love love love the fact he took the time to try a pet-less build of witch doctor and confirm its viability. ive never been a big fan of pet-using classes in rpg's. if the WD can be a grim-reaper without pets ill be very happy on release day :-)
It was nice to see the 'hard edges' become much softer and pleasing to the eye on high settings.
I have the same cpu as you, but far more ram, and an edge video card wise. Its good to know that I should be able to play on high settings with little problem :-)
Have you played with fraps displaying framerates to gauge an idea of where your FPS is on each setting? Have you noticed if the game is using all 4 cores our CPU has? How much of your memory remains free in each setting?
Thanks endlessly if you have the time to respond to any of these questions :-)
The only positive thing I can imagine guilds/clans in D3 would add, thats not already coming @ retail, would be the fact I get to see less people in chat with annoying stuff in their names.
"{*s*p*DONUT*a*m*}Doug has entered the game" is retarded
I have many D2 keys from over the years and multiple Bnet accounts as well. I basically have four different accounts, two with my current system specs, one with my laptop and one with my moms' desktop. I was just wondering if Blizzard can see this and would be like "HAY! U NOT FAIR! GTFO!"
My understanding is that not only is this accepted and allowed, but substantially one of the best ways to get into a beta (or give yourself the best chance of doing so) at the moment.
Blizzard could easily fix this, by making each game title you own, count as a single entry into beta draws. This would give their customers who purchase more of their games, a better chance.
As it stands now, the most effective approach is to spread your games out, across as many bnet accounts as possible, as each account gets you a single entry.
I once suggested this change in approach on their forums, and was rapidly trolled for it.
I really like the current approach. Placing restrictions and limits on how I play a game is annoying.
I know some people like everything in an RPG to be a huge pain in the ass. Thats fine, play the game you like. If you feel like its cheap to beat content by switching skills, then don't. It's your character and you can play him however you like. Hell for all I care play the entire game without runes, gear, or a keyboard. Don't respec, and if you die, delete your account and buy a new copy of the game before you let yourself restart. Cmon, you want it to be hard right? Grow a pair and make it HARD. While your at it, refuse to play without a blindfold on. Have your friend or family member try to guide you where to go. Make sure he occasionally lies to you, so you spend hours shooting fireballs at a wall. You wanted a challenge right? Better just cut off your hands, and play with the stubs. CMON MAN YOU WANTED A CHALLENGE RIGHT?
But seriously... I like fun, approachable, non-punishing games. The currently suggested system where a player can make quick, easy changes, to adapt to whatever situation there in appeals to me. Why? Because the real world has a lot of challenges to it already.
I had been willing to put money down that character creation would include some skin/hair variations, because it would be easy with Blizzard's ridiculous resources and the incredibly lightweight graphics and why not. Glad that I didn't.
Im always in support of more customization and option with character creation, but damn, ive never seen one of those character creation screens that got super detailed, that actually allowed me to make a character look quite right
Aren't there only slots for three passive abilities not four? or are you just going to select 3 of those 4?
Good catch dude :-) Apparently in the middle of the night, I try to get more then I am allowed :-)
In that case I would imagine I'd have to drop one of my DPS boosts, likely Rituals or Superior Skill, depending on which comes out ahead. I have a feeling Superior Skill might edge out a bit ahead, but beacuse it has 100% uptime, whereas Rituals is subject to your HP at any given moment. Won't know for sure until we see the game though
Im cool with these small shields looking like this, as long as larger shields are held the traditional way/midevil way :-)
A Tower Sheild will not resist enemy attack, and will most certainly flip over, if you didnt have a firm grasp on the inside, and likely even if you didnt dig it into the ground a wee bit.
