It's been a few weeks since they were announced. Initial reactions to the mechanic varied greatly, especially on the Battle.net forums. After a few weeks for the news to settle and community personnel to explain how the mechanic is supposed to work, has your initial reaction to the followers changed? How so?
No it hasn't changed, meaning that I still consider the system as it is to be almost completely useless.
All the mechanics/gameplay facets progress throughout the game- skills, loot, artisans. The reason given for followers to be the exception to this rule is nothing short of lame.
Either the system is scrapped or it works like D2 because right now it looks like a half-assed attempt at implementing a merc system.
I like the current solution, they seem like they'll add a lot of flavor for the story the first time through, but without affecting endgame balance and interest.
All the mechanics/gameplay facets progress throughout the game- skills, loot, artisans. The reason given for followers to be the exception to this rule is nothing short of lame.
Wish they would be viable on Nightmare/Hell. Question though - I heard that they were going to be "hard to keep alive on Nightmare and Hell" but that seems to imply that you can still have them around, worthless as they would be. Is this true?
They need to add something interesting to nightmare and hell to make up for the loss of followers. It may give the impression to some people that they shouldn't bother playing those difficulties because they have less features than normal. Also not everyone has friends that play Diablo and they might not like playing with obnoxious strangers over battle.net.
Wish they would be viable on Nightmare/Hell. Question though - I heard that they were going to be "hard to keep alive on Nightmare and Hell" but that seems to imply that you can still have them around, worthless as they would be. Is this true?
Yes, it's true. It could also be that since you can give them equipment (I believe this is correct, I may be wrong), it may turn out that they do last in later difficulties, and that such survival requires more testing (trial and error) after release. Things may not turn out how they plan. You never know.
I think that the way they laid it out is just fine. I think they'll help players get through the game the first time, share some of the story and be interesting. I believe Bash also said they have things in place for NM/Hell to take the place of the follower quests, so I wouldn't worry about that.
I also agree that nothing was more annoying in Diablo 2 than continuously returning to town to pay for your mercenary again. Diablo 2's system for mercs was cool, but it was highly flawed.
I also do not believe that you will HAVE to play multi-player. The game in NM and Hell will still be soloable, it's just that they want you to play with other people. I also bet that if you get good enough gear for your follower, that they will still at least be somewhat useful.
If it doesn't pan out this way (which I think it will, as Blizzard tends to know what they are doing), then I think it's a pretty easy fix to up their stats, HP and damage at higher levels to make them more useful. I think this is something they'll consider for an expansion if they come up with more interesting ways to use the followers.
From watching some game play videos that have multiple characters in it though, I do agree that four characters + four followers would be just too much in this game. Just watching the clips sometimes I have a hard time keeping track of everything going on and that's without runes making the skills more complex.
As Magi said, seeing as you can equip them with gear I can see them doing well in Nightmare, or even Hell. Also keep in mind you don't have to level them, they reflect your level no matter how much you've played them. So you can never touch a follower until level 60, pick on up, and it will be the same level as someone who've played with a follower as soon as one was available.
I feel the current system is a smart move on Blizzard. As said by Blizzard, they are only there to sample how playing in Co-op would feel, and to lore people into multi-player whom normally wouldn't play with other people. Someone may think, - Having a follower is nice, someone to offer help and say funny stuff - So they might log onto Bnet just off that experience.
“We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us happy is something to be enthusiastic about.” - Albert Einstein
There's a lot of unknown on this topic. While the demo video showed us their basic function, and Blizzard mentioned that they might not necessarily be as effective in nightmare or hell this still leaves a lot out of the equation. We have to go off of what we know. We know there are 3 types, they level with you, you unlock (through level) and choose their skills, you gear them, and they don't die, only take a knee. Assuming they can be equipped with powerful gear come later levels, they have a chance to be useful in nm and hell.
Again though, their function is only to mimic a Co-op experience in single player to entice people to play true Co-op, and continue playing the game.
This makes me think there will be some way for Blizzard to make money from co-op since the more players that use battle.net the more expensive the service becomes. The notion that they want to "lure" otherwise solo players into co-op seems strange.
Keep in mind that Blizzard wants people to play the game for as long as possible. Single player is a fraction of the game really, I mean sure you get all the content but the experience comes from Co-op (In my opinion). An Co-op surely is where 90%+ of the play time is at.
“We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us happy is something to be enthusiastic about.” - Albert Einstein
Its double lame, on top of not being able to have followers in multiplayer, they are going to be useless for those who truly need them in single player in nm/hell LOL
fail
its like one or the other guys, not both
just goes to show i guess with how much they have done on every other aspect of the game,
you cant have a perfect game XD but it will come very close
I'll try to find the quote later, but I clearly remember bashiok saying that followers "would die a lot in NM and be totally useless in Hell". Just a friendly reminder to those still with pipe dreams of using followers in Hell.And my opinion hasn't changed. This system sucks monkey balls.
I also remember that quote. That should be expected though. Normal is for very casual players, and for introducing the game to gamers of all types. NM is where more committed players will, "Feel at home", if you will. With some challenges, and where stupid decisions will likely get you killed. These are the difficulties where people find their groove, and where the players whom need the follower system will take advantage of it. Hell should be a challenge, and also the most rewarding. In Hell the follower system shouldn't be needed, since as officially mentioned it's niche is to help new players get the feel for co-op, and to add to the story.
“We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us happy is something to be enthusiastic about.” - Albert Einstein
They are fine the way they are. I'd rather have my main character do all the work than have some guy follow me that is almost as powerful. Diablo I never had mercenaries - gave you that all alone feeling.
Anyone saying they are fine are truly Blizzard Fanboys.
I really don't see how wasting time on developing something that later in the game become 100% useless is not a waste of time.
