1) How does it tangibly affect you? I hear a lot of people say "it ruins the game" or somesuch, but I'd like to know how it does this in your opinion. Or do you have very bad internet, or a firewall at your university, or whatever, and have trouble connecting to battle.net?
2) In D2 we had to join trading games if we wanted to trade, limited to 8 players. The other players might be afk, might not have good stuff for trade, might not want what we had for trade, etc. We began to use SoJs (unique ring ) and perfect skulls (good gems) for currency.
But even this wasn't enough, and a site called d2jsp was born. Because it addressed a glaring need among d2 players by giving us a currency (forum gold), the site's founder got rich off it.
2) And so my second question is, how could Blizzard have addressed players' need to trade easily with a fluid currency *without* implementing an AH?
Thanks for an insightful answer to the first question. I especially like the viewpoint that an item you find has a story, I can understand the appeal of that, even though I personally prefer to use the AH.
I feel I should point out what you must already know, as you said you played Diablo 2 - rares are much more common in D3 than in D2, and they're just as likely to be bad. If the D3 drop rate were adjusted for the economy, rares would be less common in D3, not more. I'm not saying that you don't have a valid point - all I'm saying is that I think the issue you are having is with the difficulty of inferno. This is what promotes AH usage, not the drop rate. If there were no inferno and it ended with hell mode as D2 did, I don't think there would be nearly as much of an issue.
However you didn't answer the second question: How could Blizzard have addressed the need for facilitated trading without implementing an AH? Whether you like to trade or not, you must admit that when a random player gets rich by giving D2 players a currency to trade with (d2jsp), there's an obvious issue, and if you're the software developer, you're going to all but be forced to do something about it, yes?
i use the AH, but i feel if they make rares to be actually rare, like maybe 2-3 times more likely than legendaries/sets, that it would make the AH and the game that much better. Finding the items is a huge deal in this game. Thats basically what this game is about, finding great gear.
It is probably already too late to implement a plan like that now since the AH is inundated with tons of crap rares and even decent rares that nobody is buying anymore. Like, when i found a blue after i first started playing D3, i thought it was way too soon/fast to be finding a blue, let alone a rare. In fact, i think they shouldnt really introduce rares into the game until Hell difficulty in the first place because normal and nightmare are pretty easy. But, they should lower the drop rates of rares imo. I firmly believe that will make both finding items and the AH better. the problem is that people have what they need for now, so its too late for this
...Final word : don't mistake me. I love the game. There has been much improvement from D2 in other aspects. The two first had their flaws too. I say it again, I love the game. But this is all the more frustrating. We were just two steps away from perfection.
Amen to that. I agree with almost all the points, other than the fact that I'm with 99% of the population that is forced to cram ourselves into the AH. I would love to find all my items, but because of my need to compete with my friends (EHP/DPS stats/elite kills, etc.), I find myself shopping around all the time.
1) Without the AH they would have to make a better loot system, beacuse without the AH system there would be much more complainings about how loot is broken right now.
"I found a good legendary yesterday with 0%mf and 0nv, just using the search button" vs "300mf, 300h played, 0 usefull legendaries"
First, psychological speaking, there is a huge difference between finding your items in the floor, than buying them in the AH. Buying an item feels empty. There is no joy at doing that, at all. The same applies to the real life, when you struggle with something and you finally can do what you were trying to achieve, it feels great!, you've earned it!, you feel like you achieved something amazing, even if it was nothing impressive.
Now, if you bought your way to your goal, sure, the result is the same, in less time, with less effort, but the emptiness that it leaves behind already destroyed that experience for you. It is just not the same.
And, this is not an opinion, this is human behavior.
Now, there are several ways to fix/change/alter/improve this, pick the verb you like. The only problem, is that Blizzard has a brilliant business design, and anything that jeopardize that, its a no-no. That is why Im afraid that the game (for me) is kind of dead, as a non-AH user.
After the 1.05 hits, I'll play a little, I'll see how the game feels now (I'm not playing the PTR), I'll see how hard to get/worthy is the new ring, and I'll see if MP brings some new air to this game, even with the current loot/AH system.
1) How does it tangibly affect you? I hear a lot of people say "it ruins the game" or somesuch, but I'd like to know how it does this in your opinion. Or do you have very bad internet, or a firewall at your university, or whatever, and have trouble connecting to battle.net?
2) In D2 we had to join trading games if we wanted to trade, limited to 8 players. The other players might be afk, might not have good stuff for trade, might not want what we had for trade, etc. We began to use SoJs (unique ring ) and perfect skulls (good gems) for currency.
But even this wasn't enough, and a site called d2jsp was born. Because it addressed a glaring need among d2 players by giving us a currency (forum gold), the site's founder got rich off it.
2) And so my second question is, how could Blizzard have addressed players' need to trade easily with a fluid currency *without* implementing an AH?
