Diablo 3 - Reaper of Souls - new expansion

[Gfted1]

Playing hardcore character was being totally dependent on AH. It really wasn't fun.

I still cant fathom how you pulled off that hardcore run with a mage. :mindblown:

[Malcador]

Well, it entertained the hell out of me and my co-op friends so I'm definitely getting this.

Pretty much the case for me, as well. Ah well, I permit myself two bad purchases a year

[IndiraLightfoot]

D3 certainly is entertaining, no doubt about it. It's like an intense arcade (think good old Gauntlet), where the item drops are everything. It also appeals to my inner searcher and hoarder.

 

I played my first character, a WD, using only in-game drops up till Inferno, but got stuck in Inferno zone 2. The first two patches the WDs were weak. Well, I got tired of that and made two parallel characters, one monk and one WW barbarian, and then I bought and sold heavily on the AH. Guess which one reached the end of Act IV of Inferno first?

 

The main thing that made me stop was the endless repetition. Monster levels and paragon levels weren't enough to keep me hooked. And my gear got decent enough too late, so it was nearly impossible to get it any better without resorting to millions in that AH.

I need new content and a new hunt for new gear to revive D3, so this expansion is most welcome in that regard.

 

Multiplayer with strangers were often a nightmare, sadly. And I recall how my monk got stuck on that oozing fatso in mid-Act III in inferno at some point, and then I needed someone's help to pass that hump. Luckily, there was someone that did it without demanding like a million from me. Well, a few days later, the oozing fatso was nerfed anyway.

[LadyCrimson]

 And I recall how my monk got stuck on that oozing fatso in mid-Act III in inferno at some point,

I think that's where I stopped in Inferno with my Monk too. That was a little after the patch that introduced Paragon levels. I hear they made it even easier since, to the point where friends thought it was too easy.

 

One of the biggest failures imo was that the whole item/loot drop aspect was extremely boring to me (unlike in D1 or D2). Which is deadly in a loot-based game. D3 is fun to level up for the first few toons but then it just...lacked whatever it is that keeps you playing, replaying, or starting over and over. Titan Quest was more interesting in that regard than D3. And I couldn't see how they could improve it without altering some root mechanics a lot.

 

But I can understand its appeal to some...they just moved away from what some of us think made the first games have the longevity they did.

[IndiraLightfoot]

Well said! And I adore Titan Quest. I still play it from time to time, as I've always had a soft spot for the myths in Antiquity.

 

As a side note: In what other context than gaming can we have a discussion including the words "oozing fatso" without nobody even flinching?

[Guest Slinky]

s a side note: In what other context than gaming can we have a discussion including the words "oozing fatso" without nobody even flinching?

Politics? Porn? Politic porn?

[Malcador]

[IndiraLightfoot]

Thanks for the video, Malc! Those changes certainly got my attention. I'm starting to look forward to this xp, I reckon.

[LadyCrimson]

"loot runs" - haha. So first they wanted to get people away from "boss runs" via better drops from regular/special "mobs" and now they create special "loot run" dungeons. haha. The irony?

 

items - ehh. Better, but their attribute concepts still sound...not very interesting. Being able to gamble for altering certain stats on a specific item would be useful tho, I suppose.

[LadyCrimson]

...to sound more positive - if my friends (who I've been Diablo-ing with/about for over a decade and really trust their Diablo opinions) get it and tell me it's worth trying/feels more like "Diablo", I may try it.

[IndiraLightfoot]

A list of confirmed Reaper of Souls info, from Brugs - EU battlenet (contains *SPOILERS*):

 

- Core System Changes is FREE in a patch before expansion - confirmed by Blizzard.
That is loot 2.0, paragon 2.0, Nephalim Trials & Loot Runs
- Armor renamed to Toughness (probably resist + armor combine)

NEW Level cap 70!
- So every class gets more skills, runes. (expansion exclusive only)

