[maharg]

Incredibly convenient contrived plot devices?

D1->D2 is definitely not at all contrived. Pretty effectively foreshadowed by the final cinematic if anything. Honestly, D1 did a really good job of telling a decent story with minimal exposition. And it was open-ended enough to pull through a lot of detail in D2.

[ZealousD]

well, I never put any points into intelligence...

In Diablo 1, I saved any gear that had +Magic on it and left it on the ground in town. Whenever I had a spellbook I wanted to read, I would slap on all the gear, read the book, then take off all the gear and put back on my regular gear again.

So my character had random bouts of genius anytime he wanted to read a book.

[maharg]

In Diablo 1, I saved any gear that had +Magic on it and left it on the ground in town. Whenever I had a spellbook I wanted to read, I would slap on all the gear, read the book, then take off all the gear and put back on my regular gear again. So my character had random bouts of genius anytime he wanted to read a book.

Reminds me of the equipment dance you could go through to put on all the Godly gear early in the game if you had a benefactor.

[CarbonatedFalcon]

First Dev Diary from the launch site is up:

http://us.battle.net/d3/en/blog/4858...4_10_2012#blog

It's over a year old. Interesting that. They really meant to ship by the end of last year.

[Yoshichan]

Just watched it :3 Funny

[ZealousD]

First Dev Diary from the launch site is up: http://us.battle.net/d3/en/blog/4858...4_10_2012#blog It's over a year old. Interesting that. They really meant to ship by the end of last year.

Hasn't this pretty much been the longest public beta in the company's history? Heck I wouldn't be surprised if it was the longest running public beta in any company's history. Only competitor I can think of off the top of my head would be Ragnarok Online.

[Calidor]

Hasn't this pretty much been the longest public beta in the company's history? Heck I wouldn't be surprised if it was the longest running public beta in any company's history. Only competitor I can think of off the top of my head would be Ragnarok Online.

well, Dota 2 beta is been longer I think

[ZealousD]

well, Dota 2 beta is been longer I think

Eh? I thought DOTA 2 beta went live in November? Diablo 3 beta has been running since September.

[Zek]

8 months of closed beta is not really that incredible an amount of time.

[Jira]

Hasn't this pretty much been the longest public beta in the company's history? Heck I wouldn't be surprised if it was the longest running public beta in any company's history. Only competitor I can think of off the top of my head would be Ragnarok Online.

Vanguard ran a beta for 17 months, 14 or so of which were public. Warhammer Online ran a beta for over 12 months as well.

[DMPrince]

Hasn't this pretty much been the longest public beta in the company's history? Heck I wouldn't be surprised if it was the longest running public beta in any company's history. Only competitor I can think of off the top of my head would be Ragnarok Online.

PlayStation Home /trollface.

[ZealousD]

PlayStation Home /trollface.

If you can pay money, it's no longer a beta. I don't care what the developers say.

[Teknoman]

If you can pay money, it's no longer a beta. I don't care what the developers say.

I was about to say FFXIV, but that shot it down.

EDIT: Really enjoying your refreshers, especially since I was planning on seeing how Diablo 1 ran on Windows 7. Also lol at how the mushroom scenes came together.

[Epyon MX]

Blue Known Issue List for Patch 16:

There are currently some performance issues with the Mac version of Beta 16. The build may be performing slower than it did before the patch. We are aware of this issue and hope to resolve it in a future patch.

FFFFFFUUUUUUUUUU.....

Really? It was already bad and now it's worse? And you "hope" to fix it in a future patch? You have FIVE (5!) weeks left! Gah!

My only hope is that the internal build is far more advanced and that patching the beta beyond balance issues isn't worth their time.

[ZealousD]

Also lol at how the mushroom scenes came together.

LOL yeah that quest is basically completely pointless but I had to include parts of that dialogue for lols.

[ZealousD]

Just a warning that people should stay out of the Lore forum on bnet.

I'm pretty sure they're discussing datamined content and I think I just got spoiled as to the Act 1 boss.