1) It doesn't affect anyone, at least not directly. It *might* affect someone if they are trying to trade an item because that item might be more easily found on the AH, but that's the extent of it. It literally boils down to the same root problem that the 'no personal skill build' argument came from; These people want to control how others play. they don't LIKE the fact that others can get items (from other players, mind you) through an AH, and they want to control the person into playing how THEY would play, which might be different.
2) In these same, controlling people's minds, Blizzard should have just done nothing. These type of people would have preferred this because in the back of their mind a lot more people are playing how they would want to play, and they feel more in control.
Bear in mind to the argument 'an RMAH would have popped up anyway,along with a million 3rd party sites' doesn't work with these people because they don't like the truth, and would rather live in la-la land believing everyone is the same.
First, psychological speaking, there is a huge difference between finding your items in the floor, than buying them in the AH. Buying an item feels empty. There is no joy at doing that, at all. The same applies to the real life, when you struggle with something and you finally can do what you were trying to achieve, it feels great!, you've earned it!, you feel like you achieved something amazing, even if it was nothing impressive.
Now, if you bought your way to your goal, sure, the result is the same, in less time, with less effort, but the emptiness that it leaves behind already destroyed that experience for you. It is just not the same.
And, this is not an opinion, this is human behavior.
Now, there are several ways to fix/change/alter/improve this, pick the verb you like. The only problem, is that Blizzard has a brilliant business design, and anything that jeopardize that, its a no-no. That is why Im afraid that the game (for me) is kind of dead, as a non-AH user.
After the 1.05 hits, I'll play a little, I'll see how the game feels now (I'm not playing the PTR), I'll see how hard to get/worthy is the new ring, and I'll see if MP brings some new air to this game, even with the current loot/AH system.
I have to personally disagree immediately. I work very hard, and use some of my money to buy items. It absolutely doesn't feel empty at all, in fact I've probably spent close to 200$ on the RMAH over the coarse of the game so far, and I have fun playing almost every day. You see your blanket statement of assuming everyone feels the same way doesn't hold water, and is completely false.
I, Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, The God, declare that second question is just a verbal trap - how would you solve the legitimate need of people to drink more wine, opposing to the risk of liver diseases? except divine liver, of course! WHICH IS FINE, THANK YOU FOR ASKING! so, The God won't participate in this part of post, although divine intellect, of course, has a number of solutions for it (auction house, not the drinking - The God is satisfied with own immortality and 100% disease resistance, and choses to overlook mortals problem)
as diablo II is called upon several times, The God must remind of one thing - release date. The God, for example, had a 56k modem with internet payed per hour, so whole internet-only concept was so alien to him - it was a single player game. or, occasionally a multiplayer lan. naturally, there was CONSIDERABLY less trading in general, at least in first years - not everyone is born with same internet rights...
and then the items found were God's own. each and every one. The God used had a weak item placeholder(s) in build for months - The Gods chosen character, a mf-sorceress God developed with love for years, doing endless amount of farming and using, basically, as a item-generator for other, less mf-usable characters, used loved and appreciated blue +24 resist all / + 30 mf (was it? - somewhere near the max) BLUE - so, no, The God in his infinite wisdom is fully untouched by legendary-fetish and their drop-rate "problems" - after all, until the expansion there was so few unique/set items worth having. to clarify, The God uses mentioned blue still, though in possession of several tal rasha's or +2 sorceress rares. point being - in AH environment, tal rasha would be bought immediatelly, and worthier blue missed or even unpicked
and what with endless stream of unusable, semi-usable, almost usable, usable-and-great-except-that-i-clavdivs-already-have-better rares/sets/uniques? sold. vendored. in quantities. what about gold surplus? a gambling problem! countless millions used for endless rolling of rings/amulets (and countless rerolled in cube) to a very little success (thought The God had two perfect naglerings and whatnot among the rares - all FOUND) - but no regret over it, none at all.
now, what I, Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, The God, do with weak point in build in diablo III? RHETORICAL!
how much took The God to finish maximum difficulty, in hours, compared to diablo II? RHETORICAL!
can The God compare high-level unique drop in diablo II with same in diablo III? RHETORICAL!
from Yu-Gi-Oh Abridged Series:
- big brother, big brother, where do babies come from?
- we've been over this before, Mokuba! like everything else - you buy them in the store
at current point, dIII is dominantly single player game, plagued with need for constant quality internet access, WITH addition of AH. internet access still being a problem - thank you, Blizzard, for having a lag in SP, and moreso in occasional MP - The God's micro was... well... godlike. before. oh, and thank you for removing 'last HP chance', it really means so much for Clavdivs - though it's usefulness in small-but-constant-lag environment with constant and annoying (and completely unnecessary) piles of... excretions over the whole screen doing constant damage. YES! THANK YOU FOR THAT IMMENSELY!
why The God doesn't play without AH (a common 'argument')? BALANCE! though it looks more appealing as time goes by...