Paragon 2.0
- No paragon level caps
- Account wide paragon points
- All existing paragon experience for each account will be consolidated and paragon points will be given
- Paragon points can be spent on customising stats screenshot
- So far, 4 stats identified: Core, Attack, Defence, Utility
- Each attribute has up to 50 points, and spending 1 pt, e.g. gives u 5 STR or 3 MF, 1% movement etc
-Points/stats can be reset, meaning u can reset your allocation and reassign to another stat or character
Link: http://images.scribblelive.com/2013/8/21/7ddbf428-4dfd-4c06-a2be-34a561879134_800.jpg

NEW Crusader class (expansion exclusive only)
- Mid-range melee character
- Similar to D2 paladin

Crusader Skills
- Resource System: Wrath
- Skill Categories: Primary, Secondary, Defensive, Utility, Laws, Conviction
- Active Skills: Sweep Attack, Shield Glare, Judgement, Laws of Justice, Heaven's Fury, Consecration, Shield Bash, Fist of the Heavens, Blessed Shield, Blessed Hammer
Secondary Active Skills: Shield Bash, Fist of the Heavens, Sweep Attack, Blessed Shield, Blessed Hammer, Fist of the Heavens Skill Runes: Tempest of the Heavens, Well of Retribution, Lightning Rod, Reverberation]
- Passive Skills: Indestructible, Wrathful, Wrecking Ball, Against All Odds, Finery, Heavenly Strength, Holy Cause, Vigilant, Long, Arm of the Law, Stand Your Ground

NEW Act V (expansion exclusive only)
- Pandemonium Fortress.
- Not much known but it will be darker, random dungeons etc.
Areas:
- Westmarch
- Transitions between internal and external places is more seamless
- Zakarum Cathedral
- Death Maiden lies in there
- Darker expansion
- The Wolf Gate
- Random Dungeons, Monster Spawns & New Quests

Loot 2.0
- Loot drop less, but much more useful
- Smart drops, every time a loot is dropped it has chance to have increased stats
- Comparing original D3 and the expansion - in Act 3 you'd find 256 common, 399 blue, 275 yellow and one legendary.
- In Reaper of Souls, it could be 73 white items, 266 blues and 83 yellow items - but there's more chance they'll be smart drops. + 6 LEGENDARIES
- Loot Runs are 15-20 minutes dungeons that are completely randomized.
- Legendaries has special abilities for class skills:
Wizard's legendary wand now has a greater chance of summoning Hydras
- New Gem Diamond (Resist?)
Link: http://s14.directupload.net/images/130821/dzop83qu.jpg

New monsters
- Seraph
- Summoner of Death
- Executioner
- Death Maiden

New Artisan: (expansion exclusive only)
- Can transmogrify your items or enchant
- Reroll an affix in a rare of legendary item

New Story:
- Sodding the black soulstone
- Maltheal, the Angel of Death is a sod
- Matheal is back in eternal conflict
- Matheal can turn dead against loved ones
- You can see Malthael's look he is miserable
- He can drain soul and is death incarnate
- He has angel wings
- New Monsters are involved too, seraph, deamon?
- Summoner of dead? the Executioner', hulking beast, Death Maide
- Main prime evil?
 

[Gfted1]

:drool:

[Majek]

Like with D3 i'll just watch the cutscenes on youtube. I don't think i'll ever play it, even if i get it for free with gifted uber items.

[Blarghagh]

New Story:

- Sodding the black soulstone

- Maltheal, the Angel of Death is a sod

- Matheal is back in eternal conflict

- Matheal can turn dead against loved ones

- You can see Malthael's look he is miserable

- He can drain soul and is death incarnate

- He has angel wings

- New Monsters are involved too, seraph, deamon?

- Summoner of dead? the Executioner', hulking beast, Death Maide

- Main prime evil?

 

Malthael was formerly the Archangel of Wisdom, but he went missing and has now reappeared as the Angel of Death. Many people expect Imperius the Archangel of Valor to go through a similar transformation and end up as the Angel of Wrath, as hinted during the Diablo III: Wrath animation.

[Monte Carlo]

I'm getting it. I've been playing a lot of D3 recently, am also looking forward to the PS4 version next year. Switched to the European server thought (damn latency issues) so have had to start again. * grumbles *

 

I finished D2 and the XP with a paladin so am looking forward to the crusader.

