DiabloFans

They have good reason to cut down the number of players, but I think 4 is to few. I think they should have gone with 5-6

Of course Blizzard cares about profits, it's why they make games. And it's not like you aren't getting your monies worth, as each campaign will be larger then the original game.
The only thing that is slightly strange is that they said they would add new multiplayer components in the different releases. If they are, they should have the new bits available as free downloads if you don't want to buy the new campaigns.

The hotbar is only to select skills. The combat will probably remain what it was in Diablo 2.

Quote from "Felthuzad_The_Unclean" »

This is a big negative, and represents another exception to the "If it ain't broke..." rule.

It also shows that this title is more geared to being a big exercise in creating "I.P." for future subscription games than in just being a true sequel to the series.

When you start in the Rogue Encampment, the fact that you could be facing any one of four directions adds a ton to the replayability of the game. Even though the exterior randomness isn't always well done and is always somewhat predictable (and is occasionally just bad, like in the Act 3 jungle), the fact that features of the game like Bloodraven, the Cairn stones, the Tree of Inifuss, etc, are placed somewhat randomly is a big part of the flavor of the experience.

This is a much worse example of WoW-ification than the shoulder pads and rainbows, IMO.

They are expanding the IP, but i don't see how that has anything to do with a subscription platform. Widening the universe only improves the game, and Wilson says they decide the payment model after the game is done, and decide what works best.

And in D2 the randomness was pretty much always terrible. So many areas were so bland and boring, just a random maze of fence. And having the major monuments move around randomly takes away a lot, especiialy from the believability. Landmarks don't just move.
The map-hack in D2 was so widespread because it's exactly what people didn't want; to have to be endlessly wandering around to find a place you've already been.

The new system is a huge improvement. You have essentially static outdoors, creating a much more believable, and better looking, world. And then you have random adventures, which is a much better random element. Instead of just figuring out which way to run, you actually have mini-quests.

And I don't see how having a rainbow is "wowification". I'd call it adding realism and contrast.

You have no idea how pvp will work. You can't just say "can't go hostile, so its gay". Wilson says "We don't have any specific plans yet because we haven't really made any active decisions." The pvp in D2 was complete crap, so making a dedicated pvp mode can only make it better.

I'm glad that there will be four entirely new classes. If I want to play with a necromancer or paladin, I can just play D2. I am excited to see how they improve the barbarian. It seemed like he had a lot of useless skills in the last game.

I wonder if and how they'll incorporate the old classes as NPCs. I think it would be cool if you could hire them as mercenaries.

I think the slots with a weighting system would be best. But instead of being like fallout, and not being able to move when overloaded, you would just drain stamina faster depending on how much extra weight you carried. And when you increase your strength, you can carry more. That way you can't carry a ridiculous load of items, but you aren't as limited as the tetris style.