When Diablo III is finally released, we will all have a tough decision to make. Which class do I play first? Now, I am sure many of us will try out all five classes eventually and play all of them extensively; however, there can only be one first. Without any actual gameplay experience, what do you base this decision on?
Looks: With Diablo III, each class is going to be much more unique looking than the previous Diablo games. Not only does each class have their own style, but every piece of armor is being specifically designed to look unique to that character. So, if a Barbarian and a Witch Doctor equip the exact same gear, they will still look completely different from each other. Along with this, there are 18 different levels of gear that will each be distinct looking from previous levels. Does the look of the classes determine whether or not you play that class first?
Archetype: The archetype of the characters is a quick and easy way to distinguish them apart. The Wizard is your classic spell caster, the Demon Hunter your ranged combat character. Many people have a specific archetype that they like and play through various games and Diablo will not be any different. Will this be the main deciding factor for you?
Play Style: While archetypes determine the type of character in a broad sense, the actual play style helps distinguish that character. A great example of this is the Monk and Barbarian. Both are melee close-combat fighters but both play very different from each other. Perhaps you prefer the hulking tank melee fighter who can take it just as well as he can dish. Perhaps you are more keen on the fast combo style of the Monk who comes out of the battle just as quickly as he entered it. It's these specific differences that may have you choosing one character over the other.
Skills and Traits: With limited knowledge and experience with how the characters play, sometimes we have to make our decision on theory crafting with the limited knowledge we have. Many of the characters' skills and traits have been given and we can already plan builds based on these. A summoning Witch Doctor or an Ice Wizard may just be the build you are looking for. Will this knowledge of spells and attacks determine whether or not you play that class first?
Lore: Many people enjoy the story just as much as they love playing the game. Many past characters like the Necromancer has a deep story that goes into that character. It is possible that the Barbarian is the same one from Diablo II which will add to his story. Even if not, each class will have a unique point-of-view on the events happening and NPC's will interact with each class differently because of this. Will experiencing the story of Diablo III from a particular character be your choice for who you play first?
Friends: Some people choose who they play based on what their other friends are playing. Maybe you are still indifferent on which class to choose so you wait to see what everyone else picks. Maybe nobody else wants to play the Witch Doctor so you decide to go with him to help round out the group of characters you get to play with. Do others help you make your decision.
Other: Maybe none of these are used for you to make your decision. If so, what do you base your decision on.
Also, feel free to express which class you are planning on playing first with the five Diablo III characters' emotes.
I want to play the barbarian because he's the warrior(archetype) and the damage soaking hulk(playstyle describing a warrior?)
I'd blindly choose the BARBARIAN first.
For me Melee has always been my favorite Archetype, as for play style I prefer the heavy armored two handed weapon wielding warriors. Nothing is more satisfying than bashing/slashing monsters into pieces with a big fat mace/axe
As of the "Skill and Traits / Lore / Looks " I'm sure it will be enjoyable through game-play and complete my decision
Cheers
I'd say there is also probably about a 50/50 chance that after playing the game, I'll end up being totally wrong about which two classes I'll focus on first though. Actually playing a game can be massively different from reading about it.
(as a sub note, have you ever noticed in games a lot of times the fast technical fighters are usually female)
In Diablo II I was a Druid (feral/werewolf), seeing as how there is no Druid in D3 (/cry) the choice isn't easy.
Monk is a fast attacking melee, similar to the werewolf (I remember wielding a powerful slow 2h mace in human form, and switching to werewolf to bash someone with fury hitting 25times in a second o_0 =pain)
...But the Monk looks kinda weird, yeah I know its a monk... But still. I probably won't go the route of the Barb, simple hack/slash with no over-the-top-magical-skill-effects isn't all that entertaining
The Witch Doctor looks amazing though, I've always loved the Necro and summoning pets as a Druid. But the Witch Doctor is so much cooler. I love how with runes you can change the type of toads you summon, one giant Toad of Doom...
Decisions, decisions...
I've always been attracted to the CC/pets type caster /w Fear and various hp to mana mechanics Archetype.
And any other Archetype with a very high skill cap really.
I've never been a fan of classes like the barb who rely on being super tough to cover up there mistakes, I prefer implying my wits to stay alive. The gameplay of the more Fragile, high skill cap Monk seems very appealing.
I also like being Evil, as my sole purpose in rpgs is usually to make other players rage/cry via pvp.
But the holy Monk offers a nice change of pace.
Anyway, I chose Other because my decision is not really based on anything I can objectively specify. I'm basing my decision on pure feelings. If I had to particularly specify the reasons though, all of them are applicable:
Looks - This one not so much, but I guess looks are part of the feelings I have for the character.
Archetype - I've always played a beefy meat shield.
Play Style - Run in balls to the walls and kill everything. Who cares if you die. Take a chance.
Skills and Traits - Well, I AM a big fan of Whirlwind, but this one is kinda integral.
Lore - The barb lore is interesting, but has no effect on my decision.
Friends - I'm not doing this for friends.
So... I decided to make a decision matrix (It's amazing what a slow day at work can do).
It looks like I'll be playing the Wizard or Barbarian, depending on what my friends choose. If 2 of my friends choose to play wizards, I will most likely roll Barbarian... if not, I'll probably be a wizard.
I always try my favorites archetypes first (which would be in this order: ranged - mage - half-melee - full melee - summons), so now, for a change, I am trying my least favorite archetype first.
It is exciting to know that you always have your favorites archetypes waiting to be discovered.
And also, I can get a taste of the game before I make what could be my most frequent play characters.
I like to play ranged physical class, or some other ranged kind, but I had to add "most likely" cause I am really not sure what to think about the Demon Hunter. Other that: IT IS FREAKING AWESOME. But I could say that about every class. To me there is still something that I can't really put my finger on that makes me hesitant, something that just doesn't feel right.
That is how I remember choosing my first D2 character.
I remember looking through the game manual and reading about all the different skills of each character (especially top tier skills).
Frozen orb sounded sweet and so I got a sorceress.
For D3 I will probably do the same.
I don’t know all of the skills that are coming out. So I can’t make my actual decision just yet.
If I had to decide with what we know now about skills, I would pick witch doctor. I like Zombie Wall and am real keen to see how runes effect that skill too.
After watching the PvP demos and seeing how fast Barb's attack with their two-handers I can only imagine what kind of hell is going to break loose with the tornado of fury unleashed by Frenzy Barbarians.
I love you. A man after my own heart.
I actually created a decision matrix program in Java as a school project that does these calculations for you. I might break it out... though it's not deployed. You've encouraged me!