etc. I have limited interest in the Wizard, and none in the Barbarian and Witch Doctor.

As for the information they have released. You are right in that they are at least letting us know they are doing it. And for the most part I what they have released in terms of the non character information is fine. But none of that will matter to me if there is not a character class I like, and so far, as I have indicated, there is not. There is a long way to go before I have to make a decision, I just wish they would make it easier on me and just list the final two classes. Then I would know, right now, if I would buy it. I can wait for something I want, as long as I know I want it. But this business of dragging out the reveal of the classes just pisses me off.

[Torvaldr]

The data I have seen so far seems very promising and something that fits my needs from a NEW game.

Promising, yes. Fits my needs? Not at this time. I will not buy just because it is the new Diablo game. Would you buy a car driving game if you don't like to drive? Or a flight simulator if you don't like to fly? Or play in a D&D game with a pre rolled character created by the DM in a class and race you can't stand? So far I would not play any of the characters they have listed. Not if they were the only ones available.

[Akse]

mmm... ? Too bad. What kind of characters would you want then? The D2 and D1 ones wasn't any better imo than these new ones.

[DANIEL3RD]

Promising, yes. Fits my needs? Not at this time. I will not buy just because it is the new Diablo game. Would you buy a car driving game if you don't like to drive? Or a flight simulator if you don't like to fly? Or play in a D&D game with a pre rolled character created by the DM in a class and race you can't stand? So far I would not play any of the characters they have listed. Not if they were the only ones available.

I dont particulalry like the look of the witchdoctor, but until I actually load up the character and play him I really have no idea whether he will be fun to play or not. On D2 I have never played the assassin. Only becasue he doesnt appeal to me but in reality he could be the more balanced there is in the game. But I wouldnt not buythe game just because of him if he was the only available choice. I would at the least give him a chance.

I agree I wouldnt buy a flight simulator if I didnt like that kind of game or a driving game if I didnt like driving games. And I wouldnt buy Diablo type games if Ididnt like them. But if I did like all these genres then I would buy them even if I didnt like some of the cars or the planes. I would hope that I would give the games a chance in the hope of liking some of the vehicles or characters.

I am a fan of the Diablo series and I am sure I wont play some of the new characters. Or at least not for a while. But I would not, not buy it just becasue I didnt like the look of the toons.

As it stands I like the look of the wizard over the WD and the Barb. I would expect the remaining toons to grab some of my attention, but if they dont I am prepared to give them a try.

You dont seem to like any of the first 3 announced and thats your choice of course. But may I ask what toon would grab your attention and what dont you paticulalry like in these 3 particular toons??

[Akse]

Good post, I agree with you that it is difficult to know how the character feels to play until you have done so.

For now the videos look amazing and I can imagine that playing the characters will be mind blowing!

[Lazarus II]

It seem like a lot of the hardcore audience want a Diablo I or II with updated graphics and a few tweaks and bug fixes. I don't what category I fit in. Been playing the series since I was a kid, and still play Diablo II on occassion. I've never cared much for MP, I prefer to play on my own. What I don't understand in many discussions is why some seem to hate change so much. If Blizzard just kept the same game mechanics and put a new shell over it I would never buy that crap. I want it to be different, I want something new and sparkling! But that's not to say I don't want the same feel and atmosphere. That special Diablo-esque quality.

I agree that it's hard to form an opinion this early on. From what I've seen from the gameplay videos it looks awesome. I'm undecided on some of the more drastic changes, but it's impossible to decide whether it's good or not when I haven't tried it out.

