"Systems like this are usually a bit too easy to game. That is, once a player figures out how to increase the stat they want through the least amount of effort, they'll do it.
It can also keep you from changing up the way you play easily. We want to allow some amount of freedom in changing up how you play a single character. If I've played my Wizard as a long-range glass cannon the entire game, and then get an amazing end-all item drop that makes me want to switch it up and go as more vitality-heavy battle style Wizard, I'd probably have to reroll. Whereas with our current systems it's just a matter of building up an item base that supports it.
In addition to all that, it isn't a system which is very user friendly. It's somewhat difficult to explain to the player exactly how those systems work. Not too many people are going to go through the entire game not caring and just playing how they want to play, they want to know exactly how to raise the stats they want, and it would be difficult to display or show how you're progressing outside of getting a point added. Then you're wondering "how exactly did that point get there and what do I need to do to get another one?"
Not everyone is into strict min-maxing, but almost everyone wants to know how to make a powerful character.
I think keeping some systems nebulous and somewhat unexplained to the player is fine, but something such as stat points, a core progression and "power" system, it should be as straight forward as possible. Especially where fast paced action - not toiling over hidden math and requirements - is the game.
With auto-stats you lose a small amount of customization, true, but gain a lot of freedoms in adding more - and more interesting - customization through other means.
Worm Cans Initialized."
and i wouldn't worry about minimal gear customization like in D2. I'm sure there's a meaning to blizz's madness they probly have tons of gear options.
ALSO with an auto-stat system, it will give players a chance to show off skill with unique builds.
Because looking back at D2, there was always 2 or 3 popular builds per class where everyone would have the same stats and same gear. EX: Hammerdins- Shako-2soj-hoto...etc...
with the auto-stats players are sort of forced to be unique of everyone else. With tons more items and less focus on the stats, there will probly be a lot more than just 2 or 3 good builds per class.
My 2cents
Awesome job of summing this problem up and how good of an idea it actually is; maybe if people keep quoting you someone here will read it and the thread will die...a quick, terrible death
And its not just about loosing customization its about tradition (D1 and D2 had manual stats) and with manual stats intelligent players can make better builds (specially for pvp).
Thats is the only favorable point in auto stats IMO but makes me ask a question: If D3' will have skill respec why don't they add stats respec too? I know that many people don't like respec system (i don't) but I prefer that than loosing stat points customization.
The Wizard is going to have one of the baddest-ass weapons in the game.
Poor stat balances aren't relevant to the subject? O.O
The auto-stat allocation makes things different than before, but much better in many ways. There are fewer than you think that actually "enjoyed" calculating how much strength, dexterity and energy (none of the last, but whatever) was needed for the basic character needs and then dumping the rest to stamina.
I always was most effective and had more fun with characters that werent like the others (i remember my suicide sorc with nova and no block) which ended up level 96 and never dead (was hardcore till i let her expire).
The best thing i've heared so far as customization is the spell/ability customization through the revamped rune system. It changes not just the skill use but also your overall gameplay. Tactics, everything. Eventually there's going to be some items that will be the best for each class/spec but even so the use of runes will make characters much different, even with the same gear and spec.
Dang dude oblivion is one of the best rpg's of all time!!!
And btw diablo your on your own with like a mercenary here and the b.net peeps there....
And in oblivion you get someone to help you often....So dude don't bash a game you know nothing about it is one amazing game......:offtopic:
P.S. Forgot what game this was but there is a button where you push recommended or you can manually do it.
Ive said this many times....nobody listens :P.....you forgot ONE BUILD THO.....glass cannon zonz use a fair bit of stats for dex
We don't know everything about the games, maybe for example there is a magic effect on gears that give you 10% reduced damage for any kind of attack for every 100 base strength you have. with this idea, if 3 parts of gears could have that, if you could put all the strength you want you could become invincible.
Keep in mind that this is only an example of what could be in the games.
We might not know what best for the stats until we actually have the game.
- You will be able to wear any kind of gear you want because stats will not be requisites for wearing gear, it will be the other way around
- You will be forced to combine gear to receive stats instead of going for universal values (+1 to skills, resistances, etc)
- You will have a freedom of changing your playstyle throughout the game and constantly perfect your character to your taste, instead of having to replay the whole game like a retard every time you want to try something new
Bottom line: more depth in customization, more customization overall, more freedom.
I'll use an example from WoW because guessing how things are going to be in D3 is just speculation. As a caster DPS class, I benefit from modifiers such as the crit rating, the hit rating, the haste rating and bonus spellpower (aside from stats such as stamina, inellect and spirit). Blizzard will put spellpower and one or two of the other three modifiers on most endgame items, but never all three. The stats your recieve are also balanced to not overpower potential classes which depend on different things. That means that there are no 'best' items for my class or even my build. If I decide to wear an item that grants only hit rating and spellpower, I will be sacrificing my crit rating and haste rating, but that is a decision I have to make, because unless I have a certain amount of hit rating (which as a weathered player I will calculate beforehand), my build is going to fail big time. That is why I need to decide on which item slots I am willing to go for hit rating gear and and which I will go for crit rating and haste rating, or maybe my talents are built in such way that I do not even have to rely on crit that much which opens up more possibilities. Supporting your build with gear is a very delicate procedure which will easily make or brake your character, or even make your character extraordinary if you have an exquisite grasp of the game mechanics and how your build works. Compared to a system like THAT, D2 'customization' can be considered laughable at best. Even if you are plain enough to break your character by misplacing stats that are given to you as a gift, your character will still operate on some level, so you will still be able to play the game no matter how little effort you put into it, and of course all you need to do is find out which items have the biggest numbers because those are universally the 'best' items.
Bottom line: in D2 all you need to do is read a good tutorial which explains what is the best build for your class. In WoW, and hopefully D3, you will not be able to ever do such a thing, because nothing is given to you for free, and you will have to work your best with whatever you currently have and whichever skills you currently have. And THAT takes skill. Reading guides doesn't take skill.
Let's take WoW as a reference of the auto-stat feature:
every class in WoW after a certain level has completely different base strength/stamina etc which suits the role best. Now if you want to play a warrior, say as a tank you use specific gear to gain more stamina and armor. Now if you prefer to play as a damage dealer you focus on strength, attack power and criticals. Its possible to do both without having to make one character for each spec.
Now in Diablo 3 as mentioned before its going to be even easier to do so, since you're speccing from dealing damage to dealing damage so the roles arent really different. Except that even in Diablo 3 each class will have its own play style. Its going to need alot of vitality gear to make a wizard move through enemies in melee range like a barbarian and that would also make sense. Each class should offer a different gaming experience and every class should focus on different sets of items too. If auto-stats is what it takes, so be it.
Customization through items takes more effort and more careful planning tgo accomplish than the simple spec googling we used to have in Diablo 2.
It's Blizzard we are talking about. When have they ever failed to please their fans?
lol.....they define the character along with there skill sets....something stats didnt do in D2 hardly beyond having different life per vita and mana per energy
What's next? Auto-Drops from boss monsters like in WoW?