Diablo 3 - Incoming

[Nocculum]

Yet the Torchlight 2 Beta is nigh flawless server operation...

Has anyone found any of the Diablo 1/2 yellow sets yet? I've picked up one or two references that have tickled me.

[Lono13]

Part of me hates I'm so busy with work right now that I've vowed to not even unwrap my copy of the game until at least Tuesday. But then I hear about all the server frustration and it eases the pain a little.

[Souleater]

Yet the Torchlight 2 Beta is nigh flawless server operation...

I'm glad you put 'nigh' in there. http://forums.runicgames.com/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=25111

I would love to know what actually happened to BatNet over this last week. After the success of WoW, SC2, etc I would have thought they could cope better with this kind of demand. I wonder if something went wrong rather than just the amount of people trying to logon?

[Urgat]

Yet the Torchlight 2 Beta is nigh flawless server operation...

Yeap, comparing a small beta to the first weekend of an over-hyped world wide release totally makes sense.

[Satan]

Yet the Torchlight 2 Beta is nigh flawless server operation...

Has anyone found any of the Diablo 1/2 yellow sets yet? I've picked up one or two references that have tickled me.

I haven't seen any of them? Currently only on my first playthrough though.

I really enjoy the character-driven story-take they've done on the game. I'm a working man so I've only had a chance to play with my monk so far (haven't finished the game yet), but I started a Wizard yesterday just to show the game to my sister and was pleasantly surprised to find that the introduction was a bit different from the one I'd had as a monk.

Don't know if this is just the beginning or if there are further instances of it later in the game though.

Aside from the servers breaking down 1-2 times/day I'm having a good time with the game so far.

[Sophet Drahas]

Haven't really dug into Act II yet and it might be a while before I do. Wound up picking up a Tervigon and a Winged Hive Tyrant over the weekend along with a copy if Monstrous Arcana so that will get my attention the next couple weeks if I have any spare time.

[Thanatos_elNyx]

I haven't seen any of them? Currently only on my first playthrough though.

I really enjoy the character-driven story-take they've done on the game. I'm a working man so I've only had a chance to play with my monk so far (haven't finished the game yet), but I started a Wizard yesterday just to show the game to my sister and was pleasantly surprised to find that the introduction was a bit different from the one I'd had as a monk.

Don't know if this is just the beginning or if there are further instances of it later in the game though.

Aside from the servers breaking down 1-2 times/day I'm having a good time with the game so far.

Yeah as far as I can see, each class gets their own act intros. Also the dialog with the followers is different.

[Evil Hypnotist]

I pre-ordered my copy ages ago and then had to go away with work for a few days just before release. I get back and find my laptop powerpack (I think) has bust. The replacement has arrived now so looking forward to jumping into it this evening, although from the sounds of it if I had been able to play I might not have got much done with the server issues...

The good thing was I managed to get my gaming board finished this weekend, which would have never happened if I had Diablo to play :P

[Souleater]

Apparently a number of EU accounts were hacked. It would explain the need to close the logon servers.

[Eumerin]

I would love to know what actually happened to BatNet over this last week. After the success of WoW, SC2, etc I would have thought they could cope better with this kind of demand. I wonder if something went wrong rather than just the amount of people trying to logon?

The WoW launch was actually a mess. I'd kill a mob, try and loot it, and get stuck while the server lagged due to my attempt to loot the mob. And then the mob would respawn and kill me since I couldn't take any actions while I was stuck in the lagged out inventory screen. In contrast, the WoW beta was extremely stable. It's only when the game launched that things went bad. And even then, the issues were primarily on certain servers.

Launch always adds its own little issues. Sometimes things go smoothly - or at least smoothly enough that nothing's visible to the players. Sometimes things don't go so smoothly, and it's anyone's guess as to the reason why. If I had to guess, then I suspect that some of the hardware that they added to handle the additional server stresses didn't perform as they'd projected.

[Spider-pope]

I pre-ordered my copy ages ago and then had to go away with work for a few days just before release. I get back and find my laptop powerpack (I think) has bust. The replacement has arrived now so looking forward to jumping into it this evening, although from the sounds of it if I had been able to play I might not have got much done with the server issues...

The good thing was I managed to get my gaming board finished this weekend, which would have never happened if I had Diablo to play :P

Given the servers were down for most of Sunday, you'd have had plenty of time to finish your board anyway.

[Souleater]

The WoW launch was actually a mess.

Quite so...I was hoping that they might have made suitable preparations in light of previous problems.

[Nicho]

Finished the campaign yesterday. Would have liked a cooler ending cinematic after the previous ones.

[someone2040]

So far I’m not exactly impressed. There are some interesting references to Diablo 1, but that’s about it. The game play is even more brain dead than it was in the two previous games.

