Regarding "dumbed down" and "lack of customization".

[Buu]

You can build a Blizzard Wizard (heh) in D3 just as well. Or an elemental arrow DH. Or whatever! The difference is that some people feel that even more important than being able to PLAY as that character, the real reward would be the fact that they've taken the time to make some specific build, and most other people don't have that. If the game was single player only, no one would feel like skill flexibility was bad. But because it is multiplayer...they want to do something that most others can't.

I'm not saying you can, I'm saying Doppel (and others of his/her mindset) see a difference between building a Blizz sorc and a Wizard with Blizzard as a selected skill. D2 had more attachment to a specific build, where as D3 has more attachment to a character. (If any of this makes sense)

[droppin]

I'm not saying you can, I'm saying Doppel (and others of his/her mindset) see a difference between building a Blizz sorc and a Wizard with Blizzard as a selected skill. D2 had more attachment to a specific build, where as D3 has more attachment to a character. (If any of this makes sense)

Right on Buu. Imo, you should more attachment to the character, and that character should be yourself. INB4, but that's not my character I can't change him/her/it/them. Like I said in another comment, the D3 skill system is closer to reality which should make hardcore rpgers happier. A mailman can study and become a welder. He is not locked into mail delivery and stuck there forever until death. A wizard can "study" and learn meteor, blizzard, AND arcane orb.

[Kiroptus]

Who cares? It only takes 5 seconds for both end game characters to be the exact same characters. Using the term "build" in D3 is a little silly. You aren't building anything if it takes a few seconds to deconstruct.

I have to agree with this, its more that skills are rather like a loadout. Just like in DMC3 you could select the nunchuck/pistol loadout, in D3 it will feel more like it.

Its a different approach to it, but it certainly feels more like a loadout screen of an action game than an RPG skill system.

[imthedan]

It's going to come down to gear. With Inferno being as hard as it's supposed to be, the difference will be that I have a lvl 60 legendary 2h hammer for my ww build and the guy copying my build still has his rare weapon.

[starrise]

It's going to come down to gear. With Inferno being as hard as it's supposed to be, the difference will be that I have a lvl 60 legendary 2h hammer for my ww build and the guy copying my build still has his rare weapon.

And also the guy copying your build will have a completely different play-style which the chosen skills don't agree with, and he will get really frustrated and change skills. Or quit the game entirely. No amount of gearing will make the game enjoyable because he just can't make the skills work the same way you can.

[vegadei]

...D2 'customization' sucked...and i played the hell out of that game...the only reason i played so much was i loved the necro and his minions...just raising an army and standing back devastating everything with bone spirit got me to level 94 twice...with no shortcuts, just solo play (no farming)...that being said, i HATE bone spirit now because i spammed it 400,000,000 times...i would have loved to have had one other viable attack to supplement my minions...(curses not included)...i played the beta over the weekend and though it is obviously not representative of the final game, i am way more excited about play now than before...i changed my wizard and demon hunter's skill sets around just about every time i went to town and it was a blast...i will never understand how people aren't behind this system...skill points were/are so incredibly anti-climatic...opening up new viable skills and skill runes is so much more exciting and offers the kind of variety this series has been lacking...

[korialstraz]

@vegadei: didn't you ever try corpse explosion? If not you should try and find time for that before D3.

[Apocalypse]

when d2 first launched corpse explosion was the most godly skill in the game. the necro was easy mode like you wouldnt believe

[tronimrich]

Every level is meaningless because the game does not begin until 60.

[Doppel]

I remember reading this thread in 2008.

Oh wait...

That's strange, since in 2008 D3 had a vastly different leveling system.

Oh wait... you're full of ****.