[IndiraLightfoot]

It has been ages since I loaded up D3, but this anticipation of ROS forced my arm, and it wasn't to bad at all. Perhaps the two greatest strengths is its great place and flow - all that is so very polished. Also, item hunting never gets old. I added a monster level to my favourite toon, my monk, and literally the game got even more crammed with hellish minions trying to rip my heart out. I imagine that getting a few more paragon levels can't hurt before ROS turns them into paragon points that you get to invest in your character.

[MrBrown]

Damn, the drop rates in the console version are really high. I just finished playing through normal, got about 20 legendaries, and two legendary plans. I wonder if these are the same rates they're planning to add to the PC version.

[mrmud]

Damn, the drop rates in the console version are really high. I just finished playing through normal, got about 20 legendaries, and two legendary plans. I wonder if these are the same rates they're planning to add to the PC version.

Unlikely, the console has no AH so they can keep the droprate higher on the consoles.

 

Obviously this sucks a bit for those of us playing self found.

[mrmud]

 

Playing hardcore character was being totally dependent on AH. It really wasn't fun. 

 

This is completely 100% not true at all.

That you need to use the AH to play D3 is a myth and this includes hardcore.

I have been playing self found hardcore since the first week of Diablo 3 (admittedly with a pretty big break inbetween now and then) and I have 4 living lvl 60s (barb, monk, wiz and dh). Most of them leveled to 60 in patches long gone when the game was significantly harder than it is now.

My main is a paragon level 22 (most of the time was spent playing before paragon levels were introduced) barb that I play in mlvl 2.

 

Looking at my gear its pretty bad by normal standards but it really goes to show that the AH is not a neccessity to play the game.

http://www.diablo3ladders.com/battletag/brissa-1588

[LadyCrimson]

The question is, are they good legendaries?

By plans, do you mean the crafting? I didn't know they had legendary for that. Last I played I think they were yellow/rare colored. Are you sure they were Legendaries, or did you mean Rares?

 

...but yeah, I'd kinda doubt the PC version would go that high for the gold Uniques. If that sort of console drop rate is average (vs. you just being really really lucky), that's a lot higher than even D2 ever was.

[mrmud]

The question is, are they good legendaries?

By plans, do you mean the crafting? I didn't know they had legendary for that. Last I played I think they were yellow/rare colored. Are you sure they were Legendaries, or did you mean Rares?

 

...but yeah, I'd kinda doubt the PC version would go that high for the gold Uniques. If that sort of console drop rate is average (vs. you just being really really lucky), that's a lot higher than even D2 ever was.

There are plans for crafting low level legendaries.

Its mostly useless and you dont tend to see them often because most people dont level more than 1 character to 60

[LadyCrimson]

Ah. Makes sense.

 

Has the Legendary drop rate truly improved significantly on the PC version since release? I know they say it has, but in action how noticeable is it? I had all kinds of toons (most up to at least lvl 40) way back then and I farmed/grinded with a 60 a fair bit and only had maybe 6-8 drop over 2-3 months and all those chrs.

[Gfted1]

...and two legendary plans.

Wait, what is this. The console version allows crafting? Are there a bunch of mats that now drop or can be found in chests?

[mrmud]

Ah. Makes sense.

 

Has the Legendary drop rate truly improved significantly on the PC version since release? I know they say it has, but in action how noticeable is it? I had all kinds of toons (most up to at least lvl 40) way back then and I farmed/grinded with a 60 a fair bit and only had maybe 6-8 drop over 2-3 months and all those chrs.

I played over 100 hours in inferno before the patch where they started changing drop rates and had 0 lvl 60+ legendary drops.

Picking it up again a few days ago I have found 10 or more in less than 10 hours of play.

Part of it is an overall increase in legendary drop rate but it is also that they have made grouping better with improved magic find from more party members.

[GhostofAnakin]

Damn, the drop rates in the console version are really high. I just finished playing through normal, got about 20 legendaries, and two legendary plans. I wonder if these are the same rates they're planning to add to the PC version.

 

I've stumbled upon a plan for a legendary bow and a legendary shield.  I've yet to use the plans though, so I don't know how the created items would compare to my current gear.