In Diablo 2, even with a big strong barbarian, I actually had to think a bit before charging into a big mob. Circling it wearily, picking off stranglers, looking for the opening for a quick assassination-run on the boss in the middle of the mob. In Diablo 3 I can just wade in and start swinging away, the combination of a steady supply of health orbs and a few potions in the backpack makes the barb all but invincible.

What difficulty are you playing in?
I'm gonna be honest. On my Monk, Normal difficulty was pretty much as you state. The first 2 acts I pretty much didn't use a single health potion. Most of Normal mode I didn't die unless I got surprise burst damage and couldn't hit my heal in time.
Now in Nightmare mode, it's a bit of a different story. You do have to think about what you're wading into and can't just non-stop find the next fight without thinking a little first.

So if you're basing this just off normal mode... then I suggest reconsider and finish the first play through and get into the harder difficulties. Diablo 3 isn't a game you finish once for the storyline and set aside after all.

[witchunter180]

Be careful folks; ppl's accounts are getting hacked so watch your security!!!

[f2k]

What difficulty are you playing in?
I'm gonna be honest. On my Monk, Normal difficulty was pretty much as you state. The first 2 acts I pretty much didn't use a single health potion. Most of Normal mode I didn't die unless I got surprise burst damage and couldn't hit my heal in time.
Now in Nightmare mode, it's a bit of a different story. You do have to think about what you're wading into and can't just non-stop find the next fight without thinking a little first.

So if you're basing this just off normal mode... then I suggest reconsider and finish the first play through and get into the harder difficulties. Diablo 3 isn't a game you finish once for the storyline and set aside after all.

I’m currently playing on normal.

I must admit, that I have my doubts as to whether or not I’ll ever play on any other difficulty. I just can’t see the appeal of going through the very same game with the very same character.

Yesterday I got to the first waypoint in act 2 and, for the first time, I found myself in serious trouble. Ran into an elite pack of those damn hammer/club wielding daemons. They all hit my at the same time and that was more than my poor barb could handle. That pack managed to kill me twice before I could get them down.

And those flying thingies shooting poisonous mini-me’s? I hate them. They remind me of the lightning beetles from Diablo 2 – take a full hit from them and you’re in big trouble.

In the end, my experience with the difficulty is extremely mixed. Most of the opposition, including the bosses, is quite easy. But every now and again the game seems to spawn an elite pack that’s on steroid, packing a far bigger punch that you would have expected.

In any case, I’m beginning to understand why people are saying that ranged classes are superior in this game. Many packs are quite slow moving and with magic/bows doing just about as much damage as cc weapons...

[Satan]

Finished the campaign yesterday. Would have liked a cooler ending cinematic after the previous ones.

Haven't finished the game yet, but just arrived in Act IV. Oh, man - that was corny. I quite enjoyed the story up until the end of Act III.

These lesser evil types do not exactly strike me as evil masterminds in any sort of way either. They keep using the same useless taunts without any plots to back it up. I could see the twists coming from a mile away... Come on! THis is Blizzard! You CAN do better!

[Eumerin]

Haven't finished the game yet, but just arrived in Act IV. Oh, man - that was corny. I quite enjoyed the story up until the end of Act III.

These lesser evil types do not exactly strike me as evil masterminds in any sort of way either. They keep using the same useless taunts without any plots to back it up. I could see the twists coming from a mile away... Come on! THis is Blizzard! You CAN do better!

Eh... The Diablo series has never really been known for subtle plots...

In any case, I’m beginning to understand why people are saying that ranged classes are superior in this game. Many packs are quite slow moving and with magic/bows doing just about as much damage as cc weapons...

Yes, and no. There are an awful lot of leapers in the game. And there's the Vortex, Teleport, Prison, and Wall-type bosses that force you to be more resourceful to keep from getting caught in melee range.

[Satan]

Eh... The Diablo series has never really been known for subtle plots...

No. But the one in Diablo2 was a sight better than this one. It had more and longer cutscenes for one. I think the first and second act up until Belial was doing pretty OK, but then it all just went downhill from there plotwise. The whole of the first act felt like the most polished part of the game now that I think about it.

But I mean - they keep giving the Daemon's titles, but I'm not seeing anything to back them up with? The Lord of Lies? The Lord of Sin? Where's the sinning at?

[Satan]

No. But the one in Diablo2 was a sight better than this one. It had more and longer cutscenes for one. I think the first and second act up until Belial was doing pretty OK, but then it all just went downhill from there plotwise. The whole of the first act felt like the most polished part of the game now that I think about it.

But I mean - they keep giving the Daemon's titles, but I'm not seeing anything to back them up with? The Lord of Lies? The Lord of Sin? Where's the sinning at?

Ok, just finished the game.

And I feel like I just got trolled by Blizzard.

Story. So. Bad.