"A Few" More Systems
While it may seem that there is very little information left for the development team to share with us, nothing could be further from the truth. Recently on Twitter, a user asked if there were any systems left to be unveiled for Diablo III. While the answer was short and to the point, it leaves plenty of room open for thought and speculation.
So, there is more than one more system that the Diablo team has up their sleeves to share with us as the development of Diablo III goes on. Perhaps the only one we know for sure is some form of trading system. There has been a lot of debate over the secretive system over the years. While we do know that there will be a shared stash for same account trades, we do not know how trading will work from player to player. Many people see the obvious answer in an Auction House. One that can be used to find buyers for your items while you are either battling the denizens of Hell or logged off and partaking in some RL activities. However, others would prefer an item based trade system similar to Diablo II. One where players meet up in games offering their Zod Rune for some Immortal King set. Either way, there is a lot to be desired in improvements from how trading was handled in Diablo II. Just how they are planning this system to work is anyone's guess for now.
Another possible system yet to be revealed is a mercenary system. In Diablo II, we had Hirelings that aided in our fights against the demons. Offering not only help, this system was perhaps one of the only real uses for gold in Diablo II. In the recent years when asked about the return of this system, the development team has remained surprisingly tight lipped. While never denying or supporting the idea, the fact that they remain silent on the issue speaks highly of some form of it returning. Many have hoped for an advanced customization and control over these helpers. While the old system allowed for a helm, chest and weapon to be equipped it is quite possible that they are extending this idea to a full armor set. Others have tossed around the idea of them having their own separate skill system. In Diablo II, there were some variations of skills the mercenaries had but each type was limited to one unique skill. Expanding this skill set could definitely add some customization to these followers. While we do not even know if this system will return, it seems more than likely that it will in some shape and we can guess just what form it will be.
Set items is one more system we have very little information about. Recently, the development team mentioned that the way they worked in Diablo II wasn't the best. Usually, by the time you got a full set, the items were obsolete. There have been a number of purposed ideas on how to change this system. Scaleable items so they remained relevant, higher drop rates of set items, a looser restriction or multiple items working for the same set. At some point, we will hopefully get some more information on how set items will work in Diablo III but for now we have to settle for knowing that they plan on them being end-game viable with rares, uniques, and crafted items.
Moving into the more speculative ideas, one system that was in Diablo II that has yet to return is the runeword system. While we do know that runewords will not be in Diablo III, this does not mean that there will not be some other system that will function similarly to help us customize our items. We do know that they have added enchantments through the Mystic. We also know that socketing and gems will play a much bigger role in Diablo III. However, none of this means that they haven't added yet one more way to help us make our characters distinct. In fact, a person offered the idea to Jay Wilson during Blizzcon about the order of gems being placed into items having unique effects. Jay's response was that the idea was possible and that he would talk about it with the development team. While this may not be the exact system they are using, it may be something that they were/are still looking into. After all, itemization and customization is at the core of the Diablo franchise and more of it could always be added.
There are of course several other systems that Diablo could include. What these other systems are remains a mystery at this point and open to specualtion. Minor or major, we all look forward to what this new year will bring us as far as Diablo III information goes.
Eastern Sun did a very good job in making all the Hirelings useful. Right now the most popular Hireling is the Act 5 Offensive Barb due to a skill that can remove immunities at 100% effectiveness(Lightning/Fire/Magic/Cold/Poison). The only thing that is not making that skill overpowered is the small range of the skill and the AI of the Hireling from casting it when you want it.
also, pets (like the dog in torchlight) could be a cool system for hirelings. the general idea of always having a companion whos just not as good as you, or another hero, isn't one thats ever grabbed me. and it kind of takes away from the feeling that your alone out in the wilderness. I think coming across expendable followers like in the gameplay video would suffice as a replacement, tho i do understand why people like the hireling system.
Its hard to avoid but im not a huge fan of every1 trying to get the same item(i love random rolls). For me something like engima, where it is such a universal item, it gave you such a useful tool in teleport and the strength it provided enabled you to pump much more of your limited stat points into Vit. Its much a case of use it, or be left behind.
We all know, myself included, that many players are right into game mechanics and best possible outcomes n crap like that, but the more this game can do to keep people individual will just ice the cake for me.
The major motive for me to finally submit the club is to post this idea, and hopefully inspire some more elaborated post by someone else.
Writing about an unreleased Blizzard game does give you a lot of practice with expanding on small pieces of information to create something readable I guess haha