So until then: :coffee:

[Apocalypse]

having to reclear areas is one of the best things in d2 imo and i will be happy if and when it returns for d3(sure it will for mp). i always like being able to make a new game and clear out a area i just beat again for that extra level if the next area is a bit too much for my char

[Torvaldr]

I think some of you have the wrong impression of my position. I like the artwork I have seen. I like the other descriptions of game play and such. But I do not like 2 of the 3 classes revealed so far and barely like the 3rd. I see no reason to keep the classes under wraps they way they have. But it is their game and they can string us along all they want. The thing is as long as I knew what the classes were and there was at least one I like I would buy the game. It is that simple. If I do not like any of the classes I wont. None of the rest of the game design will matter. It could be the most fantastic game to play ever created on the planet, but if there is no character class I like I wont buy it. So as the title of my thread states I can't form an opinion about whether I am going to buy the game or not until they reveal the rest of the classes. It is not really a matter of impatience as some might think. I am not asking them to reveal the skill trees or power lists. Just a title and picture will do. I felt the same way about D2. As soon as I knew there was a Paladin in the game I bought it just based on the character type and having liked D1.

To reiterate, I like the art. I like what I have read about the game design. I may not like the preset stats, but I do like or at least don't dislike the health globe idea. I am unsure about the waypoint and check point system since I haven't played with it yet. I dislike it in D2 since it is a replacement to a real save system. Respawning previously cleared areas should be at player discretion, not automatic. But that was just my position.

[Apocalypse]

imo, and it seems yours also, the classes and the skills they use are the biggest draw to the game, if the class is no fun then the game probably wont be fun. if i am correct in thinking that is you point then i hope the next 2 classes fit you better. my fav type has always been a bow user followed by mage type, i got my mage now i need my archer

[Torvaldr]

Yep, you got it. I like a ranged character and a High Caste Warrior. In D2 I mainly play the Paladin and Amazon, occasionally I will play the Sorceress. I tried out each of the other classes, but didn't care for them. So yep, it is all about the character classes.

[Ayane]

It also sets up the game world for that Next-Gen Diablo MMO that Blizzard is working on... (I mean come on - do you really think Blizzard is going to start a new franchise with an MMO? Pfft. Get outta here...)
You are probably right. As such I fully expect their next-gen MMO to be Lost Vikings Online. :p


Yep, you got it. I like a ranged character and a High Caste Warrior. In D2 I mainly play the Paladin and Amazon, occasionally I will play the Sorceress. I tried out each of the other classes, but didn't care for them. So yep, it is all about the character classes.
I understand how you feel, I truly do. Before this weekend I felt the same way. I’ve always been a great fan of the Sorceress and the other classes didn’t really interest me much. So I was keeping my fingers crossed that they’d release a class similar to it… which seemed unlikely as they’ve said that Barbarian was the only class returning.

But then they announced the Wizard and it seems to be everything I could’ve wanted out of a Sorceress and more (I’d have to play the class to be certain, of course, but right now if I had to choose between the two I prefer the Wizard over the Sorceress).

And I’ve got the feeling that it’ll be the same for you. Right now the two classes you mention, a ranged character and a high caste warrior, are two obviously missing characters. Particularly someone that walks around in shiny platemail is something I feel the game really can’t do without. As such I fully expect one of the remaining classes to be a Knight or something similar. As for a ranged class… it wouldn’t surprise me in the least to see some kind of Hunter or such as the final class.

Of course it is hard to say right now and as such I can definitely see where you’re coming from. But it is quite possible that they’ll pleasantly surprise you the way they did me and make a class that’s more than you would hope for. Just keep expectations realistic. ;)

[Apocalypse]

Yep, you got it. I like a ranged character and a High Caste Warrior. In D2 I mainly play the Paladin and Amazon, occasionally I will play the Sorceress. I tried out each of the other classes, but didn't care for them. So yep, it is all about the character classes.


in terms of d2 characters, pre release i was into the barb alot but imo he turned out to be by far the most boring char, I did use him for several builds but none of them really good very far except my warcry one which pretty much only did it cause he played with friends lol. never used the assassin past level 20 and the druid angered me cause I wanted to be the bear and it always seemed gimped to me(maybe I built him wrong) and he has no fun skills to use in bear form. All my time was amazon,sorc,paladin,necro in that order

[Torvaldr]

What I noticed about the Druid in bear form was that the speed of your weapon carried over. Make sure you have a very fast attack speed and it works better. But I agree with you. In D&D I always liked Druids so I was happy when that class was added. But the skill tree was very poorly done and he runs out of gas very fast. I always had this image of a great bear going nose to nose with Diablo slugging it out and I can't even get that far before I get bored or fed up with the character and quit.