[Teknoman]

I want to say i'm kinda curious as to whether or not the siege beast from the very first gameplay video shows up in Act 1 or not...but I can wait. I want nothing spoiled about the game aside from official media/stuff I see in beta.

[CarbonatedFalcon]

Just a warning that people should stay out of the Lore forum on bnet. I'm pretty sure they're discussing datamined content and I think I just got spoiled as to the Act 1 boss.

I haven't looked in that forum, but I've read stuff elsewhere that I'd probably rather not have read. It was older though, and there were still many details left out, but I don't intend on seeking anything else out between now and release. I don't consider myself majorly spoiled though.

I'm sure we'll have a spoiler thread up a the day of release if not a day or two after - normal shouldn't take too long to get through. Probably anywhere from 8-16 hours, depending on how fast you got.

[Teknoman]

Oh btw for future reference, anyone on my friends list, feel free to invite me whenever (both beta and retail). I would say hopefully I dont get left in the dust at retail, but i'm sure people will have multiple characters.

[TylerD]

LOL yeah that quest is basically completely pointless but I had to include parts of that dialogue for lols.

Just finished the last Diablo story video. I appreciate it since my journey began with Diablo 2 and I never played the original. They were very well done.

[IceMarker]

[Thrakier]

After now seeing the old storyline again and soaking in the amazin atmo of D1 and D2 I watched some D3 videos. And we had that discussion, you know, it kinda looks too colorful and WOW-y and so on. And yeah, judging from the videos it's kinda hard to believe that atmosphere is as dense as in D1 and D2, which were almost like horror games in a way (The Butcher...).

So for you guys who played the beta, does the atmosphere actually hold up to D1 and D2? Does it feel different when you play the game compared to just watching the videos?

[kyubajin]

After now seeing the old storyline again and soaking in the amazin atmo of D1 and D2 I watched some D3 videos. And we had that discussion, you know, it kinda looks too colorful and WOW-y and so on. And yeah, judging from the videos it's kinda hard to believe that atmosphere is as dense as in D1 and D2, which were almost like horror games in a way (The Butcher...). So for you guys who played the beta, does the atmosphere actually hold up to D1 and D2? Does it feel different when you play the game compared to just watching the videos?

I have not played the beta but from the videos I believe they're after the "you press a button and something awesome happens" style rather than honouring the aesthetics and morbidity of past Diablo games. Which is a pitty but at this stage all I want is to play the bloody game already.

[Thrakier]

I have not played the beta but from the videos I believe they're after the "you press a button and something awesome happens" style rather than honouring the aesthetics and morbidity of past Diablo games. Which is a pitty but at this stage all I want is to play the bloody game already.

Yeah, as well, though I have a hard time to connect to this art-style. I didn't play Torchlight because I didn't like the way it looked, also couldn't connect to Borderlands and the likes. And from the videos I fear I could have the same problem with D3...

Imo it's way to clean for what D3 tries to represent...

[maharg]

After now seeing the old storyline again and soaking in the amazin atmo of D1 and D2 I watched some D3 videos. And we had that discussion, you know, it kinda looks too colorful and WOW-y and so on. And yeah, judging from the videos it's kinda hard to believe that atmosphere is as dense as in D1 and D2, which were almost like horror games in a way (The Butcher...). So for you guys who played the beta, does the atmosphere actually hold up to D1 and D2? Does it feel different when you play the game compared to just watching the videos?

I've never really gotten this, personally. I think D2 in particular is plenty colourful/clean. It comes from just having more outdoorsy areas, where D1 was all underground.

Nothing I've seen in videos of D3 seems really out of place compared to the Blood Moore or the desert (which was BRIGHT YELLOW).

The dark/dank atmosphere in D2 didn't really kick in until Act 3 to me. And that was one of the worst acts of D2 to me.

[Fallout-NL]

I've never really gotten this, personally. I think D2 in particular is plenty colourful/clean. It comes from just having more outdoorsy areas, where D1 was all underground. Nothing I've seen in videos of D3 seems really out of place compared to the Blood Moore or the desert (which was BRIGHT YELLOW). The dark/dank atmosphere in D3 didn't really kick in until Act 3 to me. And that was one of the worst acts of D2 to me.