probably more arguments on The God's mind, but this post grown too long already... if you need them - ask, The God is benevolent
The Gods Disclaimer: I) I, Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, The God, DO NOT ADVOCATE PUBLICLY REMOVAL OF AH II) I, Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, The God, STRONGLY AGREE WITH THE EXISTENCE OF RMAH AND ADVOCATE STRONGLY AGAINST REMOVING IT, AS IT IS WORTHY, SAFE AND INTERESTING ADDITION TO THE GAME III) I, Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, The God, ADVOCATE REMOVAL OF BLACKSMITH CRAFTING ENTIRELY, FOR A REASON OF BEING A CRAP CAUSING ABUSE AND IMBALANCE AND WHATNOT (LOOK AT 'CRAFTING CHANNELS' FOR MORE CLARIFICATION)
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A proud and fearless leader and only member of the "Save the Diablo III" project I have been a game designer, modder and balancer. Link below is to my blog, where i discuss flaws of this game and offering solutions.
YOU can help this cause by sharing a link in your signature! Please do, if you like my ideas http://savediablo3.wix.com/diablo3#!home/mainPage
First, psychological speaking, there is a huge difference between finding your items in the floor, than buying them in the AH. Buying an item feels empty. There is no joy at doing that, at all. The same applies to the real life, when you struggle with something and you finally can do what you were trying to achieve, it feels great!, you've earned it!, you feel like you achieved something amazing, even if it was nothing impressive.
Now, if you bought your way to your goal, sure, the result is the same, in less time, with less effort, but the emptiness that it leaves behind already destroyed that experience for you. It is just not the same.
And, this is not an opinion, this is human behavior.
Now, there are several ways to fix/change/alter/improve this, pick the verb you like. The only problem, is that Blizzard has a brilliant business design, and anything that jeopardize that, its a no-no. That is why Im afraid that the game (for me) is kind of dead, as a non-AH user.
After the 1.05 hits, I'll play a little, I'll see how the game feels now (I'm not playing the PTR), I'll see how hard to get/worthy is the new ring, and I'll see if MP brings some new air to this game, even with the current loot/AH system.
I have to personally disagree immediately. I work very hard, and use some of my money to buy items. It absolutely doesn't feel empty at all, in fact I've probably spent close to 200$ on the RMAH over the coarse of the game so far, and I have fun playing almost every day. You see your blanket statement of assuming everyone feels the same way doesn't hold water, and is completely false.
You are clearly a devote of the AH system, if you enjoy the game like that, good for you. I cant, and many others cant either.
Maybe you are a casual player that is used to buy stuff and progress, I know a lot of ppl enjoy doing that, but in my little world, that's not what a video game is about.
Rares in D3 are incoherent ( class items with everything but stats for the class it's designed) way more random ( the damage range on a 60 lv weapon can be as bad as a lv 25 weapon). Caracters are much more stuff relient and stuff is much more affixes relient. And you have to add that customisation is really poor and half of what was promised was cut just before release ( mystic and other gems ).
An offline /auction house less mode would have been, and still would be the decent thing to do.
Snipping your quote a bit to save space.
My D2 experience is probably different from yours since I only played Classic - I didn't like LoD for various reasons. I'm assuming you played LoD because probably 99% of D2 players did. In classic, I do remember most rares being crap. Weapons especially needed dual +dmg mods (eg. kings + merciless) to be good. In countless hours of playing D2 I think I only ever found one truly godly item, a chu ko nu which was within 3-4 of its maximum theoretical damage - no +skills or leech though.
As for an offline mode, I support that request even though I wouldn't use it. But I see no reason why you shouldn't have the option, it wouldn't harm my experience in any way. I like the idea of options, because we all want something a bit different. One size doesn't fit all, and so the only realistic way to satisfy a broad range of customers is to allow them to customize the experience by giving them options.
I'm in agreement with you on this - Blizzard didn't give us very many options with this game. It seems to be their philosophy lately, they're actually getting to be a lot like Apple The mentality is basically "This is what you should like, and if you don't then there's something wrong with you". I see this in WoW with forced guilding, and I've seen it in D3 patches where they've specifically outlined how they want players to play the game (eg. "we want players hunting down elite packs", when justifying the MF nerf in regards to chests and the general nerf on the contents of chests, barrels, bone piles, etc.) Right, right... forget what we like, we're playing *their* game... -.-
Now, if you bought your way to your goal, sure, the result is the same, in less time, with less effort, but the emptiness that it leaves behind already destroyed that experience for you. It is just not the same.
And, this is not an opinion, this is human behavior.
I'd have to disagree with that, I think it is opinion. You find enjoyment in finding your gear, which is fine. I find enjoyment in online economies; in trading, buying, selling, etc., and also in having the best gear I can get, no matter how I get it. In fact, what drew me so powerfully to D2 was that it was the first game I played with an online economy.
Rares in D3 are incoherent ( class items with everything but stats for the class it's designed) way more random ( the damage range on a 60 lv weapon can be as bad as a lv 25 weapon). Caracters are much more stuff relient and stuff is much more affixes relient. And you have to add that customisation is really poor and half of what was promised was cut just before release ( mystic and other gems ).
