Crit-Path Encounter Scaling - Do you want it?

[Namutree]

Well I am glad TrueNuetral and Sharp One get it at least.

 

Scaling can be done very effectively and work well, if effort is made to implement it the right way.

 

Meanwhile Stun hate to bust it to you but again, this is still a non issue as they confirmed a long long time ago the "crit path" of the game definitely scales.  The optional areas however do not.  So there will be plenty of places you can go faceroll to your hearts content since that seems to be what you consider "fun".

 

I agree that the final battle should be able to be beaten doing only the crit-path. I just think it should be harder by a reasonable margin. If I had to guess... I'd say 30% harder. Also, while its true that encounter scaling and level scaling aren't the same; they have a similar effect. I get higher level, but make no progress. As for gamers who only play for story; play an interactive story game like Heavy Rain instead. This is not a visual novel game; it's an rpg. Rpgs are about doing quests and leveling up to become stronger. If you choose to ignore this feature you should be punished. Not all games are for everyone. I haven't gotten a proper rpg in a long time, and I don't want the mechanics to be downplayed so some one who doesn't like the gameplay can ignore most of it without consequence.

 

This is the most full of crap thing I have read all day.  ROLE playing game man, ROLE.  There are tons of people who play RPG's for the story, in fact I would be willing to bet there is markedly more of them than you and your munchkin ilk who would be better off in Diablo whether you want to play it or not. 

 

Meanwhile as I said before if there is not enough content to prepare you to reasonably beat the main story without it being a bend over and take it/pray to get lucky scenario then the Dev's failed at game design 101.  Optional content is not optional if you have to do it or beating the game is near impossible, and 30% harder is a freaking lot harder.  What you and Stun don't seem to "get" is that scaling is less for people who play crit path only as it is easy to design under the concept that all required content will be played and all optional skipped.  Scaling is for you people who want to twink everything so you can get to the last boss and he isn't a total joke and a let down.

Is 30% harder is a lot harder? Maybe, but nothing a good player couldn't handle. Josh already said the standard game will be as tough as BG2. Even if the boss were 60% harder it would be beatable for a skilled player. I also don't know why people who only play for the story are playing on hard. If they want to ignore the mechanics and only role-play; fine. No skin off my back. They can put it on normal or easy depending on their ability and ignore all the exploration and quests without worry. So why can't I have a mode where extra content like exploration and quests are actually rewarded. Also, Diablo is not the only RPG where leveling actually matters; in almost all rpgs leveling matters, and the ones where it doesn't are crap.

 

If you are worried about the final boss being a total joke on hard mode; Obsidian should balance the battle around a fully prepared party, and not scale it down. Problem solved.

 

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Random thought:

 

Having enemy attack-damage/HP bloat as a way of level-scaling does indeed burst the 'I've gained in power' bubble,

but defeating a lich instead of a skeleton actually 'strokes' that bubble,

 

so if scaling is to be in, I'd prefer the encounter-scaling 'different enemy makeup' style (and no, I don't mean enemies wearing rouge   )

That's certainly the lesser of two evils.

Edited June 13, 2014 by TrueNeutral
double post