Using the Active/Passive skill lists, below is what I think I would try at the start, assuming things stay mostly the same and skills in the preview videos are more or less the same :-)
Active Skills Wall of Zombies - Requires Level: 27 - Zombies erupt from the earth and attack nearby enemies. (For an AOE snare/slow/melee-range dmg) Grasp of the Dead - Requires Level: 3 - Hands reach out, slowing enemies and dealing damage per second for X seconds. (Another slow for staying at range if zombiewall is on CD, too expensive, already out, etc etc) Firebomb - Requires Level: 11 - Lob an explosive skull that deals Fire damage to all enemies caught in the explosion. (Core Nuke Ability) Soul Harvest - Requires Level: 14 - Feed on the life force of nearby enemies. Increases spell damage for X seconds for every nearby enemy. (For the SP Buff, and providing another option for when things go wrong, and mobs are in your melee range) Locust Swarm - Requires Level: 19 - A plague of locusts assaults the Witch Doctor's enemies, dealing damage per second and jumping to additional nearby targets. (AOE DOT, good option for when you need to do some damage but have to start moving away) Spirit Barrage - Requires Level: 21 - A multitude of spirit bolts bombard enemies in the targeted area, dealing Arcane damage. (Already have fire dmg/and disease dmg in the build, this provides a third school (arcane) to help with resistances)(Could likely also switch easily to Acid Cloud if you prefer poison to arcane, or just like the graphic more :P)
Passive Abilites: Aggression - Requires Level: 12 - Increases attack by 20%. (20% bonus attack sounds HUGE) Superior Skill - Requires Level: 12 - Increases precision by 20% (Increased Crit chance, solid increase to overall damage, although probably behind Aggression in terms of total value) Spirit Vessel - Requires Level: 6 - Health Globes provide 10% of maximum Mana when picked up. (For a way to get mana back on a regular basis, and giving Health globes added value)
I REALLY feel like with the build above, you could go a lot of different ways with the 6th active skill. Like I mentioned you could easily switch to Acid Cloud if you want a different type of damaging ability, or, if you are doing PVP you might want to pick up another CC to help harass opponents. Hell you could even pick up a pet just to use as a quick distraction/dmg ability, and since you have locust swarm in the build you can empower that pet if wanted.
The 3rd passive skill I think could also go a number of different ways. Don't want to bother with health globes at all? Pick up Mana Regeneration (level 3, 2% mana regen every second). You could also switch out Superior Skill, and take Rituals if it turns out to be stronger for your playstyle. Rituals of Blood and Mind and Body could also be used instead of Superior Skill/Spirit Vessel, causing you to lose the 20% precision buff, but gain significant regen both from mana savings upfront on spell cost, and the 20% hp regen which is basically just another mana pool).
God im going to love this game :-) So many options! What would you guys roll with for a Pet-Free build?
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From watching livestreams of people playing where they have crafted items...
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The mods here are active and strive to prevent that. I don't even have the official site bookmarked, this page is on my browser's "speed dial".
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I have the same cpu as you, but far more ram, and an edge video card wise. Its good to know that I should be able to play on high settings with little problem :-)
Have you played with fraps displaying framerates to gauge an idea of where your FPS is on each setting? Have you noticed if the game is using all 4 cores our CPU has? How much of your memory remains free in each setting?
Thanks endlessly if you have the time to respond to any of these questions :-)
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"{*s*p*DONUT*a*m*}Doug has entered the game" is retarded
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My understanding is that not only is this accepted and allowed, but substantially one of the best ways to get into a beta (or give yourself the best chance of doing so) at the moment.
Blizzard could easily fix this, by making each game title you own, count as a single entry into beta draws. This would give their customers who purchase more of their games, a better chance.
As it stands now, the most effective approach is to spread your games out, across as many bnet accounts as possible, as each account gets you a single entry.
I once suggested this change in approach on their forums, and was rapidly trolled for it.
0
I know some people like everything in an RPG to be a huge pain in the ass. Thats fine, play the game you like. If you feel like its cheap to beat content by switching skills, then don't. It's your character and you can play him however you like. Hell for all I care play the entire game without runes, gear, or a keyboard. Don't respec, and if you die, delete your account and buy a new copy of the game before you let yourself restart. Cmon, you want it to be hard right? Grow a pair and make it HARD. While your at it, refuse to play without a blindfold on. Have your friend or family member try to guide you where to go. Make sure he occasionally lies to you, so you spend hours shooting fireballs at a wall. You wanted a challenge right? Better just cut off your hands, and play with the stubs. CMON MAN YOU WANTED A CHALLENGE RIGHT?