An offline /auction house less mode would have been, and still would be the decent thing to do.
Snipping your quote a bit to save space.
My D2 experience is probably different from yours since I only played Classic - I didn't like LoD for various reasons. I'm assuming you played LoD because probably 99% of D2 players did. In classic, I do remember most rares being crap. Weapons especially needed dual +dmg mods (eg. kings + merciless) to be good. In countless hours of playing D2 I think I only ever found one truly godly item, a chu ko nu which was within 3-4 of its maximum theoretical damage - no +skills or leech though.
As for an offline mode, I support that request even though I wouldn't use it. But I see no reason why you shouldn't have the option, it wouldn't harm my experience in any way. I like the idea of options, because we all want something a bit different. One size doesn't fit all, and so the only realistic way to satisfy a broad range of customers is to allow them to customize the experience by giving them options.
I'm in agreement with you on this - Blizzard didn't give us very many options with this game. It seems to be their philosophy lately, they're actually getting to be a lot like Apple The mentality is basically "This is what you should like, and if you don't then there's something wrong with you". I see this in WoW with forced guilding, and I've seen it in D3 patches where they've specifically outlined how they want players to play the game (eg. "we want players hunting down elite packs", when justifying the MF nerf in regards to chests and the general nerf on the contents of chests, barrels, bone piles, etc.) Right, right... forget what we like, we're playing *their* game... -.-
Now, if you bought your way to your goal, sure, the result is the same, in less time, with less effort, but the emptiness that it leaves behind already destroyed that experience for you. It is just not the same.
And, this is not an opinion, this is human behavior.
I'd have to disagree with that, I think it is opinion. You find enjoyment in finding your gear, which is fine. I find enjoyment in online economies; in trading, buying, selling, etc., and also in having the best gear I can get, no matter how I get it. In fact, what drew me so powerfully to D2 was that it was the first game I played with an online economy.
Sure, but then tell me for how long are you going to play this game. Because, I almost can assure you, that you wont be playing it for long.
And, like I said before, I want to play a damn freaking game, not a "economy 101 simulation game". I want to kill mobs and expect a good drop. That's all.
First, psychological speaking, there is a huge difference between finding your items in the floor, than buying them in the AH. Buying an item feels empty. There is no joy at doing that, at all. The same applies to the real life, when you struggle with something and you finally can do what you were trying to achieve, it feels great!, you've earned it!, you feel like you achieved something amazing, even if it was nothing impressive.
Now, if you bought your way to your goal, sure, the result is the same, in less time, with less effort, but the emptiness that it leaves behind already destroyed that experience for you. It is just not the same.
And, this is not an opinion, this is human behavior.
Now, there are several ways to fix/change/alter/improve this, pick the verb you like. The only problem, is that Blizzard has a brilliant business design, and anything that jeopardize that, its a no-no. That is why Im afraid that the game (for me) is kind of dead, as a non-AH user.
After the 1.05 hits, I'll play a little, I'll see how the game feels now (I'm not playing the PTR), I'll see how hard to get/worthy is the new ring, and I'll see if MP brings some new air to this game, even with the current loot/AH system.
I have to personally disagree immediately. I work very hard, and use some of my money to buy items. It absolutely doesn't feel empty at all, in fact I've probably spent close to 200$ on the RMAH over the coarse of the game so far, and I have fun playing almost every day. You see your blanket statement of assuming everyone feels the same way doesn't hold water, and is completely false.
You are clearly a devote of the AH system, if you enjoy the game like that, good for you. I cant, and many others cant either.
Maybe you are a casual player that is used to buy stuff and progress, I know a lot of ppl enjoy doing that, but in my little world, that's not what a video game is about.
I like how you try to talk down me as being a 'casual' gamer, and how you talk in absolutes to others 'I almost can assure you, that you won't be playing it for long'.
Again, you are incorrect. You really need to quit assuming facts, and actually come out with data or facts of your own. I think I have around 500 hours of D3 time, so I'm hardly casual. I can also tell you that just like D2, where I bought my gear and played for a decade, I'll be playing this game for years.
"And, like I said before, I want to play a damn freaking game, not a "economy 101 simulation game". I want to kill mobs and expect a good drop. That's all. "
Entitled attitude much? You want to 'expect' a good drop. If you want to have an exact equation of X amount of hours / enemies killed gives you Y bonus, go play WoW, or CoD. D3 is luck.
Also, you ARE playing a game. Again, just because someone likes to play differently doesn't deter your own experience, and you need to stop worrying about other people.
First, psychological speaking, there is a huge difference between finding your items in the floor, than buying them in the AH. Buying an item feels empty. There is no joy at doing that, at all. The same applies to the real life, when you struggle with something and you finally can do what you were trying to achieve, it feels great!, you've earned it!, you feel like you achieved something amazing, even if it was nothing impressive.
