SPF Feedback on D3?

[Helx]

I've seen only bits and pieces of peoples' opinions on the new D3 SPF forum since the game came out and am curious to see more of what you think about it.

I realize it's early yet, and things may change in time, but to start off here's my preliminary list in no particular order (possible SPOILER ALERT):

Likes

• Nice graphics and animation
• Dark atmosphere
• Some old, familiar faces from D2
• Freshness of the game (being in unfamiliar with it still)
• New characters (Monk, DH, WD)
• Morons aren't as moronic now

The "Not as Much" Category

• OFFLINE Mode (goes without saying)
• Missing lots of my favorite skills from D2
• Skill Tree customization and "builds"
• Level 85 areas--just started NM today and not sure if there are good farming areas yet...
• I really miss the old rune system
• Storyline seems restricted and scripted (linear)
• Achievements?...reminds me of Xbox games

Overall, though, I'm really enjoying it and having fun leveling my monk, wizard, and barb.

[Kitteh]

I think the thing I like most, is that to enjoy the game at it's best, you have to think tactically. In D2 it was point, click, everything dies. I'm finding myself planning how I'm going to kill things in NM, now that I know what to expect. Luring monsters to a suitable area and things like that.

[SnickerSnack]

Morons aren't as moronic now

Yes. I hadn't noticed that until now because the follower hasn't screwed up yet. He's just been quietly doing his job well; well, not quietly - dude likes to talk. I wish he had more item slots.

Skill Tree customization and "builds"

Not sure what you mean. Builds still exist, though I am also not 100% sold on the lack of trees where every wizard of a given level has access to the exact same skills.

I really miss the old rune system

Me too. No runes in D3 (using them as a generic label for subskills doesn't count; if I can't pick it up off the ground and brag about it here, it's not a rune).

Storyline seems restricted and scripted (linear)

D2 wasn't? Or do you just mean that they should have done it differently this time?

In D2 it was point, click, everything dies.

The last 2 acts have been like this for my wizard; just spam Disintegrate with Convergence. My monk is also doing well, but she uses more variety in her skills.

[TheReadMenace]

Maybe I'm simple-minded, but I like achievements. 1,640 points so far, and I want more! It kinda saddens me when I get one, knowing that I'll never get the chance to earn the same achievement again.

And yeah, the story isn't mind-blowing. ...But at least there IS a story. From the start of D2, the whole premise is "find your way to Diablo and kill him."

More pros:
No attack rating
No arrows/bolts
No defensive penalty if I'm hit while running
Enemies and areas feel more varied/less repetitive (so far)
Enemies have more varied mods
Gold has value (for now)
Surviving is seemingly harder; strategic play is the name of the game. Getting hit hurts.
Boss battles are more involving
The look of gear on characters. It's awesome now.
Good length to the game. It feels longer than D2, but I'm also searching for new events/lore each time I enter an area
Random events make each game feel a little different

Cons:
Running from an enemy once they swing, you're pretty much guaranteed to get hit
Up to now, increasing skill effect is entirely dependent on gear
Unenforced build commitment could hurt longevity without the need to make new characters
Gem variety and usefulness is far too limited
Charms and the Mystic/enchants are missing
Stealing this, but I can't detect any place/area for short bursts of quick to run for potentially awesome items. It's gonna be all about long commitments what with the Nephilim Valor system in the late game, and that's gonna eat up time.

[Pijus]

I like:
Knockback. Throwing enemies is very satisfying.
Physics. Breaking them pots is also very satisfying.
Lots of new lore. I love finding all of the books and getting more info on what happened in D1 and D2.
As TRM said, certain annoying mechanics are gone.
Charms are gone. Hate em in Diablo 2. Useless inventory clutter.

I don't like:
The player characters. Barbarian, Monk, Wizard, Demon Humter, Witch Doctor. The they are all pure and noble and nice all the time. At least at the start of the game they all say the same thing "I'll save your town", "I'll help save your uncle", etc. I don't feel connecter to any of their attitudes. When I made a barbarian he said in his little cinematic "maybe here I'll find a worthy challange". And then he says "I'll save your town, I'll save your uncle". I wish he'd say "Point me to the baddest demon around".

The characters again. They all seem to be superpowered, extra special, prodigies, wise men, etc. I wish they would be ordinary shmucks who rises up to the challange of fighting demons. It would mean more to me then. Many games have this problem, Skyrim for example.

The character progression feels abit slow for me. Just a personal thing I guess. I wish I'd get the skills faster.

Low drop rates get on my nerves. It's like there are no rare or unique items in the game. I've played for hours and I found like 5 rares.

