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D3 vs D2 Skill System Replay Value
Rhykker has published a video comparing the skill system in Diablo 3 and Diablo 2. He talks about the perceived replay value of each skill system, talks about the differences between now and then in entertainment and compares it to other games like D&D.
Generally speaking he argues that the Diablo 3 system is a big improvement over Diablo 2. Do you agree with his points? What do you think of the comparison between the 2 games' skill system?
Terribly biased comparison, firstly it seems Rhykker didn't really play Diablo 2.
Secondly most of this video is only nitpicking at what is highly subjective, the value part of "Replay Value".
Replay, Value and "Replay Value" is actually 3 different things....
I agree with him. The fact is Diablo 2 in it's current patch has respecs, and personally I feel that it's a better game because of it.
I still go back and play Diablo 2 every time they wipe the ladder, and when getting rushed is hard or impossible, I enjoy the fact that I can pick a sorceress and put points into energy and warmth and optimize the early game better, and not have to choose between struggling in the early game with a sorceress with no mana or having a sub optimal sorceress in the end-game. I enjoy the fact that respec tokens are popular, and net a substantial amount of "wealth" if you farm for them and trade them.
First of all, this dude need to STFU. He is the definition of "Copy & Paste". This guy plays the game "casually" and writes about it as if he understands the content in and out. Simply because he needs subs. I do respect people that puts in tons of hours in the game and writes something really valuable for the community. I mean who cares of the "replay value" or whatever he trying to say? I've never played D2 and started all Diablo in D3 and love the game as it is despite it's many shortcomings. No offense to his "supporters" but this guys has no genuine work out of him. Good day all.
In support of this topic let's remember brilliant article from Diablo 2 MedianXL mod developer, Brother Laz
http://www.diabloii.net/blog/comments/mad-prophecies-3-respecs-and-skill-use/
Stat points
«Why do people cry over the loss of player-allocated stat points? Because of the hypothetical possibility that one could make a viable all-energy build that doesn’t completely suck? Because you claim that melee sorcs need to crank strength... as opposed to just getting a Might merc, I guess. Forget it, if you actually ever made one of those characters, you’re a vanishingly small minority. Most people just do the usual reqs-block-rest-into-vita dance.
Hell, being stubborn about doing stat points your way doesn’t even unlock new and interesting gameplay possibilities. You have the exact same necro as everyone else, except yours has lower life and consequently sucks more. Whoo.»
Respec
«Anyway, aside from the bleeding obvious issues with respecs like the crickets in every Act except the last one and the fact that every successful game with respecs so far has either a huge amount of class variety through multiclassing anyway or a leveling curve of 3 months, there is another issue with respecs that pains the soul of the old school Diablo 2 players: your actions no longer have consequences. Which can be translated as ‘I know how to spend my points properly because I’m GOOD at the game, and if you ruin your character by putting your points into volcano, it means you SUCK at the game, you LITTLE NOOB. I’m BETTER than you’.
Respecs would be a huge minus point for this crowd, much like stat points, because newbies can no longer ruin their character and the veterans can no longer stand tall and proud and laugh at the newbie who rerolls and puts points into energy AGAIN, the pathetic little fool. Sucker.»
So good.
This is thanks to LoD which is much more unbalanced than what the Classic D2 used to be. Also the fact that some classes and builds in LoD require so much better items to do anything in Hell is not that fun.
Btw necro is one of the easiest classes to play.. (summoner)
In Classic D2 it was not that difficult to build any class character and do fairly well in Hell. Items were not in that big role... of course at some point it did start to matter if your build and items were good enough. Mainly that was in Act3 and Act4 Hell. Act1&2 was not so big deal... the challenge was some certain things that required you to be awake and cautious.
The skill system in D3 is total shit.. why? Well look at our items.. they make 99% of our damage.. skills are just the way you deliver the damage. The set items and the support legendaries pretty much rule which skills we have to choose.