Now, if you bought your way to your goal, sure, the result is the same, in less time, with less effort, but the emptiness that it leaves behind already destroyed that experience for you. It is just not the same.
And, this is not an opinion, this is human behavior.
Now, there are several ways to fix/change/alter/improve this, pick the verb you like. The only problem, is that Blizzard has a brilliant business design, and anything that jeopardize that, its a no-no. That is why Im afraid that the game (for me) is kind of dead, as a non-AH user.
After the 1.05 hits, I'll play a little, I'll see how the game feels now (I'm not playing the PTR), I'll see how hard to get/worthy is the new ring, and I'll see if MP brings some new air to this game, even with the current loot/AH system.
I have to personally disagree immediately. I work very hard, and use some of my money to buy items. It absolutely doesn't feel empty at all, in fact I've probably spent close to 200$ on the RMAH over the coarse of the game so far, and I have fun playing almost every day. You see your blanket statement of assuming everyone feels the same way doesn't hold water, and is completely false.
You are clearly a devote of the AH system, if you enjoy the game like that, good for you. I cant, and many others cant either.
Maybe you are a casual player that is used to buy stuff and progress, I know a lot of ppl enjoy doing that, but in my little world, that's not what a video game is about.
I like how you try to talk down me as being a 'casual' gamer, and how you talk in absolutes to others 'I almost can assure you, that you won't be playing it for long'.
Again, you are incorrect. You really need to quit assuming facts, and actually come out with data or facts of your own. I think I have around 500 hours of D3 time, so I'm hardly casual. I can also tell you that just like D2, where I bought my gear and played for a decade, I'll be playing this game for years.
"And, like I said before, I want to play a damn freaking game, not a "economy 101 simulation game". I want to kill mobs and expect a good drop. That's all. "
Entitled attitude much? You want to 'expect' a good drop. If you want to have an exact equation of X amount of hours / enemies killed gives you Y bonus, go play WoW, or CoD. D3 is luck.
Also, you ARE playing a game. Again, just because someone likes to play differently doesn't deter your own experience, and you need to stop worrying about other people.
First rule of gaming, the amount of time you dedicate to a game, has nothing to do with being casual or hardcore gamer, its an attitude or approach you give to a game that defines what kind of gamer are you. It is like saying, my sister plays 5 hours/day Farmville, so, she is a hardcore gamer. False. And, sadly, Farmville has more similarities to Diablo 3 than Diablo 3 has to Diablo 2...
Second, this is not a "live and let live" situation, the AH is changing the game for non-AH users. That was discussed before, please don't make me type again, thanks.
And finally, when I said that I "expect" good drops, I was talking about how the itemization system works right now, that you need to use the AH if you want to progress, because the way items/drops work right now, it is extremely unrewarding.
It's just that finding them is pretty much a thousand times more enjoyable to me.
While i have been a very strong supporter of the AH / RMAH even before the game came out, this has changed a bit.
Blizzard announced the RMAH as "Microtransaction" Plattform... how they run it today, we all know....nothing with Micro.
I have the Same Feelings as Slayardarklaws, i'd rather find the Loots myself, and sell the Leftovers.
Thats what Diablo has always been about.
The AH should be used as addition, not as a 100% requirement...which it is right now.
In nearly 800 Played Hours i found and use 1 Single Piece myself... rest comes from the AH.
I am kinda sad what Blizzard has done to the Game.
Soap Bubbles is all we get from them, over and over and over again.
Sure, but then tell me for how long are you going to play this game. Because, I almost can assure you, that you wont be playing it for long.
A long time, I'm sure. I've played other games with stimulating economies for a long time; D2, EQ and WoW
And, like I said before, I want to play a damn freaking game, not a "economy 101 simulation game". I want to kill mobs and expect a good drop. That's all.
Indeed, and that's fine. What you don't understand is that some people enjoy the economic aspect of online gaming. I'm not insulting your preference, it would be nice if you could reciprocate.
My two cents
the main complaint is the drop rates are low, and there is a conspiracy that blizzard doesn't want to increase the droprate because they don't want the AH to flood with useless stuff, and have the value of items go down.
So what are some solutions?
off the top of my head
1: Put more emphasis on crafting ( but that takes away from your 'oh look what i found'' thrill
2: Oh well, let the AH flood with useless junk and have the value of items go down, and increase droprate
But to play devils advocate, sure its hard to find stuff, and maybe you need to use the AH to stay alive in inferno,
but don't forget inferno is supposed to be hard as hell ( no pun intended)
I'm all for lowering the rare drop rate by 75% but hard coding the stats so they are at least somewhat valuable. This would make the game
Immensely exciting
From all the complaints Blizzard is seeing related to the AH and drop ratios, the only sensible solution to all this problem would either have a completely separete mode without the AH (which I'm pretty sure they definitely don't want), or having a Bind on Pickup/Equip system on the expansion.
I hear from a lot of players that the economy on WoW works a lot better with those mechanics than the economy in D3. And that for most epic/legendary items they're all bind on pickup so you really have to work for them, and that pleases both the hardcore and casual players.