[Shagsbeard]

Still way too early for a "review" but I'll put out the point that we shouldn't be comparing D3 with D2 post 1.07. When D2 first came out, there weren't elite items, and only a handful of uniques. There weren't any runes or charms. D3 will have an expansion, if not more than one. So far, and I've yet to finish act I normal (playing through with 5 HC characters in tandem) I have good things to say about the game. Biggest con for me is that it makes me dizzy. I can't play for much more than 30 minutes at a time.

[Smips]

I've played up to level 58 with a monk and I'm in Act 2 Hell. So, up to this point...

Pros:
-Gameplay is great. I'm constantly immersed in everything that's going on, things seem to flow well, etc. Overall, it's just a very fun experience.

-Difficulty. For those of you cruising in Normal or Nightmare, don't worry. That stops. I hit a total brick wall about 3/4s of the way through Act 2, so I went back to Act 1 to farm/level. Back in Act 1, things are more manageable, but champion/elite packs still require thought and strategy. I'm also very happy that the difficult lies in sustainability. This puts more focus on skill than in D2.

-Removal of all the annoying things from D2. You know, like AR, defense being useless, stamina, poor durability... The list probably goes on.

-Really great environments. Except Act 4. I didn't really like Act 4.

Cons:

-Drop rates. I've played for way more hours than I would care to admit and I've only found 2 Legendaries. Plus there's the new controversy that Legendaries might suck. I'm not really buying in to that though. I'm sure the Legendaries/Sets provide way more survivability in Inferno than a huge DPS blue. I guess if you want to die 5 times per boss pack, blues would be fine.

-I'd like more socketables...or something. Just something more to modify my items.

-More incentive to stick with a build. I'm fine with being able to change on the fly, but I wish you got some kind of bonus for not changing.


I'm sure there's more to add to both of these lists, but that's all for now. Overall, really enjoying it.

[Shagsbeard]

Not to argue, but a bonus for not changing would only be seen as a penalty attached to changing. I agree with your concept, but simply to grant a bonus for not changing wouldn't fly. There should be some degree of specialization, and currently there really is none except for the limited stash size effect... and that will eventually become moot.

[Es Mors]

I am currently in Act 1 NM with a barbarian and so far the general impression of the game is very very good.

Pros:
Gameplay: Much more fun than in D2 (and I loved D2!). I think Smips described it well.

Skill system: One of my favourite aspects of the game. I find myself planning and trying out different stuff, which is something I could never do in D2, because one wrong choice would mean that I ruined my character. Also, I was skeptical when they were saying that you would have to use many skills and expected it to be a one or two skill clickfest, but I actualy constantly use all of my hotkeys!

Level design: Fantastic! So much variation and everything is very polished. Alot of interesting environments. My favourites are dungeons in Act 2.

Crafting system: Very interesting, I spend alot of time crafting.

Followers: Nice that you get to choose their spells and the little stories they have are interesting.

Difficulty: I hear good things about the game being very challenging in the later difficulties. What I really like, is the type of difficulty - D2 was pretty much about avoiding one hit kills. In D3 tactical use of skills can get you far.

Characters: The char choices are just as good as in D2 IMO. Not better and not worse.

Monsters: Nice variation in monsters and many of them are really cool and well designed. A lot of interesting and different types to be found.

Cons:

Stash size: RIP ATMA and GoMule. :(

Gems: Too little variation in what they can do. Just one more effect per gem (based on item you socket them in) would go a long way.

Undecided:

Drop rates: My hopes are that legendaries turn out to be the best items in the game, except for really rare rolls on yellow items. If the current rumours about even the common blue items being better than orange are ture, then that sucks quite a bit. However, I have not seen any actual valid basis for these rumours.

Monster mods: Could be more variation in Normal, but I am starting to see more different mods in Nightmare. There is much potential, will have to see how it turns out.

[BaronScarpia]

Pros:

- Nice and addictive gameplay;
- Storyline;
- Classes;
- Followers (they're smarter than me now )

Cons:

- No offline mode - which kinda almost kill the game (People can just jump in the game while you're in the middle of something and skyrocket the life of the bosspack you're killing)
- NPCs talk too much;
- Server (but it's getting better)
- Enemies that kill you after you kill them (aka doll effect) - the most annoying game-feature ever, imo...
- Potential low replayability
- No pindle-style feature (if they remove the chest exploit everybody is talking about)
- Privacy issue (you can look how much time you're friends played, see if they left you behind in a mp quest, copy their builds and a couple other things small minded people can do, but I still hadn't chance too )