We're taking a close look at what those specific mobility issues were in Diablo II and could be in Diablo III, and yes we're certainly trying to be a bit smarter about planning for it. You specifically mention the witch doctor. With the way he plays and feels a big warp or jump around skill just doesn't really seem right for him, but he may have a trick or two up his sleeve...
I saw that Bashiok had responded to a question on the Bnet forums about mobility skills for each class and what he said that caught my attention was what I have quoted above(specifically the last sentence). I kind of think every class is going to get some kind of ability that will allow them to cross gaps.
As for the Witch Doc I am very interested to see what they come up with. I think it is going to be some kind of Spirit World type ability where the Witch Doc will turn into a type of spirit/ghost that has a hovering effect too it so he can hover over these gaps. He will not be immune to dmg though, he will just take less dmg from melee type attacks.
What does everyone else think the Witch Docs mobility skill will be?
Maybe it's an ungodly speed. An old witch doctor curse that allows him to move with demonic speed.
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-Equinox
"We're like the downtown of the Diablo related internet lol"
-Winged
Maybe it's an ungodly speed. An old witch doctor curse that allows him to move with demonic speed.
Would ungodly speed allow him to cross gaps in bridges though? I guess if he is moving so fast it is like he is walking on air or something. I like the idea of a kind of curse that he puts on himself. Something that will give him this mobility for a short time but at the cost of losing something else.
Would ungodly speed allow him to cross gaps in bridges though? I guess if he is moving so fast it is like he is walking on air or something. I like the idea of a kind of curse that he puts on himself. Something that will give him this mobility for a short time but at the cost of losing something else.
Something along the lines of the Barb's berserk. When he goes fast maybe he is very vulnerable. Or maybe something along the lines of the Pallys life leech skill. Maybe the WD's health dimenishes when he uses the spell.
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"I want to say something but I'll keep it to myself I guess and leave this useless post behind to make you aware that there WAS something... "
-Equinox
"We're like the downtown of the Diablo related internet lol"
-Winged
I second zombie bridge!! I guess the spirit thing makes sense too...all we know is it has to be something that can relate back to the class as a whole.
Bashiok doesn't say that the witch doctor might be able to cross gaps; He only confirms that the witch doctor might have a few mobility skills (doesn't have to mean that you cross gaps).
Well crossing gaps was just an example, however, Bashiok also mentioned(though I did not quote that part) that they are looking at certain types of skills such as mobility skills that won't give one class more of an advantage at doing something better than another in certain situations.
This makes me think that Blizz is going to give every class a type of ability to cross gaps, be it in different kinds of ways and with different pros and cons to those abilities. I mean just think if you were playing with a friend who was a Wizard or Barb and they just tele or jump over a gap in the bridge and start fighting mobs on the other side, but you as the Witch Doc(who at this current time doesnt have an ability to allow them to cross the gap) has to go down and around using ladders and such. Personally I would feel a bit annoyed that I didn't have an ability like that.
I dont want my character to feel inferior to any other character, and as long as the abilities that allow each class to overcome that obsticale are unique to that character, I am perfectly fine with that.
I had this crazy idea that as a Witchdoctor, you could cast an ability on a monster that makes you physically switch places with it.
For example, that bridge that the Barbarian leaps across or Wizard teleports across. WD could target a monster on the other side and take it's place leaving the monster behind.
I just don't know how it would work from the lore side and from the artistic side.
EDIT: Of course, there would have to be a serious cooldown on that ability.
I liked the spirit idea, it is the one that makes the most sense for him.
The zumbie brigde looks very limited because it is 100% made to cross gaps, unlike leap attack and teleportation. It also don't give you mobility, it just allows you to overcome some obstacles.
Another idea is a summon (a bat or a giant insect) that have a skill that lifts you, allowing you to fly over monsters and obstacles. I think it's also nice because it fits the WD's summoner archtype. Still, the "Spirirtwalk" makes more sense.
But you also have to think of what skill would go well with the Runes;)
I mean Big Bat with Mulitistrike Rune?... Mayybe
Its probably more along the Lines of The Locusts swarm around him then hes gone move to the location you clicked and then fly away Leaving you there.
That Way Multistike could have locusts fly in all sorts of directions eating monsters around him at his current location
Power rune Makes it so when he gets to his location its a locust NOVA:O
Hahah That Would Be EEEPIC
And what about Teleportation with multistrike rune ?
The bat I suggested is a summon. He follows you and attack monsters and have this lift skill. By adding multistrike you could summon more bats.
Edit: I was just reading the official wicthdoctor webpage and found this: "The witch doctors are finely attuned to this Unformed Land and are able to train their minds to perceive this reality through a combination of rituals and the use of selected roots and herbs found in the jungles. They call the state in which they interact with this other world the Ghost Trance."
I bet he will have a Ghost Trance skill; Maybe it's the spirirt walk thing we were talking about.