Anyone here with a good knowledge on that game's economy?
I wouldn't be surprised with all the outrage from the playerbase if they implemented such a system on D3's expansion, even with the huge risk of pissing off all who would rage with the "this isn't WoW" argument.
I also liked the idea of the AH because it was a means for facilitating trade. But that is not what it has become. it is a necessity rather than simply an interface which can be used for trading. The less reliant I Have to be on the auction house the happier.
In short that is my primary issue.
The fact that the auction house feels OBLIGATORY because progressing without it is ridiculously grindy.- (Trading was not obligatory in D2 i found plenty of Shako's, and other really good uniques)
secondly i dont like that the AH is really impersonal ( multiplayer games already suck, now there is no reason to meet people for trading either) The efficiency of the auction house is a massive disincentive to oldschool trade
thirdly as someone else has suggested The AH covers up some of the glaring issues in itemisation.
IF there were no AH in this game(thats not what i want) I think Blizzard and everyone else would be forced to acknowledge that current itemisation hinders build diversity, Increases character specialisation while making playing other classes unappealing and centralises progression(complete gear reliance)
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2) In D2 we had to join trading games if we wanted to trade, limited to 8 players. The other players might be afk, might not have good stuff for trade, might not want what we had for trade, etc. We began to use SoJs (unique ring ) and perfect skulls (good gems) for currency.
But even this wasn't enough, and a site called d2jsp was born. Because it addressed a glaring need among d2 players by giving us a currency (forum gold), the site's founder got rich off it.
2) And so my second question is, how could Blizzard have addressed players' need to trade easily with a fluid currency *without* implementing an AH?
I feel I should point out what you must already know, as you said you played Diablo 2 - rares are much more common in D3 than in D2, and they're just as likely to be bad. If the D3 drop rate were adjusted for the economy, rares would be less common in D3, not more. I'm not saying that you don't have a valid point - all I'm saying is that I think the issue you are having is with the difficulty of inferno. This is what promotes AH usage, not the drop rate. If there were no inferno and it ended with hell mode as D2 did, I don't think there would be nearly as much of an issue.
However you didn't answer the second question: How could Blizzard have addressed the need for facilitated trading without implementing an AH? Whether you like to trade or not, you must admit that when a random player gets rich by giving D2 players a currency to trade with (d2jsp), there's an obvious issue, and if you're the software developer, you're going to all but be forced to do something about it, yes?
It is probably already too late to implement a plan like that now since the AH is inundated with tons of crap rares and even decent rares that nobody is buying anymore. Like, when i found a blue after i first started playing D3, i thought it was way too soon/fast to be finding a blue, let alone a rare. In fact, i think they shouldnt really introduce rares into the game until Hell difficulty in the first place because normal and nightmare are pretty easy. But, they should lower the drop rates of rares imo. I firmly believe that will make both finding items and the AH better. the problem is that people have what they need for now, so its too late for this
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Amen to that. I agree with almost all the points, other than the fact that I'm with 99% of the population that is forced to cram ourselves into the AH. I would love to find all my items, but because of my need to compete with my friends (EHP/DPS stats/elite kills, etc.), I find myself shopping around all the time.
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"I found a good legendary yesterday with 0%mf and 0nv, just using the search button" vs "300mf, 300h played, 0 usefull legendaries"
First, psychological speaking, there is a huge difference between finding your items in the floor, than buying them in the AH. Buying an item feels empty. There is no joy at doing that, at all. The same applies to the real life, when you struggle with something and you finally can do what you were trying to achieve, it feels great!, you've earned it!, you feel like you achieved something amazing, even if it was nothing impressive.
Now, if you bought your way to your goal, sure, the result is the same, in less time, with less effort, but the emptiness that it leaves behind already destroyed that experience for you. It is just not the same.
And, this is not an opinion, this is human behavior.
Now, there are several ways to fix/change/alter/improve this, pick the verb you like. The only problem, is that Blizzard has a brilliant business design, and anything that jeopardize that, its a no-no. That is why Im afraid that the game (for me) is kind of dead, as a non-AH user.
After the 1.05 hits, I'll play a little, I'll see how the game feels now (I'm not playing the PTR), I'll see how hard to get/worthy is the new ring, and I'll see if MP brings some new air to this game, even with the current loot/AH system.
1) It doesn't affect anyone, at least not directly. It *might* affect someone if they are trying to trade an item because that item might be more easily found on the AH, but that's the extent of it. It literally boils down to the same root problem that the 'no personal skill build' argument came from; These people want to control how others play. they don't LIKE the fact that others can get items (from other players, mind you) through an AH, and they want to control the person into playing how THEY would play, which might be different.
2) In these same, controlling people's minds, Blizzard should have just done nothing. These type of people would have preferred this because in the back of their mind a lot more people are playing how they would want to play, and they feel more in control.
