DiabloFans

Quote from "Rakanishu" »

Implementing a one-click viewing pane would require a replacement system for picking up items within ones inventory. The most logical solution one can come to would be the double mouse click, which one finds to be particularly inconvenient and deplorably unnecessary. The likeliest scenario thus would be one which follows that of the gameplay video, whereby important details of said items are viewed by the effortless hovering of ones mouse.

Perhaps the one disagreeable aspect of the video was the utilization of raster-based iconography for the item information pane. Although one would likely find that to be more of a placeholder system than the final system to be utilized, likely due to time constraints. Following the interview GC2008, one indeed finds soulful relief at the likewise discontented position of the developers themselves of this constituent element of the system. As welcome a development as one finds this revelation to be, one wonders whether to take their proposed solution of a greatly expanded item 'icon' an adequate solution to the issue at hand. One would be more in agreement should icons be left out of the hover pane entirely, with the replacement being that of actual items shown, but in a dimension akin to what one would expect of a modern variant of the Diablo2 tetris-based inventory system should such have been implemented initially. One would thus find that such a solution would not only go a long way towards satisfying a certain number of individuals disagreeing with the current system, but also provide existing fans an additional reason to celebrate the game. An example thus:...

I like the hovering mechanism but I had been thinking, for screen real estate reasons, that a single pane for a rather large icon would be better, although I do like how the multiple "popup" panes appear in the second picture. But I was hoping for even bigger icons.

Being able to see the statistics/properties of all equipped items at once would be convenient. it helps me to track down where I'm getting all my strength bonuses from and why my poison resistance is 90 and what will happen if I swap my belt, for example.

Whether raster or not I don't care but if animated that would be nice. A normal and superior shouldn't be animated but a unique with lightening enchant could have sound and visual movement - lightning bolts or pulsating white blue tinged glowing or whatever - I'm no artist. Something to really celebrate the fact that the item is rare and unique.

The screen must provide space for our character screen as well as the inventory screen. This is vital for seeing the effect of equipping certain items. Presently we have the screen divided evenly into two down the middle. I'd be very worried if that were to change - 50/50 is just right.

I write from the perspective of someone who abandoned battlenet. A most unsatisfying experience. So bad I don't know where to begin....

I'll limit myself to one topic here: trading.

The online system is too open to exploits and dupes.

For trading to be fair you must eradicate dupes.

Given the advances in computing power in the last ten years it should be possible to establish the uniqueness of an item. As a seasoned app systems designer and ER modeller I can see many ways of doing this. Whether it would affect game play and cause server stress I cannot say.

Preventing dupes in the first place is the number one priority for implementing a trading system that is fair at its foundations. No trading mechanism can compensate for dodgy gear.

Secondly, a fool proof means of swapping gear is required. Very easy to do, from my background at least.

Limit trades to swaps/bartering. Many to many, one to many, or one to one item. Seller posts item(s) for trade. This request stays live while the user is logged on. Connection drop or whatever = cancelled sale. At posting time the seller can enter a minimal description of what is sought. Keep it simple and short. Seller does not enter text to describe item(s) being sold. Let battlenet work that out.

Option to be notified in game that someone is wanting to buy. TP to town and enter the trade window. See the offer of the purchaser. Accept or decline. Both parties can see a full icon view of the item.

At this offer stage both sets of items are locked in escrow on battlenet. There can be no dodgy substitution.

If trade accepted by seller: battlenet does the swap. Confirms swap and flags trade as complete in the battlenet trade DB. If problems, backout trade when the user is next logged in, for example. An escrow system is very simple to do.

With these two enhancements: No dupes and guaranteed integrity of the swap then I'll return to battlenet.

At home we run multiple copies of D2. We dupe at home, I'll admit. If I had my time all over again I'd not support that. Duping should also be impossible for home TCP/IP users.

(My IT background says "unique keys" but generating this rapidly across all servers and saving and maintaining these centrally I can't say if it is feasible. Locally no problem as our CD key can seed the keys, etc although a security concern if using our CD key online?)

A third suggestion: When I trade I want to see rare items which are genuinely rare. Let's have some limits and make this gear uber good. Again you'll need a central DB of issued gear, with a guaranteed unique ID. Possible?

A fourth suggestion: Items only. No health/mana/full rejuves (it seems they must be cnsumed at pickup time in D3 - good) and no gold in bartering. Common stuff like that just creates a currency.

I want to HnS and immerse myself in the storyline and quests. Making gold rarer would minimise the possibility of players doing lucrative gold runs as gold hordes with gold as a currency will skew trading.

A fifth suggestion: The old and dodgy "droping an item" trading system. Just make it impossible. If a player wants to trade they MUST use the barter system. In game (in town) or out of game. Trades can be private if you like (i.e. not open to other barterers). If a player drops gear then it stays there until an NPC steals it, as happens now in D2.

This gets back to unique IDs for gear. A monster drops gear specifically for a player then it stays assigned to that player until such time as it is traded fairly.

If I drop gear in game then it can just stay invisible to other players.

Yes, that means I have to mule the gear myself but with the bag system developments I have seen, extra mule characters won't be necessary.

