Spell damage should NOT be based on weapons

[Diabloid]

I posted this on official forum yesterday:

I just bought out a 90ish dps spear for my WD and instantly nightmare became normal.

Now it seems that damage is the only factor to consider for weapons, if there's a substantial increase it's a no brainer choice for upgrade, I don't even need to look at other stats, not even intelligence.

This is both stupid and unreasonable, stupid because, as said above, weapon damage becomes the sole factor, travializing all other stats, unreasonable because the sharpness of my spear shall in no way affect my spells.

World of Warcraft has the spell damange mechanics so perfect, make this game so.

http://us.battle.net/d3/en/forum/topic/5149178540

[Sentarius]

The problem they were trying to avoid was the Sorceress in Diablo 2, where her items didn't matter so she was always the best character to start a new account with.

My understanding is that once you get to Hell or Inferno, other stats are VERY important. (I'm only in NM myself.)

[cozmiccc]

so back to the old days where Warrior-type very heavily gear-dependent and the best at end game due to gears, while the Spellcasters-type are the weakest due to damage not scaling to leet gears?

No thanks!

[Chaosmage]

I somewhat disagree, what should be done is further restricting the weapon choices.
With my WD i can use every weapon except class specific weapons which does not make sense. It makes sense that a WD can use a knife the same way it is magically enhanced like a wizard can use wands to up the damage from spells.
But it does not make sense to use a sword.
Ironically a monk cannot use swords... That is not really consistent.

What you are describing that nm became normal was the case for me as well. But this is not the case in hell.
My current weapon(a pirate sword) makes around 240dps the best weapon I can buy at the auction house makes something like 380dps. But even with 1/2 more damage I will not be able to kill mobs in hell fast enough so that I don't have to be constantly on the run when playing solo.

[AnimeCraze]

Monks can use swords, just not 2 handed ones.

[BellaStrega]

I much prefer damage scaling off weapons.

[MagisterMan]

I hate that damage is based on the weapon. Just seems stupid to me to see a wizard running around with a big two handed weapon (that is not a staff). Weapons are now all about DPS, mainstat and vitality. Almost nothing you have to think about when you pick out your gear just go on AH and sort the items on DPS and pick out the ones that are well priced.

The only upside imo is that it is a bit more easy to balance through out the game, but when was Diablo all about the balance?

[BellaStrega]

So how would caster DPS be balanced with weapon DPS, exactly?

[MagisterMan]

So how would caster DPS be balanced with weapon DPS, exactly?

D2's system, i.e. weapon DPS does not affect spells. Instead weapons such as staffs or wands could give faster cast rate, +% to arcane damage, -% enemy resistance etc. Of course you would have to have fixed dmg on the spells in such a system, which would make it a pain to keep balanced but much more interesting imo. Why should an axe dictate how much damage a meteor does?

[Kitteh]

Why should an axe dictate how much damage a meteor does?

It's a mystical world where demons fight super powerful humans. Seriously? Why not?