Bear in mind to the argument 'an RMAH would have popped up anyway,along with a million 3rd party sites' doesn't work with these people because they don't like the truth, and would rather live in la-la land believing everyone is the same.
I have to personally disagree immediately. I work very hard, and use some of my money to buy items. It absolutely doesn't feel empty at all, in fact I've probably spent close to 200$ on the RMAH over the coarse of the game so far, and I have fun playing almost every day. You see your blanket statement of assuming everyone feels the same way doesn't hold water, and is completely false.
as diablo II is called upon several times, The God must remind of one thing - release date. The God, for example, had a 56k modem with internet payed per hour, so whole internet-only concept was so alien to him - it was a single player game. or, occasionally a multiplayer lan. naturally, there was CONSIDERABLY less trading in general, at least in first years - not everyone is born with same internet rights...
and then the items found were God's own. each and every one. The God used had a weak item placeholder(s) in build for months - The Gods chosen character, a mf-sorceress God developed with love for years, doing endless amount of farming and using, basically, as a item-generator for other, less mf-usable characters, used loved and appreciated blue +24 resist all / + 30 mf (was it? - somewhere near the max) BLUE - so, no, The God in his infinite wisdom is fully untouched by legendary-fetish and their drop-rate "problems" - after all, until the expansion there was so few unique/set items worth having. to clarify, The God uses mentioned blue still, though in possession of several tal rasha's or +2 sorceress rares. point being - in AH environment, tal rasha would be bought immediatelly, and worthier blue missed or even unpicked
and what with endless stream of unusable, semi-usable, almost usable, usable-and-great-except-that-i-clavdivs-already-have-better rares/sets/uniques? sold. vendored. in quantities. what about gold surplus? a gambling problem! countless millions used for endless rolling of rings/amulets (and countless rerolled in cube) to a very little success (thought The God had two perfect naglerings and whatnot among the rares - all FOUND) - but no regret over it, none at all.
now, what I, Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, The God, do with weak point in build in diablo III? RHETORICAL!
how much took The God to finish maximum difficulty, in hours, compared to diablo II? RHETORICAL!
can The God compare high-level unique drop in diablo II with same in diablo III? RHETORICAL!
at current point, dIII is dominantly single player game, plagued with need for constant quality internet access, WITH addition of AH. internet access still being a problem - thank you, Blizzard, for having a lag in SP, and moreso in occasional MP - The God's micro was... well... godlike. before. oh, and thank you for removing 'last HP chance', it really means so much for Clavdivs - though it's usefulness in small-but-constant-lag environment with constant and annoying (and completely unnecessary) piles of... excretions over the whole screen doing constant damage. YES! THANK YOU FOR THAT IMMENSELY!
why The God doesn't play without AH (a common 'argument')? BALANCE! though it looks more appealing as time goes by...
probably more arguments on The God's mind, but this post grown too long already... if you need them - ask, The God is benevolent
The Gods Disclaimer:
I) I, Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, The God, DO NOT ADVOCATE PUBLICLY REMOVAL OF AH
II) I, Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, The God, STRONGLY AGREE WITH THE EXISTENCE OF RMAH AND ADVOCATE STRONGLY AGAINST REMOVING IT, AS IT IS WORTHY, SAFE AND INTERESTING ADDITION TO THE GAME
III) I, Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, The God, ADVOCATE REMOVAL OF BLACKSMITH CRAFTING ENTIRELY, FOR A REASON OF BEING A CRAP CAUSING ABUSE AND IMBALANCE AND WHATNOT (LOOK AT 'CRAFTING CHANNELS' FOR MORE CLARIFICATION)
I have been a game designer, modder and balancer. Link below is to my blog, where i discuss flaws of this game and offering solutions.
YOU can help this cause by sharing a link in your signature! Please do, if you like my ideas
http://savediablo3.wix.com/diablo3#!home/mainPage
You are clearly a devote of the AH system, if you enjoy the game like that, good for you. I cant, and many others cant either.
Maybe you are a casual player that is used to buy stuff and progress, I know a lot of ppl enjoy doing that, but in my little world, that's not what a video game is about.
Snipping your quote a bit to save space.
My D2 experience is probably different from yours since I only played Classic - I didn't like LoD for various reasons. I'm assuming you played LoD because probably 99% of D2 players did. In classic, I do remember most rares being crap. Weapons especially needed dual +dmg mods (eg. kings + merciless) to be good. In countless hours of playing D2 I think I only ever found one truly godly item, a chu ko nu which was within 3-4 of its maximum theoretical damage - no +skills or leech though.
As for an offline mode, I support that request even though I wouldn't use it. But I see no reason why you shouldn't have the option, it wouldn't harm my experience in any way. I like the idea of options, because we all want something a bit different. One size doesn't fit all, and so the only realistic way to satisfy a broad range of customers is to allow them to customize the experience by giving them options.
