How do you foresee an Expansion being viable with inferno mode?der=

[Wheeze]

It seems to me that Blizzard have a problem if they are intent on sticking with the mandate that they've earlier supposed (... that further expansions for Diablo III would bring additional content but not additional levels). The problem is inferno mode and the idea that an expansion would bring Acts 5+.

Is this a problem though? Well, yes and no. For some it's a matter of simply going to a previous difficulty to experience the new content; though that has it's own difficulties with the power curve whilst levelling being strewn all out of whack. However, what of those that are good enough to play in inferno mode but don't care for the long grind of gold and equipment to reach the final acts? For me, the temptation wasn't great enough. Act 4 is short and much less fun than the previous ones, so I have never pushed myself to complete it on inferno. (God, I'm so carebear) Won't players be expecting some form of instant gratification when they install their expansion but be disappointed if they find that they still have a long way to go before they can be permitted to enter the new areas?

What could Blizzard do to avoid such a scenario?
Perhaps they could make concurrent, rather than further consecutive acts. What I mean is, they could make an alternative Act I, which tells the story of the falling star in a different light. An Alternative Act II and so forth.

This could potentially be too much work for what Blizzard wants to sell to the customer but I can't help finding the idea somehow appeasing. However, the difficulty of tying the story threads together whilst making the new content suitably unique might be the major problem if such a system were adopted.

What form do you think an Expansion should take?

[rockoffire]

What I want them to do and what I think they will do are two completely different things.

First, I'm of the crowd that thinks the game is irredeemably broken, so I would like to to see an expansion that, reintroduces stat points/open wp system/ new battle.net (matchmaking blows) / lvls to 99 / ilvl items from 1-59 that are not worthless / runes as an item / a quest to add sockets / completely deletes inferno and revamps it to a one act size world that is unique, full of elites, and has some fun reward ( perhaps bring charms back)


Second, what I think they'll actually do is add items (charms, new gems, and other items in general), add new classes (perhaps a true necro or true zon none of this hybrid garbage), add new act (they will retune lvl progression to make it more spread out), hopefully itemization will have been fixed by now but if not that will finally be fixed, add big events like D2 clone

[bantam]

My gut says levels 60-99 (with no new runes or skills) plus new items and affixes to apply to those higher levels. I would also bet on an extra act plus a post inferno difficulty. There will be other things, but this is the easiest way to make sure that people get to play the new act.

Here is a question. Will the new and old characters be segregated like in Diablo 2? What I mean, is will I have to re-level up special expansion characters, or can I use my existing character, items, and money?

[betazoid]

They keep max level same and introduce iLev 64 for act5. This would normally work if stat balance would be there, but now it just pushes the problem forward. Meaning they tune act5 mosters a bit hard and then items have new affix ranges that only can spawn iLev64 items like ar 80-90, higher dmg etc... If they don't allow all affix to spawn at some rate to all items >iLev61 it will fail hard. Actually they should make the changes latest on next big patch 1.10

[sifuedition]

Last number I heard that was even semi-official indicated only about 10% have downed Inferno Diablo. I think that is the big issue that the OP is trying to ask about. How demotivational would it be if only 25% have downed it when the expansion releases and thsoe who just bought it can't even access the new act. Since the entire story line is sequential and locked in, how do you go about that? Is it just a case of tough luck if you have not cleared act 4 when the expansion releases?

[Matt]

I'm assuming that some of the commonly lamented issues (most of which have already been mentioned here; item quality, magic find, etc) will be addressed as a separate patch, not as part of an expansion.

I think the expansion will focus on longevity and endgame. I'd be a little surprised if it's another act. The storyline of D3 is such that it'd be difficult to add more on to the end, without somewhat of an anticlamatic final boss. I think it will be a very involved and (hopefully) well thought out 'endless dungeon' kind of thing. A challenging (and not just as a gear-check) dungeon, progressively harder, rewarding dungeon. I imagine it will offer enticing incentives whether it's drops not currently in the game, more levels, maybe PvP only items, and will be designed to reward and encourage group play.

Additionally, I'd be surprised if there's not another class or two, and some smaller world events.

[pulli]

A challenging (and not just as a gear-check)

As the only way to grow in this game is build more gear.. And constantly spam the same stats & get more of the same stats, any challenge will be a "gear check". Simple as that; before jagex can remove gear checks, skills should be revamped as to make skills less dependent on gear.

More base damage, less damage through gear.

[JohnnyC]

Last number I heard that was even semi-official indicated only about 10% have downed Inferno Diablo.

I'm pretty sure it's considerably lower.

[betazoid]

I'm pretty sure it's considerably lower.

Please note that a quite high number people killed Inferno diablo by using Wizard bug, otherwise I would still be only one from my friend list to down diablo legit.

[Steven Hazani]

Thing is, anyone that can handle Act2 without dying very much can easily, EASILY beat Inferno Diablo, and every other boss (except Ghom) along the way.

It's the random elites that are the wall.

Between that and the fact there's really nothing to gain from beating Inferno Diablo only having a few do it doesn't necessarily mean anything.