Bonus for variety in classes for group

[sbn]

An idea I had long ago that was none too popular (proposed for D2), but what the heck, I will bring it up again. I would like to see a bonus in either experience, drops, etc.. if a full party is formed that represents all classes.

Not like it has to be anything godly in terms of a bonus, but a mere incentive that would maybe make players to at least think about playing in the game with a variety. I strongly believe that the mechanics of this game were designed so that people would play in a varied group. Anyone that has ever started out, or started ladder in such a group knows how beneficial it is to have the varied group instead of just 5x Sorcs and 1x Barb..ugh.

As it is now, D2 does give a bonus for having a larger group (better experience and drops). Why not just tweak that a little to provide something extra if the classes are mixed well?

[Srikandi]

I'm more of a soloer, but I agree it's a good idea -- in fact, the whole spirit of a coop RPG to me is based around the idea of a diverse party. I believe the idea goes back to the Lord of the Rings, where you have your hobbit, your ranger, your elf, your wizard and so on, each with distinctive characteristics which help the party survive particular situations. Or before that to the fairy tales which start with a tinker, a tailor and a soldier encountering three challenges. Or the jokes about a priest and a rabbi walking into a bar!

Ok scrap that last one :)

Anyway, yeah. The trick is to provide the incentive in such a way as not to screw us single player types ;) Still, if they put in a few goals that are MP-only I could cope. The most natural implementation, after all, would be a boss or a dungeon that requires the skills of multiple classes to conquer, a la the MMO "healer+tank+mage" formula.

[Grug]

No no no no no no no no.

No.

Has there ever been a problem with class diversity? How many games have you seen with only paladins? A rule like this would actually be harmful, because players will try to only get into games that have this bonus, so a Wizard wouldn't go into a game with another Wizard.

I know people like the idea of a diverse party, but they'll form them on their own without any kind of unjust incentive.

[TopHatCat64]

I'm more of a soloer, but I agree it's a good idea -- in fact, the whole spirit of a coop RPG to me is based around the idea of a diverse party.

Blizzard has been pushing hard for diversity within each class. 4 wizards are not all going to play alike. You could have a tank wiz specializing in mirror image/stone skin, a nuke wiz focusing on disintegrate and blizzard, a support wiz focused on slowing enemies with time stop and ray of frost, etc...

And with skill runes you could have two tank wizards using the same skill but utilizing it in two different ways.

I agree there should be diverse parties, but that will happen naturally since there (appears to be) so many different way to build a character.

EDIT: It was definitely worth it!

[Srikandi]

OK, fair enough :) I just posted to get in the priest/rabbi joke.

[sbn]

Blizzard has been pushing hard for diversity within each class. 4 wizards are not all going to play alike. You could have a tank wiz specializing in mirror image/stone skin, a nuke wiz focusing on disintegrate and blizzard, a support wiz focused on slowing enemies with time stop and ray of frost, etc...

And with skill runes you coulda have two tank wizards using the same skill but utilizing it in two different ways.

I agree there should be diverse parties, but that will happen naturally since there (appears to be) so many different way to build a character.

EDIT: It was definitely worth it!

While it is certainly true that we have the ability to create diverse characters within a class, each class in of themselves provide unique abilities that enhance a party. Now in D2, 4 sorcs do not naturally enhance a party the same as if you had a diverse class of sorc, necro, barb, and paladin. A party with two barbs means one barb becomes redundant to the party, even though one may be WW and the other Frenzy. A cold Sorc may be quite different from a pure Light sorc, but do having both provide anything...to the party as a whole?

[raveharu]

I think they might also release certain monsters that require a group effort to kill.

It will certainly not be like D2 whereby a Hammerdin can destroy everything in Hell.

And I pretty much sum up the fact that single player =/= multi player.
If not multiplayer will be screwed up badly :yes:

Basic game and story content will certainly be the same, but multiplayer will have more diversity,features and of course BNet 2.0 :smug:

[Grug]

I could not disagree more, Raveharu. Diablo is not going to be an MMO. They're not going to release special multiplayer content. Doing so would merely cheapen the experience of the Single Player. I mean, they could do things like Pandemonium in D2, but the core game should be identical to SP. The devs said that they were making a single player game primarily and adding a co-op feature in addition.