You show me one element that would remotely classify D3 as steampunk, and I won't say that you have no idea what you are talking about.
What?
If only this were true. Sadly, the world fits into the high-fantasy psuedo-steampunk world that is Warcraft more than it does the masochistically dark world of Diablo.
I never said that it was steampunk, I said that the art fits more into the high-fantasy steampunk world that is >>>>>Warcraft<<<<<< more than it does Diablo. Please actually read what people say. Please.
Yeah warcraft and diablo have many similar qualities, not just art, everyone overlooks that alot of what even world of warcraft has comes from diablo. Diablo is the reason warcraft is such a famous series. Warcrat has taken more from diablo than diablo has from warcraft, but then again it shouldnt and doesnt really matter....since they are both of the same company.
Recently I watched the gameplay trailer video for 50th time or so, and made an interesting 'discovery'. At one point before, there was a discussion regarding whether using a skill from the hotbar is instantaneous and effects wherever your cursor aims because that seemed to be how it is. However, I came to a conclusion that it's not the case. Namely, you will notice that the arrow cursor doesn't normally change even when you are targeting monsters, however, it does change to a sword icon briefly for once in a while, and I couldn't figure out what was causing it. Upon further inspection, it became clear as a day - whenever barbarian executed a special attack from the hotbar, the icon would change to a little sword when mousing over a monster. Just pay close attention - normal attacks don't change the arrow no matter what, but a a tiny moment before Hammer of Ancients spell is used, or while the player is deciding in which direction to Leap, the cursor changes while rolled over a target. It's very apparent and noticeable at the Thousand Pounder event - you can clearly see that the cursor doesn't move from the mini-boss, and then all of a sudden it changes a moment before the the player executes the attack. It's a bit hard to describe with words, but just pay close attention and it will become apparent to you.
Now, why is this interesting? Two things. First of all, it means that instead of the 'aim > hotkey' sequence, it's more like 'hotkey > aim > click' which makes a lot of difference. What does that remind you of? You guessed it! It's exactly how spell casting worked in D1 when you executed them from your belt or inventory: press a number 1-8, your cursor changes, click on a monster. Yes, in case some of you forgot - in D1 there were such things as scrolls of various spells and skills which you could stack on your belt and use in the exact same way as they appear to be used in D3.
Don't know if anyone noticed it before, but for me this is monumental. I always liked pretty much everything about the original Diablo and it's awesome concepts. This also further substantiates my claims that Diablo 3 is really going back to the roots of the series. Here's some points to recapitulate my theory:
1. In D3 you can't run 200 mph like in the previous game. You can no longer simply evade enemies with your super-speed. Moving is slower and more realistic, which was one of the most recognizable traits of D1, and one of those things that made it all more suspenseful.
2. Graphics are more vibrant and stylized, but above all, full of atmosphere and Gothic elements. Some people don't seem to understand the meaning of the word, they simply think that everything dark and gritty is Gothic, but it's really not by a chance. There's nothing Gothic about ANYTHING seen in D2 with a couple of minor exceptions. Jungles are not Gothic, oriental temples or harems or deserts are not Gothic, nothing about A5 is gothic although difficult to classify.... etc.
3. Hotbar spell casting system similar as the one in D1, but above all, same casting sequence mechanic.
4. Absolute focus on dungeons, since Diablo was a dungeon crawler after all, and D2 pooped on that by putting in tons of irrelevant outdoor areas which were tedious, unimaginative and lacked any vibrancy seen in the previous game, but above all, lacked any reason to exist since there was nothing relevant to do in them. D3 will make modular outdoor encounters something to look forward to in every new game you join. Instead of moving this bush there and a rock here, outdoor randomization takes on a whole new level, by shuffling parts of areas to create interesting environmental variations and obstacles which actually affect your gameplay experience, unlike the mere order of rocks and bushes.
5. No more runewords. Crafting overpowered items with the runeword system completely destroyed the point of the game.
Dude give me some proof or shut up cuz it all sounds like bull to me
What exactly does sound bull to you? If you read the news, saw the interview, played D2 and D1, and read my post in entirety, then I should be asking YOU to provide evidence that I am wrong. You seem to be out of loop, but don't insult me for your own ignorance.
Dimebog, you seem an intelligent sort of critic but your endorsement of the “old style” targeting sequence is DEAD WRONG.
You see, the player’s sequence of 1) Activate special power 2) Move mouse to target 3) Press a key or mouseclick to finalise the special power Is TWICE as long as it needs to be, And TWICE as fatiguing on the fingers as it needs to be.
PLAYABILITY comes first.
Diablo 1 came from mixed ancestry of inspiration. Everyone in this industry has to copy a bit. Right up there on the list of “biggest parental influence” were roguelikes in general and a undersung game from WESTWOOD known as NOX.
Now, NOX was underdeveloped and not everyone likes a tongue-in-cheek humor to a fantasy swords and sorcery type game but one thing NOX did right was the player interface. All special powers were immediately activated with a single press of a key or mouse-button. You just moved the mouse indicator where you wanted it and pressed the key. BAM, it happened. No delays and no extra trouble. That’s how it should be.
You see, the player’s sequence of 1) Activate special power 2) Move mouse to target 3) Press a key or mouseclick to finalise the special power Is TWICE as long as it needs to be,.