But seriously... I like fun, approachable, non-punishing games. The currently suggested system where a player can make quick, easy changes, to adapt to whatever situation there in appeals to me. Why? Because the real world has a lot of challenges to it already.
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Im always in support of more customization and option with character creation, but damn, ive never seen one of those character creation screens that got super detailed, that actually allowed me to make a character look quite right
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Melee dual-wielding 1 handers has always looked pretty badass with 2 swords :-) But a good sharp axe or heavy hammer can be pretty rockin' as well :-)
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The Arcane power is amazing too, and damn near tied :-)
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Good catch dude :-) Apparently in the middle of the night, I try to get more then I am allowed :-)
In that case I would imagine I'd have to drop one of my DPS boosts, likely Rituals or Superior Skill, depending on which comes out ahead. I have a feeling Superior Skill might edge out a bit ahead, but beacuse it has 100% uptime, whereas Rituals is subject to your HP at any given moment. Won't know for sure until we see the game though
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A Tower Sheild will not resist enemy attack, and will most certainly flip over, if you didnt have a firm grasp on the inside, and likely even if you didnt dig it into the ground a wee bit.
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Active Skills
Wall of Zombies - Requires Level: 27 - Zombies erupt from the earth and attack nearby enemies. (For an AOE snare/slow/melee-range dmg)
Grasp of the Dead - Requires Level: 3 - Hands reach out, slowing enemies and dealing damage per second for X seconds. (Another slow for staying at range if zombiewall is on CD, too expensive, already out, etc etc)
Firebomb - Requires Level: 11 - Lob an explosive skull that deals Fire damage to all enemies caught in the explosion. (Core Nuke Ability)
Soul Harvest - Requires Level: 14 - Feed on the life force of nearby enemies. Increases spell damage for X seconds for every nearby enemy. (For the SP Buff, and providing another option for when things go wrong, and mobs are in your melee range)
Locust Swarm - Requires Level: 19 - A plague of locusts assaults the Witch Doctor's enemies, dealing damage per second and jumping to additional nearby targets. (AOE DOT, good option for when you need to do some damage but have to start moving away)
Spirit Barrage - Requires Level: 21 - A multitude of spirit bolts bombard enemies in the targeted area, dealing Arcane damage. (Already have fire dmg/and disease dmg in the build, this provides a third school (arcane) to help with resistances) (Could likely also switch easily to Acid Cloud if you prefer poison to arcane, or just like the graphic more :P)
Passive Abilites:
Aggression - Requires Level: 12 - Increases attack by 20%. (20% bonus attack sounds HUGE)
Superior Skill - Requires Level: 12 - Increases precision by 20% (Increased Crit chance, solid increase to overall damage, although probably behind Aggression in terms of total value)
Spirit Vessel - Requires Level: 6 - Health Globes provide 10% of maximum Mana when picked up. (For a way to get mana back on a regular basis, and giving Health globes added value)
I REALLY feel like with the build above, you could go a lot of different ways with the 6th active skill. Like I mentioned you could easily switch to Acid Cloud if you want a different type of damaging ability, or, if you are doing PVP you might want to pick up another CC to help harass opponents. Hell you could even pick up a pet just to use as a quick distraction/dmg ability, and since you have locust swarm in the build you can empower that pet if wanted.
The 3rd passive skill I think could also go a number of different ways. Don't want to bother with health globes at all? Pick up Mana Regeneration (level 3, 2% mana regen every second). You could also switch out Superior Skill, and take Rituals if it turns out to be stronger for your playstyle. Rituals of Blood and Mind and Body could also be used instead of Superior Skill/Spirit Vessel, causing you to lose the 20% precision buff, but gain significant regen both from mana savings upfront on spell cost, and the 20% hp regen which is basically just another mana pool).
God im going to love this game :-) So many options! What would you guys roll with for a Pet-Free build?