You mean D2?


I do think D3 is markedly different from D1 and 2. But the problem isn't something superficial like color, it's deeper.

[xyla]

And here we go! My story refresher for both Diablo games is now complete. Full Playlist: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...ature=view_all Start with Diablo 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loqqoG1GAVE Start with Diablo 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUBkzOMeX-g Essentially, I've got all of the major story footage from both games plus a little combat b-roll to keep things interesting. If you were looking to replay both games in order to get a refresh on the story, you won't have to because I've got ya covered. If you're new to the franchise and you want to see how the story played out in both games, this has got ya covered. I put in quite a bit of time into this, so I hope you guys enjoy.

Thanks for these, I never played Diablo 1 and D2 was a long time ago.
Nostalgia overload with hype for D3 is taking over now.

[LordCanti]

After now seeing the old storyline again and soaking in the amazin atmo of D1 and D2 I watched some D3 videos. And we had that discussion, you know, it kinda looks too colorful and WOW-y and so on. And yeah, judging from the videos it's kinda hard to believe that atmosphere is as dense as in D1 and D2, which were almost like horror games in a way (The Butcher...). So for you guys who played the beta, does the atmosphere actually hold up to D1 and D2? Does it feel different when you play the game compared to just watching the videos?

D2's darkness really came from forcing the players vision to end at a certain spot on the screen. For instance, you could be running along, and suddenly a swarm of monsters show up out of where the forced shadow had been. It was an interesting mechanic in terms of adding suspense, but they went a different direction for D3. If that forced darkness had been put in, I think the game would have the same aesthetic feel of D2. Since it's not there, it does feel a bit different, but I don't think it's any worse for it.

[injurai]

D2's darkness really came from forcing the players vision to end at a certain spot on the screen. For instance, you could be running along, and suddenly a swarm of monsters show up out of where the forced shadow had been. It was an interesting mechanic in terms of adding suspense, but they went a different direction for D3. If that forced darkness had been put in, I think the game would have the same aesthetic feel of D2. Since it's not there, it does feel a bit different, but I don't think it's any worse for it.

I agree with this. You no longer have the claustrophobic feel in the levels anymore. I think removing it makes for better gameplay. It moves things towards high action and twitch click as opposed to more finely tuned movement actions you had to perform in D1.

[Raide]

I agree with this. You no longer have the claustrophobic feel in the levels anymore. I think removing it makes for better gameplay. It moves things towards high action and twitch click as opposed to more finely tuned movement actions you had to perform in D1.

Diablo 1 introduced you to a work about Diablo, a place you had no idea what it contained. The game gave you the slow progressive feeling that you had uncovered something nasty and evil and your progressive journey downwards was heading towards that evil.

Diablo 2 started to flesh out a world, not just a small town with a Church. Diablo's minions now had a much larger effect on the outside world, not just being confined to a church basement. They messed the world up and most towns ended up being tiny safe-havens from the evil outside. Also the beginnings for various Heroes trying to make sense of the world and survive.

Diablo 3 seems to focus on way more character and world fleshing-out. Those things that D1 & 2 NPC's quickly mentioned as you did quick quests for them, seem to get much more of a focus. You know this world now, so Diablo 3 wants to focus on story and crafting some unique but also well-used and familiar to players.

Well, thats how I see it. :D

[TylerD]

I never really got this super dark brooding feeling from Diablo 2 that everyone says is missing in D3 right now. It wasn't ever overly creepy and the only thing in Diablo 2 that made me pause a bit were spiders and even they weren't very scary. There was one time that I was up late doing Mephisto runs and a spider dropped down right in front of my face. I shrieked pretty loud and woke both my parents up then they came into the computer room and saw that I was up at 3:30 am playing D2.

Really don't miss the light radius business and with a modern game it isn't needed. There are still mutilated and bloody bodies pinned to the walls in D3 early on and I am sure we are going to see more grotesque stuff later in the game.