What you listed is exactly how it was in Diablo I. So I don't see how I am 'dead wrong', without going into pointless detail arguing about what should and should not be, since everyone seems to have his own view of what SHOULD be.
You're basically saying that you want the system to be like Nox, and don't want it to be like Diablo? Seriously, you're going to be fatigued by having to click your mouse once.....
From watching the gameplay video I can assume a few things about the targeting and skill usuage system in D3
1. You use your mouse to select an NPC for targeting.
2. Hotbar buttons on the bottom of the screen can be triggered by a key bind that automatically uses the skill when pressed. Also buttons on this hotbar can be triggered using the mouse.
3. Skills can be bound to the left and right mouse buttons as well, and you can use the mouse wheel to cycle through the skills. Possible support for additional mouse buttons seems likely.
All in all I think this is a huge step forward in terms of designing a very effiecient and fluid combat system. I imagine that skill use and management will be much more twitch based and intuitive in D3.
It doesn't use the skill automatically - you need to aim and click after pressing a hotkey. At least how it is now, but I don't see a reason they would change it.
It doesn't use the skill automatically - you need to aim and click after pressing a hotkey. At least how it is now, but I don't see a reason they would change it.
I'm not talking about how it is now in D2... judging from the gameplay video, skills can be used automatically with the press of the key-bind.
I can see why they would want to change it. It allows the player to chain skills together more more efficiently and quickly than the old system.
I'm not talking about how it is now in D2... judging from the gameplay video, skills can be used automatically with the press of the key-bind.
I can see why they would want to change it. It allows the player to chain skills together more more efficiently and quickly than the old system.
No. In the gameplay trailer you can see that the cursor turns to a sword before he uses a hotkeyed attack and then he makes up his mind in which direciton to Leap etc. You didn't even read the original post? The whole point I was making was about how you have to hit the button > aim > click to execute.
No. In the gameplay trailer you can see that the cursor turns to a sword before he uses a hotkeyed attack and then he makes up his mind in which direciton to Leap etc. You didn't even read the original post? The whole point I was making was about how you have to hit the button > aim > click to execute.
I think its more like aim > click on the target > hit the button to execute.
It also seems like you can just aim > hit the button to execute without actually having to click on the mob... probably with a modifier key like the shift key in D2. Anyway my point is that in the video he's obviously aiming and then hitting the 1-4 keys to use skills instantly, as there are many cases where he's not clicking on mobs to use the skills.
What?
If only this were true. Sadly, the world fits into the high-fantasy psuedo-steampunk world that is Warcraft more than it does the masochistically dark world of Diablo.
I never said that it was steampunk, I said that the art fits more into the high-fantasy steampunk world that is >>>>>Warcraft<<<<<< more than it does Diablo. Please actually read what people say. Please.
Eventually they'll get it.
Over confidence is the rot.
RIP: Demon Hunter: lvl 50 | Barb: lvl 60 (plvl 5) | Monk: lvl12 & lvl70 (plvl 200)
where did you hear all this bullshit.
Dude give me some proof or shut up cuz it all sounds like bull to me
You see, the player’s sequence of
1) Activate special power
2) Move mouse to target
3) Press a key or mouseclick to finalise the special power
Is TWICE as long as it needs to be,
And TWICE as fatiguing on the fingers as it needs to be.
PLAYABILITY comes first.
Diablo 1 came from mixed ancestry of inspiration. Everyone in this industry has to copy a bit.
Right up there on the list of “biggest parental influence” were roguelikes in general and a undersung game from WESTWOOD known as NOX.
Now, NOX was underdeveloped and not everyone likes a tongue-in-cheek humor to a fantasy swords and sorcery type game but one thing NOX did right was the player interface. All special powers were immediately activated with a single press of a key or mouse-button. You just moved the mouse indicator where you wanted it and pressed the key. BAM, it happened. No delays and no extra trouble.
That’s how it should be.
DO NOT FATIGUE THE PLAYER MORE THAN YOU MUST
SINGLE PRESS ACTIVATION IS THE WAY TO GO
You're basically saying that you want the system to be like Nox, and don't want it to be like Diablo? Seriously, you're going to be fatigued by having to click your mouse once.....
1. You use your mouse to select an NPC for targeting.
2. Hotbar buttons on the bottom of the screen can be triggered by a key bind that automatically uses the skill when pressed. Also buttons on this hotbar can be triggered using the mouse.
3. Skills can be bound to the left and right mouse buttons as well, and you can use the mouse wheel to cycle through the skills. Possible support for additional mouse buttons seems likely.
All in all I think this is a huge step forward in terms of designing a very effiecient and fluid combat system. I imagine that skill use and management will be much more twitch based and intuitive in D3.
I'm not talking about how it is now in D2... judging from the gameplay video, skills can be used automatically with the press of the key-bind.
I can see why they would want to change it. It allows the player to chain skills together more more efficiently and quickly than the old system.
I think its more like aim > click on the target > hit the button to execute.
It also seems like you can just aim > hit the button to execute without actually having to click on the mob... probably with a modifier key like the shift key in D2. Anyway my point is that in the video he's obviously aiming and then hitting the 1-4 keys to use skills instantly, as there are many cases where he's not clicking on mobs to use the skills.
but im saying that without even trying the new system. i may end up liking it, who knows. prolly take some getting used to :\