Another idea is a summon (a bat or a giant insect) that have a skill that lifts you, allowing you to fly over monsters and obstacles. I think it's also nice because it fits the WD's summoner archtype. Still, the "Spirirtwalk" makes more sense.
simply...epic. If not this, than zombie/bone bridge. Or strong zombie halfway above ground that can launch you across gaps and into monsters. Or a flaming skull you can 'surf' on. Or a purple and green smoke bomb on either side of a gap, and the player uses his imagination to figure how he gets from point a to point b. Honestly anything is fine. So long as i get MAH BLOWDART PIPE!
I like the swithc places with monster/Spirit world type thing. That be cool you enter the spirit world and everything dissapears until you walk over or get over the obstacle
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This world you can change it
If we could somehow make this
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By helping a neighbor
Or even a stranger
And to know who needs help
You need only just ask
As for the Witch Doc I am very interested to see what they come up with. I think it is going to be some kind of Spirit World type ability where the Witch Doc will turn into a type of spirit/ghost that has a hovering effect too it so he can hover over these gaps. He will not be immune to dmg though, he will just take less dmg from melee type attacks.
What does everyone else think the Witch Docs mobility skill will be?
-Equinox
"We're like the downtown of the Diablo related internet lol"
-Winged
Would ungodly speed allow him to cross gaps in bridges though? I guess if he is moving so fast it is like he is walking on air or something. I like the idea of a kind of curse that he puts on himself. Something that will give him this mobility for a short time but at the cost of losing something else.
Something along the lines of the Barb's berserk. When he goes fast maybe he is very vulnerable. Or maybe something along the lines of the Pallys life leech skill. Maybe the WD's health dimenishes when he uses the spell.
-Equinox
"We're like the downtown of the Diablo related internet lol"
-Winged
lol now that would be freaking funny
this.
gamma11 > east
Here's to hoping His Noodly Appendage touches you and may His Sauce rain down upon you,
-GM
RAmen
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Well crossing gaps was just an example, however, Bashiok also mentioned(though I did not quote that part) that they are looking at certain types of skills such as mobility skills that won't give one class more of an advantage at doing something better than another in certain situations.
This makes me think that Blizz is going to give every class a type of ability to cross gaps, be it in different kinds of ways and with different pros and cons to those abilities. I mean just think if you were playing with a friend who was a Wizard or Barb and they just tele or jump over a gap in the bridge and start fighting mobs on the other side, but you as the Witch Doc(who at this current time doesnt have an ability to allow them to cross the gap) has to go down and around using ladders and such. Personally I would feel a bit annoyed that I didn't have an ability like that.
I dont want my character to feel inferior to any other character, and as long as the abilities that allow each class to overcome that obsticale are unique to that character, I am perfectly fine with that.
For example, that bridge that the Barbarian leaps across or Wizard teleports across. WD could target a monster on the other side and take it's place leaving the monster behind.
I just don't know how it would work from the lore side and from the artistic side.
EDIT: Of course, there would have to be a serious cooldown on that ability.
Your Predator 2 quote did not go wasted, I assure you.
I always figured the Witchdoctor would dissipate into a black fog and seethe across open spaces.
I think Siima is on to something with the smoke bomb idea.
The zumbie brigde looks very limited because it is 100% made to cross gaps, unlike leap attack and teleportation. It also don't give you mobility, it just allows you to overcome some obstacles.
Another idea is a summon (a bat or a giant insect) that have a skill that lifts you, allowing you to fly over monsters and obstacles. I think it's also nice because it fits the WD's summoner archtype. Still, the "Spirirtwalk" makes more sense.
I mean Big Bat with Mulitistrike Rune?... Mayybe
Its probably more along the Lines of The Locusts swarm around him then hes gone move to the location you clicked and then fly away Leaving you there.
That Way Multistike could have locusts fly in all sorts of directions eating monsters around him at his current location
Power rune Makes it so when he gets to his location its a locust NOVA:O
Hahah That Would Be EEEPIC
I like the smoke bomb or him turning into a spirit.
And what about Teleportation with multistrike rune ?
The bat I suggested is a summon. He follows you and attack monsters and have this lift skill. By adding multistrike you could summon more bats.
Edit: I was just reading the official wicthdoctor webpage and found this: "The witch doctors are finely attuned to this Unformed Land and are able to train their minds to perceive this reality through a combination of rituals and the use of selected roots and herbs found in the jungles. They call the state in which they interact with this other world the Ghost Trance."
I bet he will have a Ghost Trance skill; Maybe it's the spirirt walk thing we were talking about.
simply...epic. If not this, than zombie/bone bridge. Or strong zombie halfway above ground that can launch you across gaps and into monsters. Or a flaming skull you can 'surf' on. Or a purple and green smoke bomb on either side of a gap, and the player uses his imagination to figure how he gets from point a to point b. Honestly anything is fine. So long as i get MAH BLOWDART PIPE!
If you want to arrange it
This world you can change it
If we could somehow make this
Christmas thing last
By helping a neighbor
Or even a stranger
And to know who needs help
You need only just ask
Keep at it, though! I'd love to see some of this in the game.