Maybe being 17 when Diablo 2 came out has something to do with it. That, and isometric games have never been able to disturb me like an atmospheric FPS. HL2 Ravenholm, i'm looking at you.

edit: nicely said Raide. I have a feeling that there will be a lot of events and little quests that we will come across that will add tons more flavor to the story than we have seen in previous Diablos.

[Thrakier]

I've never really gotten this, personally. I think D2 in particular is plenty colourful/clean. It comes from just having more outdoorsy areas, where D1 was all underground. Nothing I've seen in videos of D3 seems really out of place compared to the Blood Moore or the desert (which was BRIGHT YELLOW). The dark/dank atmosphere in D2 didn't really kick in until Act 3 to me. And that was one of the worst acts of D2 to me.

Hm, yeah, there are bright areas in D2, but overall, it FELT somewhat dark. It's hard do describe. Kinda claustrophoic, depressive. The desert in D2 probably like what Capcom tried to achieve with RE5 and wasn't able to.

Sure, there are a lots of things which come together to create such a feeling, but I don't get any of those feelings when looking at D3 beta videos. It's almost...charming. Like Torchlight, a bit Anime somewhat...

I really need to get in the beta to see for myself. :( If it feels just like Torchlight, there is no need to buy it, I'll just loose interest after a short time. Path of Exile kinda was nice (beta), but it had other problems and the camera perspecitve was horrible.

[TylerD]

Thakier: Thanks to the trial addition you should be able to test out Diablo 3 enough to decide whether it warrants a purchase.

I bought Torchlight shortly after the D3 beta started when I was really craving a great loot-based action RPG and played it maybe 10-12 hrs. Made it to game lvl 14 or 15 without spending a single skill point and got bored with it. Loved the music.

In contrast, I have played Diablo 3 beta from patch 5 more hours than any other game in the past several years and the game I have played most of all since I started at age 6 is definitely Diablo 2. I am not a super heavy gamer but just about everything about Diablo 3 feels really good to me and better than Torchlight. I may get Torchlight 2 to see how its multiplayer stacks up though.

[bdouble]

Thakier: Thanks to the trial addition you should be able to test out Diablo 3 enough to decide whether it warrants a purchase. I bought Torchlight shortly after the D3 beta started when I was really craving a great loot-based action RPG and played it maybe 10-12 hrs. Made it to game lvl 14 or 15 without spending a single skill point and got bored with it. Loved the music. In contrast, I have played Diablo 3 beta from patch 5 more hours than any other game in the past several years and the game I have played most of all since I started at age 6 is definitely Diablo 2. I am not a super heavy gamer but just about everything about Diablo 3 feels really good to me and better than Torchlight. I may get Torchlight 2 to see how its multiplayer stacks up though.

Are we really still comparing a $20 MSRP (probably bought at well below that by average customer) that was developed in less than a year to D3 which will retail $60 and arguable one of the biggest sequels to ever launch that has been in development for the better part of a decade?

[nacire]

Are we really still comparing a $20 MSRP (probably bought at well below that by average customer) that was developed in less than a year to D3 which will retail $60 and arguable one of the biggest sequels to ever launch that has been in development for the better part of a decade?

Well I think Thrakier was referring to aesthetics more than anything. In which case, I feel Diablo 3 while stylized and painterly isn't nearly as cartoony as Torchlight which is also stylized and painterly. While some of the environment structures tend to push that metric at times in Diablo 3, the characters and monsters stay very static in terms of stylized design. What I mean by that, is that at times some of the scaling of environment pieces can seem to skew their design just a bit more cartoony than the rest of the game in my opinion. The characters, from what I've seen though, seem to be pretty close to one another across the board.

Granted this is all taken from a very small section of the game and from the videos showcasing things that aren't in beta. Overall though, any disparity in stylization of the designs is so minute that it's a moot point. The game really does look and feel great and I can't wait for those in question to give it a spin to see what they think.

