I think he’s saying that a level X character for you will be exactly like the level X character for everyone else. Everyone gets the same skills at each level, so there will be no individuality.
I have no idea what he meant by the “randomness” bit.
In the old rune-drop system, you might end up with a “Lengthen Effect and/or Range” rune at a high level as a random drop. As such, you’d start eying skills to see where it might best fit. That sort of thing. Now, you always get the same variation of each skill at the same time. Which I guess is nice for planning, but it does mean there is now 0 reason to ever re-roll a character of the same class. Want to “re-spec?” Go spend $100 on items in the RMAH and you’re done.
Which is a positive to some people, I’d wager. But it’s a big change and continues the trends I’ve mentioned elsewhere in this post: streamlining, elimination of character individuality, and the elimination of choice/roleplaying.
Right, which I agree with. I’m not as broken up about it as some people, because to me even one playthrough with each character type will be worth it, but I do consider it a step down.
I see, but it’s still quite correct - even at level 11 my wizard and someone elses wizard will be very different.
Wizard A might use Frost beam and charged bolt with the explosive rune equipped, and Diamond Form for his defensive ability.
Wizard B might use Arcane Orb and the range extender rune and Electrocute, and use Frost Nova with the first rune equipped.
Wizard C might use the higher damage output Magic Missle with the first rune, and possibly map Electrocute to the right mouse button, and use both Diamond form AND Frost Nova.
Etc.
That’s just level 11! And when you are 60 you’ll have even more variety to draw from.
In a game like Diablo 2 if you wanted that same variety you had to re-roll the same class and slog through the opening several hours of the game all over again, just to try things out. But the end results would be the same - Wizard A, Wizard B, and Wizard C.
That’s my take on it based on what I’ve played so far, anyway. It’s pretty damn fun, regardless of HOW you build your character.
Have you followed the development of any other Blizzard game?
This is par for the course, if just as frustrating as ever.
Sounds like we’re getting a release date sooner than later - much sooner.
Also some of the concerns being voiced here are as you can imagine, being voiced in the official forums. There have been official reponses from the community manager that some may find helpful or at least explanatory if not satisfying. I personally like this brave new frontier of Diablo-ing, but I feel like at this point I’m coming off as a fanboy so I’ll just report the news as I get to it going forward. :)
Credit to http://diablo.incgamers.com for the news bits and the Jay Wilson link.
JPR
3208
Yes, well those responses are exactly what one would expect, I think – no other explanation makes much sense. They explicitly say that they decided Diablo and WoW are not RPGs and shouldn’t be designed like RPGs. The people who are objecting to their decisions are the ones that want Diablo to be more like an RPG.
Actually, it reads more to me like Blizzard saying that the RPG convention of being stuck with your choices (like what points you put into what skills) is shitty design.
aeneas
3210
Wow I just won a beta key. I am super excited.
That’s what I got out of it too. I only agree with regards to games like this (more fast paced/arcade action games than “role-playing” - pretty much the brunt of the games Blizzard does, if you think about it) but I heartily disagree with something like a Skyrim or Witcher type game (more single player, more “role” focused games).
Thankfully (I guess?) Blizzard doesn’t do the single player deep RPG experience stuff.
Bastion is entirely single-player and very much an RPG. And it pulls off the dynamic perfectly.
Kadath
3213
Was wondering if anyone got in lately, I signed up the first day and still nothing so I’m a bit bummed…
idrisz
3214
you can respec in witcher 2, and skyrim already have built in respec in the console command.
the choices that are important in a “deep RPG” game aren’t skills choice, but story choices.
JPR
3215
He is saying that in most people’s mind, RPG is synonymous with “build[ing] a character” and “[making] an investment in your choices”, and that is what makes the game fun.
The designers of Diablo think that is an antiquated notion of what constitutes an RPG and think that they can find plenty of fun from other sources.
It comes down to a difference in opinion of what RPG means. I think that in any traditional sense of the term, they are minimizing the RPG aspects of the game. People who liked those aspects of the game will be unhappy with the changes. The way I phrased it might have been somewhat controversial, but I don’t think what I’m saying is.
aeneas
3216
I won one off a site in NZ.
JPR
3217
Console commands don’t count – don’t be silly.
And if it’s story choices that count, Diablo has literally none of them.
What matters, though, is some kind of consequence for choice. The consequences of your decisions in the Witcher are more far-reaching than any game (except possibly Alpha Protocol) that I’ve played in years.
idrisz
3218
I don’t see how console command don’t count, when developer offer an easy option for player to respec…
It’s like saying, if Blizzard offer a console command respec for Diablo 3, does that mean now diablo 3 have meaningful consequence to your skill choices?
idrisz
3220
Actually, how about the player just make the choice for themselves, if they don’t want to respec, don’t respec, if you want to use it, then free feel.
That way they actually made a meaningful choice in real life, instead of pretending to make meaningful choice in a game. :)
