A Plethora Of Questions (and answers)

[mockery]

A user, who mysteriously didn't go by the name "El Guapo", posted a plethora of Diablo 3 questions. Bashiok was nice enough to respond to many of 'em and here's what he had to say:

Has anymore thought been put into Hardcore? Are any features decided-upon?

"I think the last thing I heard from Jay on it in public was something along the lines of "Ok fine we'll just commit to a hardcore mode here and now" outside of that no details have been released."

Has a definitive MP player-limit been set?

"No."

Should we be looking forward to a *major* informational update soon?

"Haha, you did my work for me. Yes, soon. :D"

Will regular enemies have spell abilities that can cause the loss of character control (fear, etc.)?

"I'm not aware of any, though there are some things that will hold your character in place. They're usually resolved through dealing damage though, so it's not like you actually lose control of your character. It's up to you how fast you regain movement control. Quite a few trap and monster abilities have yet to be designed though, so I wouldn't count anything out. In general I'm not sure full loss of character control fits into this game."

What is a work day in the life of Bashiok like?

"A serious answer would just depress everyone."

I've heard that you guys affectionately refer to Boyarsky as "Leonardo." Truth?

"I've called him Chef Boyarsky, but I don't think it caught on."

What is the approximate maximum number of summonable creatures for the Witch Doctor?

"You mean mongrels, or how many abilities does he have that summon creatures? Neither would be final so I guess it doesn't matter. :P"

Is gold truly on auto-pickup or was that just set in the gameplay movie?

"You only need walk over/near gold to pick it up."

Can we make other items auto-pickup?

"Not planned."

Can you reveal yet how Gold is being made more valuable?

"People will want more of it."

Will gold values show on ALT-hold?

"Yes."

Will the other D2 character classes be making appearances (a la Blood Raven & the Summoner)?

"Could be."

Are any notable sound effects making returns?

"Hrm, interesting question. I'm not sure. Probably not."

From the Blizzcast 8 screenshots, it looks like the action bar at the bottom has become a lot bigger. Is this so, or is it just the screenshots? I thought it looked pretty darn good in the reveal trailers.

"I hadn't noticed that. I'm not sure."

Will there be an option to hide the action bar?

"I would guess that there will be so you can take a screenshot without UI elements."

What is the purple glow on the Witch Doctor's sword in the gameplay trailer?

"Probably a +arcane damage stat."

If potions are so rare, what do belts do now? Do they add additional potion tab slots? Are they just another opportunity for item bonuses?

"Stats."

What is the icon to the top-right of the minimap in the gameplay trailers?

"Unless I'm mistaken, World Map."

[Gregz]

no old sounds ://

[darkie]

Well, mostly nothing new, just reassurances. I can barely wait for the new content reveal.

[sayaf]

I hope soon doesn't mean a reveal in Blizzcon or a new type of monster. We need a gameplay video. If starcraft get battle reports then I think we deserve something similar.

[Azylium]

I was waiting for someone to post this in the news I'm most excited about the answer "soon", as an answer to a question containing the words "major update"

Soon better be soon, as in "During the coming weeks", and not "Blizzard soon" (Which btw SO needs to qualify for the dictionary for being a unique way to say: When it's done).

[Dimebog]

Originally Posted by sayaf

I hope soon doesn't mean a reveal in Blizzcon or a new type of monster. We need a gameplay video. If starcraft get battle reports then I think we deserve something similar.

It's not about deserving gameplay videos. They said they don't have anymore areas in the game that are polished enough to be showed in a video, and that is why they keep showing that one dungeon. But everyone assumes that they are just selfish and want to keep everything else to themselves. Snap out of it, they don't have anything else for showing.

Besides, SC2 is basically a finished game (first Episode was practically wrapped up last year), they are just balancing it and waiting to release it.

EDIT: P.S. When bashiok said "soon", he was joking, because the user supposedly did the job for him so that he doesn't have to say "soon".

Soon: Copyright 2004-2009 Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. All rights reserved. "Soon" does not imply any particular date, time, decade, century, or millennia in the past, present, and certainly not the future. "Soon" shall make no contract or warranty between Blizzard Entertainment and the end user. "Soon" will arrive some day, Blizzard does guarantee that "soon" will be here before the end of time. Maybe. Do not make plans based on "soon" as Blizzard will not be liable for any misuse, use, or even casual glancing at "soon."[1]

[naksucow]

I can't wait for the new update! i hope soon means soon.

[Seth]

Not really anything new, but a recap, I guess, if nothing else.

[Blackwing]

Maybe we will feel better if they just keep repeating old news.

[exen88]

I like the sounds effects from D2. The sounds are unique and when you hear it on D3, it makes you feel at ease; reminding of all the hardships, including the long hours spent running around the dark dungeons of D2 and picking the those uniques, killing bovines and even the times when you helped out a noob... ohhhh, what a feel a sound can bring... the old days..