So yeah, even though they may include the classes I want there is no guarantee that they will be playable. But knowing what those classes are would still be enough for me to make a decision to buy or not buy the game.

Look at it this way. If you really like Vikings, you are likely to buy a game that has Vikings in it. You may find out later that the game wasn't all that good. But you did buy it based on the character class you liked. But if you like Vikings and someone offered you a game with Hobbits in it, you are not likely to buy it.

[FracturedFairy]

I enjoy reading all of your opinions and where you stad on this new installment of Diablo and will wait to read more of your opinions after the game comes out before I will buy it.

[Smash]

For me Classes are the most important too. I bought d2 just for necromancer class after watching few beta videos (i want multi golems back TT). Barbarian, paladin or amazon were boring class for me and they are still even after 1.10 patch. Sorceress spells are weak both in graphic and sound, really fireball from diablo 1 give you better impression that fireball from diablo 2 (with d2 fireball battle didn't look interesting). Fresh characters were added in expansion especially martial type assasin using powerful traps and kicks with charge up tech, well shapeshifting druid was interesting too but his skill were boring and minions companions weak with stupid cap.

Conclusion for now Diablo 3 about classes = thumb down.
Still waitnig for some dark knight or other uncommon class to play.

P.S. Neverwinternights has some cool shapeshifting class to play :).

[Jodaus]

Don't quote me, but there are save points along your journey where encase you die you'll be spawned at that point, when you log out & in you may also be put back at one of these nearby spots. But I'm not entirely sure... unless someone from blizzcon tried it?

Every time you loaded into a new zone (going into a dungeon, going to the next level of a dungeon ext) the game saved a checkpoint. If you died then you were reloaded at that checkpoint, although I'm not sure if this system will work like that in the final build. That's how it was in the demo though.

Edit: We couldn't really log in or out, the demo just sort of started at a limited character creation screen (male/female versions of Barb and WD and only the female version of Wizard) then you jumped right into the game. The demo itself ended if/when you beat the boss of the dungeon you were allowed to explore.

[Apocalypse]

What I noticed about the Druid in bear form was that the speed of your weapon carried over. Make sure you have a very fast attack speed and it works better. But I agree with you. In D&D I always liked Druids so I was happy when that class was added. But the skill tree was very poorly done and he runs out of gas very fast. I always had this image of a great bear going nose to nose with Diablo slugging it out and I can't even get that far before I get bored or fed up with the character and quit.


exactly, i wanted to go toe to toe too but everytime i played a bear druid i found it far too slow and lacked any skills. nothing angered me more than hitting a mob 4 times just to have a sorc come on screen throw 2 orbs and clear the entire screen out

[Sylvanite]

You know...I don't know if this is helpful to you or not, but judging by the Wizard skills that have been released, there is a very real possibility that you could make a melee male wizard....and since there seems to be no stat requirements on items, you could outfit it just like a Paladin....in fact I'm really guessing a melee Wizard is going to be one of the first big builds a lot of people try in D3. That would pretty much come out looking and playing a lot like a "high caste warrior". Just give him a cool name, and play him like your dream knight in shining armor.

[mince pies]

Can I form an opinion on D3? Not yet.

You just spent an entire post explaining your opinions on DIII then you conclude with this?

