Item Appearance on Your Character

[bjsdtl]

This topic stems from one re: Set items, and how a full set like IK or Tal Rasha might look cooler than just having that glow around your guy. Wouldn't it be cool to have set-specific animations like Tyrael wings or Druid hurricanes or something, depending on the name/lore of that set?

So thinking about that idea, I started to think about how all items should look on your character, and the applications of their appearance in PvP.

We all saw in the gameplay video narrated by Jay that when the barb picks up that generic set of Normal quality armor, each piece is seperately viewable on his body. (there has been some talk about how this is too "WoWish" and the armor 'pops' off your body too much)

However, there is a legitimate concern with this style of armor animation: can other people see what youre wearing? Shouldnt a UNIQUE item be unique in appearance when equipped? If this is the case, others would be able to see that you are wearing/using a specific item, and they could therefore curb their strategy for dueling.

But then! you could lay out "decoy" armor/weapons to make it look like you are one type of build (javazon) when you are really a Bowazon! Now you've got a barb running at you full speed, you switch your weapons, and by the time he realizes his mistake, he's being penetrated by guided arrows.

Obviously this will play a significant role in D3, and one that is quite different from D2. For example, in D2 there are certain items that you can recognize right away if someone was wearing them (Shako, Pelts, etc) but most of their gear would appear ambiguously.

What are your thoughts? I certainly feel like viewable character customization is a GREAT idea, but it's ramifications must be carefully considered.

[starmelt]

I'm very satisfied with how it looks so far, regarding the "too wowish" apperance. And seeing that Diablo 3 is "first and foremost a cooperative game", it doesnt really matter if youre able to recognize gear equipped by others. Especially if the PvP in D3 turns out to be anything like in D2. Oh god, the PvP in D2 is probably the worst in gaming history ever. But seeing its not designed for PvP we cant really complain.

Now.
I hated the aura given by sets in D2. Its looks silly and is badly executed in the terms of angles and the isometric view. The vampire-look given by the trang-oul set is also pretty silly. No necromancer with selfrespect would ever dress up like a vampire :D
Ofcourse they would have made it look better in D3, but I would rather see an extended difference in design. Just tossing glowsticks around would make the game look cheap and you would think that it wasnt a game which had been put alot of work in.

Back to the "wow-look".
The complaints about armor "poping" out too much is highly exegerated. I believe its fairly balanced, because if you look at the armors in D2 they almost look skintight.
Now who has ever seen a skintight full metal plate?
I think if they could balance the size between WoW and D2 it will be just perfect, cause looking at a Death Knight with a full tier 7 set is pretty damn silly.

[Psyco]

emmm its not a "vampire" look btw but a lich look /facepalm

i think the WoW look of armor isnt really there in D3 they just look bigger so you can see the actual armor while playing now,in D2 its not that hard to forget what the other is wearing even though its kind of easy to figure out whats he wear when you look at him

i really hope we get more set look like the trang one and that unique ACTUALLY LOOK UNIQUE NOW and not just of a different colors

[Martin Hodges]

Now who has ever seen a skintight full metal plate?


In real armour. http://www.gradovi.net/images/armour4.jpg

M. Hodges

[Killafornia]

I wouldn't wear that into combat. The balls aren't sufficiently protected.

[Martin Hodges]

I wouldn't wear that into combat. The balls aren't sufficiently protected.

Hah, maybe this is more to your liking--ball protection-wise--

http://vkham.com/images/Henry%20VIII%20armour.jpg.JPG
Henry VIII's Armour

As far as the WoW style issue goes, I understand that (1) it's a fantasy game, not real life, and (2) that the designers have to exaggerate the size of the armour--especially the pauldrons--otherwise you can't really see them. But when the pauldrons come to your elbows, or when they stick up over your head, it's getting kind of ridiculous.

[Killafornia]

Now that's ball protection.

[teh_Thrasher]

I wouldn't wear that into combat. The balls aren't sufficiently protected.

i think i about died laughing. xD

pfft. u can barely move in those huge suits of armor.
i would think a barbarian would want more mobility ;) more movement to thrash about with his dual weapons.

on a side note... it looks like it would be impossible to run in that first suit... them boots are messed up lol.

[Telzen]

Stay on the horse and kick people with the spike lol. Also Barb has muscles of steel and doesn't need full armor.

[DBaron]

Not only when they are equipped on your char, but a unique should not share the same artwork as set item, or even normal item. Rattlecage and Tal Rashas guardianship look exactly alike, yet are two totally different items. Plus you can scam people that way via the trade window.

[KillaMike]

Not only when they are equipped on your char, but a unique should not share the same artwork as set item, or even normal item. Rattlecage and Tal Rashas guardianship look exactly alike, yet are two totally different items. Plus you can scam people that way via the trade window.

really? .........

[DBaron]

really? .........

sarcasm? If so, all I'm saying is that it would be nice to differentiate the artwork from a hard to find popular set item from low level unique, not too mention avoid confusion/scam oppurtunities.

[GuardianHadriel]

I wouldn't wear that into combat. The balls aren't sufficiently protected. lmao roflmao LOL so true:cloud9::cloud9:
https://www.bens.at/images/Champro-Athletic-Cup-with-S.jpg

[bhugy]

Does anyone know anything about weapon appearance on characters?
In D2, a hand axe looked same on your char as a double axe, for instance. If I have a double axe equipped, then I want it to look like one. I would assume that all the different types of weapons would have a different appearance when equipped in D3, but does anyone know about this for sure?

[bjsdtl]

bhugy, I doubt anyone has a solid idea outside of the dev team themselves. We see in the gameplay video that the complete armor set equipped by the barb has generic names like "Chest Armor" and "Helm," thus we haven't had an opportunity to see contrasting items of the same type displayed on a character.