--------------

To Blizzard: I love what I have seen of D3 so far. Bring it on when you're good and ready. We'll be buying three copies.

From the recent interview with Jay Wilson here http://au.pc.ign.com/articles/900/900777p2.htmlit is very clear that the dev team are still trying to work out how to implement the inventory system. They will certainly not be moving back to the old Tetris style system of D2. They are trying to establish a way to show-off our hero's gear though, using nice big icons but have them only take up ONE square.

Here is one area we might be able to influence.

----------

My take is that having to juggle around the different sized icons in D2 was a hassle. It also meant making too many tough decisions and as such things like pikes (8 squares) were almost always sold whereas a nice wand (2 squares) would be kept.

The above interview mentioned the possibility of bags for different sized gear. Not sure about that. In D2 at present, my SP mules at home are organised by gear TYPE, so one mule for helms, one for amulets and rings, one for perfect gems, one for single handed blade weapons etc. Plus I also have mules for CLASS SPECIFIC gear, so my necro gear mule has anything only a necro would be bothered equipping.

In the light of this, I'd rather any bag system categorisation be up to the individual gamer.

And of course the size of icons to be small but easily enlarged with a mouse pass over or one click to reveal in a dedicated viewing pane without the need to close any popup windows before viewing the next item.

Blizzard have a standard look and feel to their three games now.

Like it or not, that is the situation.

No amount of complaining will change things.

Your only solution is to go elsewhere or (like me) silently get over it.

At least our heroes get to wear pants this time.

Quote from "Djinn_690" »

what bother's me just as much as the shoulder pad's is the exaggerated belt.
seriously... what the hell is up with that?

LOL, its inspiration was WWE. The Barbarian now also performs moonsaults off walls and the Witch Doctor does a nice Sweet Chin Music.

Lovely. You're brilliant. As of now it's been added as one of my very select group of rotating wallpapers.

Please more!

I think AI will be dumbed down for Normal mode in D3 but more intelligent in Nightmare mode than in D2. Thus a wider market catered for while HC players (if we can handle the mindless grind of Normal) will drool over Nightmare.

I'm ready to drool.

I'm surprised that this thread hasn't degenerated into trolling. Thank you everyone. Makes my stay in these parts more worthwhile. I had expected to post a one line "STFU" type post, but didn't!

With the next Blizzard event coming up very soon I suspect we'll have something new to troll about soon.

Think of Deckard's background in the official lore. He could live to be very old. Wrinkled and decrepit yes, but still of some use. In WoD he will be a much laughed at demented old man - the town's very own resident eccentric - every town has one... But we, the players, are of course "in the know" and realise that the carzy ramblings about monsters and hidden stashes of uber gear and such is worth staying a while and listening.

WoW expansion knows for quite some time. SC2 also announced. Then along comes D3. Whamo! Speaks for itself.

I never do PvP but my little son convinced me to try it out with his "new" barb against my nightmare sorceress who was helping him out in normal in the Cold Plains. So we went hostile and away we went. He was so young he could barely read, let alone comprehend the storyline.

But he'd sussed things out beautifully. On a spare computer he'd picked the best gear off our extensive range of mules. He must of done his homework too because he had actually levelled up a lot behind my back and had allocated his skill points beautifully.

The little shit. He was dancing up and down and celebrating pwning me.

I always have some points in golem, no matter what my build. A tank to distract, even for a short time, is necessary when in areas where you can be swarmed from all directions, like the Frozen Tundra.

Bone spear or spirit early on. Tough. Max both eventually. If you don't have a decent tank then you won't have the time or patience to line yourself up with the monsters for the spear to be useful (piercing attack which goes through multiple enemies for any noob reading this). Spear is less useful in SP for me. in MP then I have the luxury of being able to position myself better for spear.

Bone wall etc. I find that in normal/nightmare if I'm relying upon bone wall to stop a horde coming at me then it means I'm not doing enough damage quick enough. I.e. a build problem. In hell it is useful so I only put points in when I get to hell.

Just about eveyone uses an Act2 or Act5 merc. Me too. I prefer an Act5 with my best armour, sword and barb helm. So that's your tank and its useful. Why not TWO tanks? So get yourself a golem!

Quote from "akse" »

This guy bug rushed.. leeched and what not? why not just bot to 99 like most of the lamers that do these.. a lot easier and don't have to worry about weeks of playing since you already skipped most of the game content and play.

LOL. No need for a storyline at all. Who the hell is Deckard anyway?

I still examine each pick up on its merits and whether a particular class of hero of mine might have a use for it now or later or whether the item might be useful for a younger hero.

The rough benchmark for me is that gold is better than yellow and green is worth a look.

Consulting the Arreat Summit database is a drag - interrupts game play. I can't remember everything so we just judge an item at the time. That means some golds are thrown away. I recall selling a Manald Heal because we just couldn't justify wearing it. We preferred a +1 skills instead.

Bots. Tor or email servers. There's more than one way top fool that petition site. I read an article once about it but I'd have to google for it. Perhaps someone knows the one I mean.

Nice stuff cowking. But you just have to add the latest: "Nobody ever listens any more." Get it from a gameplay vid for D3.