I'm in agreement with you on this - Blizzard didn't give us very many options with this game. It seems to be their philosophy lately, they're actually getting to be a lot like Apple The mentality is basically "This is what you should like, and if you don't then there's something wrong with you". I see this in WoW with forced guilding, and I've seen it in D3 patches where they've specifically outlined how they want players to play the game (eg. "we want players hunting down elite packs", when justifying the MF nerf in regards to chests and the general nerf on the contents of chests, barrels, bone piles, etc.) Right, right... forget what we like, we're playing *their* game... -.-
I'd have to disagree with that, I think it is opinion. You find enjoyment in finding your gear, which is fine. I find enjoyment in online economies; in trading, buying, selling, etc., and also in having the best gear I can get, no matter how I get it. In fact, what drew me so powerfully to D2 was that it was the first game I played with an online economy.
Sure, but then tell me for how long are you going to play this game. Because, I almost can assure you, that you wont be playing it for long.
And, like I said before, I want to play a damn freaking game, not a "economy 101 simulation game". I want to kill mobs and expect a good drop. That's all.
I like how you try to talk down me as being a 'casual' gamer, and how you talk in absolutes to others 'I almost can assure you, that you won't be playing it for long'.
Again, you are incorrect. You really need to quit assuming facts, and actually come out with data or facts of your own. I think I have around 500 hours of D3 time, so I'm hardly casual. I can also tell you that just like D2, where I bought my gear and played for a decade, I'll be playing this game for years.
"And, like I said before, I want to play a damn freaking game, not a "economy 101 simulation game". I want to kill mobs and expect a good drop. That's all. "
Entitled attitude much? You want to 'expect' a good drop. If you want to have an exact equation of X amount of hours / enemies killed gives you Y bonus, go play WoW, or CoD. D3 is luck.
Also, you ARE playing a game. Again, just because someone likes to play differently doesn't deter your own experience, and you need to stop worrying about other people.
First rule of gaming, the amount of time you dedicate to a game, has nothing to do with being casual or hardcore gamer, its an attitude or approach you give to a game that defines what kind of gamer are you. It is like saying, my sister plays 5 hours/day Farmville, so, she is a hardcore gamer. False. And, sadly, Farmville has more similarities to Diablo 3 than Diablo 3 has to Diablo 2...
Second, this is not a "live and let live" situation, the AH is changing the game for non-AH users. That was discussed before, please don't make me type again, thanks.
And finally, when I said that I "expect" good drops, I was talking about how the itemization system works right now, that you need to use the AH if you want to progress, because the way items/drops work right now, it is extremely unrewarding.
While i have been a very strong supporter of the AH / RMAH even before the game came out, this has changed a bit.
Blizzard announced the RMAH as "Microtransaction" Plattform... how they run it today, we all know....nothing with Micro.
I have the Same Feelings as Slayardarklaws, i'd rather find the Loots myself, and sell the Leftovers.
Thats what Diablo has always been about.
The AH should be used as addition, not as a 100% requirement...which it is right now.
In nearly 800 Played Hours i found and use 1 Single Piece myself... rest comes from the AH.
I am kinda sad what Blizzard has done to the Game.
Soap Bubbles is all we get from them, over and over and over again.
A long time, I'm sure. I've played other games with stimulating economies for a long time; D2, EQ and WoW
Indeed, and that's fine. What you don't understand is that some people enjoy the economic aspect of online gaming. I'm not insulting your preference, it would be nice if you could reciprocate.
the main complaint is the drop rates are low, and there is a conspiracy that blizzard doesn't want to increase the droprate because they don't want the AH to flood with useless stuff, and have the value of items go down.
So what are some solutions?
off the top of my head
1: Put more emphasis on crafting ( but that takes away from your 'oh look what i found'' thrill
2: Oh well, let the AH flood with useless junk and have the value of items go down, and increase droprate
But to play devils advocate, sure its hard to find stuff, and maybe you need to use the AH to stay alive in inferno,
but don't forget inferno is supposed to be hard as hell ( no pun intended)
Immensely exciting
I hear from a lot of players that the economy on WoW works a lot better with those mechanics than the economy in D3. And that for most epic/legendary items they're all bind on pickup so you really have to work for them, and that pleases both the hardcore and casual players.
Anyone here with a good knowledge on that game's economy?
I wouldn't be surprised with all the outrage from the playerbase if they implemented such a system on D3's expansion, even with the huge risk of pissing off all who would rage with the "this isn't WoW" argument.
In short that is my primary issue.
The fact that the auction house feels OBLIGATORY because progressing without it is ridiculously grindy.- (Trading was not obligatory in D2 i found plenty of Shako's, and other really good uniques)
secondly i dont like that the AH is really impersonal ( multiplayer games already suck, now there is no reason to meet people for trading either) The efficiency of the auction house is a massive disincentive to oldschool trade
thirdly as someone else has suggested The AH covers up some of the glaring issues in itemisation.
IF there were no AH in this game(thats not what i want) I think Blizzard and everyone else would be forced to acknowledge that current itemisation hinders build diversity, Increases character specialisation while making playing other classes unappealing and centralises progression(complete gear reliance)