DiabloFans

I was just wondering what people think will be the most popular. In WoW, the two easiest classes to level up were Hunter and Paladin, so they became the most popular over time. I wonder if some of the D3 classes are a little easier to level than others. For example, the Witch Doctor with pets might be easier than a Barbarian that has to worry more about his hitpoints. Likewise a Wizard might be a little harder than some classes, because it's a more fragile class. This is not which class you are going to play the most but which class you think is going to be popular with the "masses". Rank the classes in order of popularity if you want as well.

1. Witch Doctor - Pets! The only class with man's best (former) friend at their side. People can sit back and relax while their pets do most of the work.
2. Barbarian - Everyone is familiar with the "warrior" character. Sometimes people just want to smash things with a big maul.
3. Wizard - Another familiar class. Every RPG has a wizard, mage, or sorcerer, but guys tend to like the big brawny characters over the more intelligent ones.
4. Demon Hunter - Fills the "rogue" archetype. People know what it's about, but might require a little more twitch playing (jumping in and out of monster packs to do damage).
5. Monk - The second melee class, but more complicated than Barbarian. Monks have not been in very many games either.

If they aren't making them full-fledged mercenaries, I'd rather followers just be cosmetic. You get to choose which one to follow you. They do all the story stuff and chat with your character, but they don't really do any damage and have no customization. They should just be to keep your character company. Keep their health and survivability up throughout the game, but make their damage so low to be worthless.

Quote from stricho

My issue isn't really with the quality of drops in the game - I'm confident Blizzard well find an exceptional balance. My issue is with the simple act of loot drops. How many of you scrambled for the ground when you heard the distinctive BING or SCHIK of a gen or rune respectively. I always lament the loss of 'after-math' in games these days - Where you turn around to see the carnage you've wrecked. Too often you turn around to only a few dead bodies where the rest popped out of existence in a sour attempt to keep your FPS in check. Its a similar situation in D2 - The body count and loot drops were often the mark of truely epic battle. I loved that. Bodies already disappear quick enough in D3, so loot drops are the only remaining mark of a battle.

Do the bodies really disappear? I thought I saw them stay in the trailers. In Torchlight, monster bodies stick around in until you leave the zone. If a game like that designed for netbooks can have bodies staying, I don't see why D3 made for higher end computers can't do the same.

It looks like you guys were a little too "on the ball" since Blizzard released more details about the followers just a few hours later. I look forward to listening to the next one to hear your guys' updated comments.

I think this is something they can easily tweak. If say the players are getting a lot of drops and getting too much gold, they can just lower the sell value for most items to compensate. Gold still keeps its value and items still keep their high drop rates.

Quote from ScyberDragon

@thandar -

No where in that quote does it say anything about being one shot in hell. All it says is that they will die more frequently and easier as will all characters that play in a higher difficulty. It only makes sense that they die more often in a harder difficulty. And where does it say it costs to revive them. This is done automatically in the battle field. The only possibility is a dura hit.

If they are involved too much with MF, I don't think they will make them die easier. Just make it so MF gear isn't that viable for them.

Sorry, I was wrong about the gold cost. Bashiok said followers will have a respect cost, and I misread that as a revive cost. However, here is a direct quote from Bashiok about followers being one-shot in Nightmare and Hell, from the Official forums:


Also, it seems no matter how good the gear you have on them, followers will not survive in higher difficulties. In another quote Bashiok even says Blizzard will ensure followers never become viable at endgame:


If followers just provided more story and lore, I don't think people would complain as much. The fact that they gave followers some customization options (gear and skill slots) and then shortly later take followers away from you is what gets people angry.

Quote from Letyuk

Quote from axion

I have been searching the wiki and I understand the new skill/trait system. However I can't seem to find if skills will be maxed out after only 5 points or if it is higher (20) like diablo 2.

i might be wrong but i think its 5 points in normal 10 in nightmare and 15 in hell

No one really knows. Bashiok originally said this was how it would be, but after Blizzcon he said they had changed it. He would not say how they had changed it, so we really don't know right now.

Quote from ScyberDragon

I've been at work so I haven't been able to respond.

The blocked out lvl25 square is for their character specific item like the templar's tomes.

I don't think bashiok meant that they are not viable after normal. Just that they will die more often just as most players will in nightmare and hell difficulty.

I think it's funny that before the announcement a lot of people were complaining about the followers being to OP. Now, people are complaining about them being to weak and pointless. This just shows it's impossible to appease everyone no matter what decision they make. As a primary SP, I'm really excited for this system. If im playing with friends, then who needs followers, I have friends to play with.

While I still think this system does not 'encourage' co-op, I thought what Bash said about getting in the co-op mindset even when playing SP is a very valid point.

If you read Bashiok's quote, followers will basically be one shot in Hell regardless of gear (their base stats/skills won't scale at the same rate as the hero's). Even in single player, you won't really use them in Hell especially since it costs a little bit of gold to revive them each time. No follower will survive long enough to be a benefit for MF, and if it does happen, Blizzard will nerf followers to ensure they can't survive.

Fansites should be getting beta keys. I think these keys can be added to any battle.net account even if you don't have any linked games.

This whole system seems kind of pointless with all the limitations. I don't think anyone will spend much time with them knowing that they will just be underpowered in the next difficulty. If the difficulties are similar to D2, Normal will be the fastest difficulty you get through.

I will probably go with a different follower for 3 of my characters just to get all the story out of them. I don't see myself using them much on any later characters. It's disappointing because it really looks like they spent a lot of time designing this system, but it will barely be used.

I think most players will see the follower once with their first character in Normal difficulty. After that they will probably play multiplayer almost exclusively, because single player has no incentive compared to co-op. This confirms my prediction that Blizzard would not allow 4 players + 4 followers in multiplayer, but so I'm disappointed they would waste time on something like this.

Good idea and I hope its in the game. Even if not, people can organize their own betting system on forums. Main problem I think is there's no way to spectate arena matches. Maybe Blizzard will add that feature eventually though.

I think there should be a clan recruitment forum here. That way players can find others that like to play the same way. e.g. some people want to rush through whereas others want to go slowly.

It should always be hardcore for hardcore characters. I can imagine weekly duels. The winner from the previous week duels some new guy. Maybe there will be some legendary hero that goes undefeated for many weeks, but even the best will die eventually. People could even place bets on the winner with ingame gold.

I think it will be like SC2.

- Difference in Diablo 3 being that players will have multiple character names per account.
- Character names not unique
- Friends list is based on real name for Real ID friends or character name for normal friends.

I will probably level one of each class solo until it gets hard. Then I will do mostly group for the rest of my playing.