[Thrakier]

Thakier: Thanks to the trial addition you should be able to test out Diablo 3 enough to decide whether it warrants a purchase. I bought Torchlight shortly after the D3 beta started when I was really craving a great loot-based action RPG and played it maybe 10-12 hrs. Made it to game lvl 14 or 15 without spending a single skill point and got bored with it. Loved the music. In contrast, I have played Diablo 3 beta from patch 5 more hours than any other game in the past several years and the game I have played most of all since I started at age 6 is definitely Diablo 2. I am not a super heavy gamer but just about everything about Diablo 3 feels really good to me and better than Torchlight. I may get Torchlight 2 to see how its multiplayer stacks up though.

Thanks, sounds promising. I now saw a video which brought my hopes up, it looked a lot darker. What made it standout though was the real nice and kinda horrifying story told by the voice actor, additional infos for the quest...you know...stuff like "the unholy sanctuary" or whatever. Liked it, still I do think it looks WAY to clean and tidy. I'd love to have some rooms like the butcher room in D1 with all those humans impaled...woah that sounds creepy. ;D

[Helmholtz]

I'm a bit out of the loop... this is still closed beta, right?

[FrontalMonk]

yep.

[lordy88]

Hey guys, I didn't see if anyone knew the answer this question, so I figured I'd ask it again:

So, I was watching the 2008 reveal gameplay trailer again, and I was reminded of the 'tab switch skill' feature where you could press 'tab' on your keyboard and switch the skill designated to your right-mouse-click. I have not seen in this is beta and it saddens me. Spamming skills with right click is a LOT more fun (and accurate) than using them on the keyboard IMO. Have there been any mentions of it seeing the light of day come retail?

[TylerD]

Hey guys, I didn't see if anyone knew the answer this question, so I figured I'd ask it again:

I have not seen or heard anything of this.

[Hollywood Duo]

I'm HollywoodDuo#1401

[voady]

Ok what I'm searching for is hard to describe in one word or even one sentence but has there been anything created out there like a forecast of character development in Diablo 3 where you can look up the strengths and weaknesses of characters and best practice experiences of the skills and stats ?

Something like a guide...but more like a comparison guide for each class and there pros and cons ^^

[Raide]

Ok what I'm searching for is hard to describe in one word or even one sentence but has there been anything created out there like a forecast of character development in Diablo 3 where you can look up the strengths and weaknesses of characters and best practice experiences of the skills and stats ? Something like a guide...but more like a comparison guide for each class and there pros and cons ^^

Start with http://eu.battle.net/d3/en/calculator/barbarian

Each class will have Pros and Cons but they are based around your preference for Playstyle. Ranged or Melee. Spells or Weapons etc etc. Much of what you want won't really be know till people play the full version and start talking about best builds etc.

[voady]

Start with http://eu.battle.net/d3/en/calculator/barbarian Each class will have Pros and Cons but they are based around your preference for Playstyle. Ranged or Melee. Spells or Weapons etc etc. Much of what you want won't really be know till people play the full version and start talking about best builds etc.

thank you :)

[Horseress]

You can turn it on in the options.

Thanks dude, but....why the heck someone would prefer to hide the skills details??

[Yoshichan]

Thanks dude, but....why the heck someone would prefer to hide the skills details??

Casuals :( Lots, and lots of casuals will play Diablo 3!

[Raide]

Casuals :( Lots, and lots of casuals will play Diablo 3!

I will be casually punching things in the face, watching them explode and using their vital essences to heal stuff. Thats ok right?

[Horseress]

Casuals :( Lots, and lots of casuals will play Diablo 3!

Yea, but Blizzard thinks the skills damage is a detail, casuals will like to see the damage (I don't see why someone would prefer to hide that)

[FrontalMonk]

Hey guys, I didn't see if anyone knew the answer this question, so I figured I'd ask it again:

The tab functionality is gone, but there are only 6 skills now: left/right click and 1, 2, 3, 4.

[Yoshichan]

I will be casually punching things in the face, watching them explode and using their vital essences to heal stuff. Thats ok right?

:lol That's perfect fine.

Yea, but Blizzard thinks the skills damage is a detail, casuals will like to see the damage (I don't see why someone would prefer to hide that)

Casuals don't want to read numbers, they just want to click on things and win.