D2 got respecs mainly because of ladder seasons and maybe less interest for people to play the game anymore. It was fine to build different characters for different purpouses because it was not that big task to level up character to 80+ which was enough to do pretty much anything.
what an obtuse, illogical way of reviewing / thinking. What gives you (OP) the right to determine what replay value means? I played D2 for 7 STRAIGHT YEARS, and quit D3 after 1 year. In some (or many) cases, replay value also consists of how long you play a certain game. Even though I'm glad you like D3, there's a difference between saying you like D3 system better, and you not being able to see the big picture of how to truly judge replay value.
Your logic of what "replay value" means is flawed because of your personal feelings towards D3. You have no right to "choose" what replay value means for different players, as the little text you read on the meaning, is just from that person's view.
Oh, and I only logged in because of the sheer stupidity of OP, I won't be coming back so you can go ahead and flame/hate/swear whatever. What a crock of shit editorial
First of all, i thinks one point is completely overlooked: the "value" part is highly subjective, so activities that others may find tedious can possibly be interesting for you, and viceversa. So since everyone has a different concept of what's valuable for himself, giving a definite answer isn't this simple.
Another point which is kinda ignored, is that actually the presence or not of "respecs" doesn't change a thing. It's the base system that changes - in D3 you can respec easily, but still without the gear builds are pretty much useless and wrongly rolled items are just a disadvantage, so even if you don't need to respec, you need to farm the gear all over again (which isnt bad, don't read me wrong).
The point is that between D2 and D3 nothing much really changes. You either care about min/maxing or you don't. In the first case you either have all classes ready or you get powerleveled in a short time and aim to go straight to the endgame for maximum efficiency. In the second case you simply don't care and enjoy the journey.
What really changes is the perception. in D3 everything is so sped up that it takes no effort/time to do anything apart pushing high GR and even there most of the success chances are determined by the rift composition. In D2 everything is much slower and generally takes more time.
The replay value of D2 is perceived as higher because people took more time to do stuff, while in D3 tasks like completing a season don't take as much (even too little imho). So when people "is done" with their objectives, it's natural that they have no interest in playing again.
Reading his post it's patently obvious his objections are rooted in nostalgia and emotion rather than logic or any attempt at objectivity. The vast majority of D2 ROOLZ D3 DROOLZ posts read that way. The subtext is always "D2 is the best because I had fun playing it when I was 12."
Can't we like both games? I do, anyway.
Video author here - I will specify that this video was made in response to a previous video and tackles one simple argument: "Diablo 3 has no replay value because once you hit 70, you have no reason to remake a character. D2 had replay value because you had to remake a character to try a new build." I'm not saying D2 sucks or had no replay value, but that the replay value didn't come from the "no respec" system (and the game even has limited forms of respec now).
Really good. Agree with everything.
this video is absolutely one of the most disgusting I have seen related to trying to explain the inner workings of D3....
All it strives to do is talk down upon D2 and upsell every aspect it mentions about D3 into a thing players should be grateful to have.
I could blather on about every sentence he spews forth about "antiquated systems" and why mom cuts the end off of a ham, and how it is supposed to explain why Diablo 3's skill system is such a breath of fresh air....and indeed I have typed it all up in a txt file to reply.....reluctant to post it all hear knowing that replies only drizzle in once every 72 hours or so...
Just another key player who thinks that everyone just wants efficiency and ease above all else. OH but don't worry everyone; he's not denigrating that play-style......power to them for using their imagination to have fun....
A sad day for RPGS the world over..just LOOK AT HIS FACE(5:46)when it lights up mentioning how powerleveling in D3 happens in SECONDS for gods sake...and then immediately a scowl is formed mentioning how D2 powerleveling takes hours....as if its not as well planned or integrated.......
Yes... gobs of players just wish to be powerlevelled in seconds so thank goodness the game is bending to suit their wishes....