[TheReadMenace]

And I'll just throw out: You say you're not impatient, but you reiterated that if they'd just tell you all five classes you'd already know if you'd buy it. ... :thumbsup: "C'mon Blizzard, just tell me already so I can either drool over it or forget it exists. But I'm not impatient at all." (just having a bit of a jab, sorry)

But I find your standpoint rather rigid. I'll use an example you gave, slightly skewed. Personally, I like the Star Wars series (the originals, of course; CGI can bite my bottom). However, just because I like jedis and wookies doesn't mean I'll rush out and buy every game that's made by Lucas Arts. Any Star Wars game might have a jedi or a wookie, but it's not about the characters... it's about gameplay, and with the exception of maybe KOTOR most every Star Wars game is crap. I like ninjas, too, but I'd never buy the latest Ninja Gaiden game because it's got a crappy camera, it's stupidly difficult, and I'm old-school and enjoy the NES versions more. If I bought every game with a jedi or ninja, I'd be broke.

The opposite can hold true, too. I generally dislike tournament fighters like Mortal Kombat, Tekken, Soul Calibur and Street Fighter. They're entertaining for about two minutes, but you either need to learn complicated maneuvers and combos or you resort to the three year-old child style of play and you leg sweep and jump kick all the time. Even still, I could play Dead or Alive for hours, even against the computer, just because the gameplay is intuitive and it's a game that rewards timing over button mashing.

It's cool if you haven't been excited about the new classes. But if your opinion rides solely upon a picture of a playable character... I just think you're not looking at the big picture about whether the game will be solid, craptastic, merely playable, innovative, or most importantly, FUN. Just because there isn't a dude who looks like a knight, you'll possibly shut out what could be the most fun game of the century? You've played and enjoyed parts of the Diablo series, so you already know the game's potential. You may not connect with a character, but it could still be an amazing experience if you drop silly expectations. I don't like Kratos in the least, but God of War is a fun game. I'm going to play it, even if I can't select a bow user or a true mage class. If it's fun, it's all that matters.
[/rant]

[Starving_Poet]

You just spent an entire post explaining your opinions on DIII then you conclude with this?

He's a natural politician :whistling:

[MooCQ]

Ask yourself, what is Blizzard's agenda? Here, they decide to release details; little by little.. slowly, but surely, pissing everybody off with regard to minutia.. But wouldn't it have been so much easier had they just released the thing without our knowledge? Then again, never would it have ever attracted so much hype, beyond belief.. They'll sell millions! Despite commentary, threatening otherwise (I love how so many people have threatened not to buy this game) yet, [unsuprisingly] are here everyday posting about their [empty threats and fears.] Blizzard it seems, has won yet again, as that evil laugh emanates from below... Here we come Diablo!

(Empty threats aside, if you're here, you've already decided. Muahahahahahaha!)

[poonagi]

i want to chime in with my personal opinion here...

first of all... blizzard is doing the smart thing by slowly releasing info. it really does build hype. most people wouldn't load the d3 webpage everyday or every week if they just gave us all the info at the start. you'd read through it once, form an opinion, and maybe check back every month or three to see if anything new had come out. as it is now people will check that site almost everyday. any new bit of info becomes a huge headline, "zomg they just announced the dune thresher monster, so cool!" or "omg did you see they just announced the wizard, awesome!".

as for the character selections themselves... everybody has their own personal taste. for me, i like iconic characters. i'd be happy if they gave us warrior, rogue, wizard, priest, and paladin. i like to know what kind of character i'm going to roll. i'd much prefer that kind of "vanilla" selection than some selection strange mixture of weird looking oddball selections. i think diablo 3 so far has shown a mix. i'll call the wizard totally vanilla, the barbarian fairly vanilla, and the witchdoctor completely not vanilla. there are two more classes and i think you can expect at least 1 more non-vanilla character.

so while you are entitled to your own opinion, i do think it's too early for anybody to have their feelings set in stone. there's so much time for things to change. none of the acts are announced. there are 2 whole new characters unknown. there are tons of skills we know nothing about. i'll end with my motto for d3 right now... have patience and faith!