Also ask your selfs this, do you guys like having stuff taken away from you? Do you like having hard work mean nothing and i mean nothing like really nothing. Like that thing you ordered online and well it never showed up and you can't email the contact or get a hold of them nothing.
Well guess what noobs don't either, the fact that a follower is 100% useless in multiplayer and 100% useless past normal means this feature of the game does not follow 90% of the game. It really could be looked at as an incomplete feature.
Lets look into an example of a new player playing online but single player for a bit with his follower.
Example: Dudes playing D3, gets a follower loves it farms for it and levels it up.
Completes Normal thinking thinking his follower will get more awesome just as his character is, goes into nightmare.
O wait his follower, its getting 2 shotted.
Okay he buffs its gear up, and hmm maybe get some better items from normal. Alright lets try this again.
Wack wack 2 shotted. Frustration is starting to set in at this point. Spent like 4 hours trying to make his follower better.
Okay well lets go online and see how this guy plays with a team. WTF WHERES MY FOLLOWER?!?!?!?
Alright ill email blizzard games bugged or something.
Alright got my email back.... WTF I WASTED ALL THAT TIME ON THE FOLLOWER TO NOT BE ABLE TO USE HIM WITH FRIENDS AND HES USELESS PAST NORMAL DIFFICULTY?!?!?
Yea thats a perfect way to keep new players Blizzard, real good.
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It's been a few weeks since they were announced. Initial reactions to the mechanic varied greatly, especially on the Battle.net forums. After a few weeks for the news to settle and community personnel to explain how the mechanic is supposed to work, has your initial reaction to the followers changed? How so?
blizzard knows that the mercenaries role is at the single player and low difficulties
All the mechanics/gameplay facets progress throughout the game- skills, loot, artisans. The reason given for followers to be the exception to this rule is nothing short of lame.
Either the system is scrapped or it works like D2 because right now it looks like a half-assed attempt at implementing a merc system.
At least they were frank with the Talisman.
Yeah, that.
Yes, it's true. It could also be that since you can give them equipment (I believe this is correct, I may be wrong), it may turn out that they do last in later difficulties, and that such survival requires more testing (trial and error) after release. Things may not turn out how they plan. You never know.
I also agree that nothing was more annoying in Diablo 2 than continuously returning to town to pay for your mercenary again. Diablo 2's system for mercs was cool, but it was highly flawed.
I also do not believe that you will HAVE to play multi-player. The game in NM and Hell will still be soloable, it's just that they want you to play with other people. I also bet that if you get good enough gear for your follower, that they will still at least be somewhat useful.
If it doesn't pan out this way (which I think it will, as Blizzard tends to know what they are doing), then I think it's a pretty easy fix to up their stats, HP and damage at higher levels to make them more useful. I think this is something they'll consider for an expansion if they come up with more interesting ways to use the followers.
From watching some game play videos that have multiple characters in it though, I do agree that four characters + four followers would be just too much in this game. Just watching the clips sometimes I have a hard time keeping track of everything going on and that's without runes making the skills more complex.
I feel the current system is a smart move on Blizzard. As said by Blizzard, they are only there to sample how playing in Co-op would feel, and to lore people into multi-player whom normally wouldn't play with other people. Someone may think, - Having a follower is nice, someone to offer help and say funny stuff - So they might log onto Bnet just off that experience.
Again though, their function is only to mimic a Co-op experience in single player to entice people to play true Co-op, and continue playing the game.
Keep in mind that Blizzard wants people to play the game for as long as possible. Single player is a fraction of the game really, I mean sure you get all the content but the experience comes from Co-op (In my opinion). An Co-op surely is where 90%+ of the play time is at.
fail
its like one or the other guys, not both
just goes to show i guess with how much they have done on every other aspect of the game,
you cant have a perfect game XD but it will come very close
I also remember that quote. That should be expected though. Normal is for very casual players, and for introducing the game to gamers of all types. NM is where more committed players will, "Feel at home", if you will. With some challenges, and where stupid decisions will likely get you killed. These are the difficulties where people find their groove, and where the players whom need the follower system will take advantage of it. Hell should be a challenge, and also the most rewarding. In Hell the follower system shouldn't be needed, since as officially mentioned it's niche is to help new players get the feel for co-op, and to add to the story.
I liked that.
I really don't see how wasting time on developing something that later in the game become 100% useless is not a waste of time.
Also ask your selfs this, do you guys like having stuff taken away from you? Do you like having hard work mean nothing and i mean nothing like really nothing. Like that thing you ordered online and well it never showed up and you can't email the contact or get a hold of them nothing.
Well guess what noobs don't either, the fact that a follower is 100% useless in multiplayer and 100% useless past normal means this feature of the game does not follow 90% of the game. It really could be looked at as an incomplete feature.
Lets look into an example of a new player playing online but single player for a bit with his follower.
Example: Dudes playing D3, gets a follower loves it farms for it and levels it up.
Completes Normal thinking thinking his follower will get more awesome just as his character is, goes into nightmare.
O wait his follower, its getting 2 shotted.
Okay he buffs its gear up, and hmm maybe get some better items from normal. Alright lets try this again.
Wack wack 2 shotted. Frustration is starting to set in at this point. Spent like 4 hours trying to make his follower better.
Okay well lets go online and see how this guy plays with a team. WTF WHERES MY FOLLOWER?!?!?!?
Alright ill email blizzard games bugged or something.
Alright got my email back.... WTF I WASTED ALL THAT TIME ON THE FOLLOWER TO NOT BE ABLE TO USE HIM WITH FRIENDS AND HES USELESS PAST NORMAL DIFFICULTY?!?!?
Yea thats a perfect way to keep new players Blizzard, real good.