Diablo 3 Gameplay/Performance Impressions (NO SPOILERS ALLOWED)

My Demon Hunter character finished Nightmare at level 52 or 53 without using the Auction House at all, ..Big Mistake!! I was 9K DPS, 1348 Armour with only 12 Life Regeneration.

Then I tried the Auction House purchasing armour and weapons costing anywhere from 20K to 50K gold only, ..then my DPS went from 9K to 26K, life regeneration went up to 170 per second. Now Hell Act 1 and Act 2 felt Easy (I don't want it too easy also though). And I still have some crappy armour left. I don't wanna buy too much and make my character too Invincible so I could enjoy a little challenge.

Now I don't even care about the droppings, and the blue and yellow Elites of Hell Act 1 and 2 are fairly easy (not too easy, but very fun challenge).

So many cheap weapons and armour (but very effective) at the Auction House. They cost anywhere from 5,000 to 100,000 gold (fairly easy to farm).

I'm also running Diablo 3 at 1080p Highest setting, high shadows with Anti-aliasing enabled but No V-sync with my OC'ed GTX 460M. I get anywhere from high 50's to 60-75-80 FPS average.

When I get my M17X with the 680M I will surely enable V-sync. Now I'm really enjoying Diablo 3 (level 58 at the moment in Hell difficulty Act 2).

 

Try hardcore, item much more expensive

 

Is playing Hardcore the way to enjoy Diablo 3?

 

Not really, because when I ask my bro "Do you think it would help I make a char to play with you", and he was like "nty".

 

It's a way of getting so infuriated that you will never log into the game again. If you lose your character - you lose everything

If you want enjoyment, then I suggest finding another game Once you get a glimpse of "end game", you will ask yourself "why the hell did I waste time playing this crap? everyone was right, I should of never wasted my time and money". You'll get more entertainment out of the mario games for NES imo.

See, Blizzard is smart. They make the good drops nearly impossible to achieve, even if you invest hundreds of hours farming the same quest (inferno content), you may never see a good drop at all. They want YOU, the player, to use your credit card several times on the RMAH (or purchase a substantial amount of gold) out of frustration so they can take their 15% profit cut from you. They're counting on you "breaking" and using the AH to win.

 

While its debatable how MUCH blizzard constructed D3 to be around the Auction House (I think some of the dependance on AH has been simply poor design rather than the nefarious construct of a Blizzard master plan - and I say this largely because Blizzard is/was? one of the few gaming companies to have a fairly intact reputation), the impact of the AH on the rewarding longevity of the game has been drastic.

I've got 1 or 2 friends, that aren't in college, don't work, do nothing but play games all day. One of them farmed the earlier acts in inferno FOR A WEEK - that was his job, in all seriousness... and he still got ripped apart in the later acts.

The rewarding item grind of the game is dead. I am a guy that rarely enjoys games with a heavy RPG element, but even I got addicted to D2. D3 is unfortunately a couple of step forwards but 10 steps back.

 

Geo - Community - Diablo III

Cool new feature - my build and gear. Farm Act IV Inferno easy.

 

So...if I'm not interested in the RMAH, and I'm more interested in "gameplay" and "plot" than "loot," I should skip this game, right? One of my friends is urging me to get it, but $60 is no small chunk of coin, and I'm really not liking what I'm hearing.

Western RPGs I've liked include Neverwinter Nights, Mass Effect trilogy, and Dragon Age 1. I like an interesting plot and varied gameplay more than loot grinding (like Borderlands, which I never finished). Sounds like D3 is not a good fit for me?

 

Its up to you if you want to listen from us. Its a love and hate thing.

You will never know if you don't gamble

Sent from my HTC Glacier using Tapatalk 2

 

I moved on to another looter that is far superior to D3, Path of Exile. It's a great looter with amazing build diversity.

 

My DH now just got to 57,092 Damage (DPS), 2999 Armor, 280 Life Regeneration in Hell Act. 2 single player by merely purchasing crossbows and armour at the Auction house using gold. The most expensive (in gold) I bought cost 120K gold. Fighting Belial was rediculously easy. I had a very hard time in Nightmare mode before 'cause I was relying on loot find and not using the Auction.

The Auction House can be really silly when it comes to real money. I have seen an Amulet costing $100, in which I find a similar amulet with the same effectiveness that cost 100K in gold.

Even at Act 3, elites are still fairly easy to beat (not too, very easy but enjoyable challenge). I've also seen an armour that cost 120 million in gold in which I found a similar armor of effectiveness costing 120K in gold.

Many, many people even my co-workers (we work in Aviation) are really enjoying Diablo 3, it's almost Game of the Year for me, unless Thief 4 comes out this year.

I had one instance where I think the server went screwed (maybe connectivity problem), and my DH wasn't firing its crossbow while fighting a yellow elite, then all of a sudden I just died killed by this yellow elite. Imagine if you're playing in Hardcore. That's why it's not quite worth playing HC due to DRM.

 

Here's a shot of the stuff I purchased and how much in gold (no money involved) that made my Demon Hunter go from 9K DPS to 57K DPS. I'm very close to Azmodan now in Hell difficulty Act 3 and still, ..the elites are still fairly easy to beat (nice, fun challenge) and not infuriating. I remember finishing Nightmare diff. with only 9K DPS and that was really hard since I didn't use the Auction house. My crossbows are still around 300+ rating, ..I have seen 1000+ crossbows for 300K gold, ..so I know I still have alot of room for damage when I get to Inferno. My co-worker already finished Inferno by just purchasing using gold at the AH.

 

This game is actually a lot better when it comes to gameplay, mechanics, building up your class, etc. It's like everything good that D3 missed out is here. I just cant take the gfx, its like we went back to D2 I hope they will do something to improve it before they release the final game.

I like their talent tree. Its massive lol!

 

...Just wait till act 3 inferno

 

Why are you still in Hell? So you reached 60 before Hell Belial? With your current dps, you can kill hell diablo easier than belial. Everything changes in Inferno though. I'm not gonna ruin the fun for you though. I hope you enjoy the game. If you're playing in US server, add me up (blood#1648). I still do log-in occasionally to play with my cousins in the the Philippines. See you in-game bro!

Are you still playing Slick?

 

Yes I'm still playing and i'm having the most fun in my life...I'm playing a dual wield barb...about 270 hrs invested lol...I'm soloing act 3-4 with little issues. it took me a long time to create this character. I refused to spend 100's of millions of gold or real money to get the gear that barbs need...so i farmed and bought bargains...I've probably spent about 10 million on the AH...buying bargains and i've had some very good drops in act 3-4 inferno. I've been lucky though...my main hand weapon is a 1150 dps axe with good stats which fell for me in act 2 inferno. My secondary weapon is a 1045 dps axe with 886 loh and socketed which dropped for me after i killed Siegebreaker (act 3 inferno). These two weapons probably would have cost me 100-200 million gold on AH at current inflated prices

Now i can smash through act 3-4 inferno and play the barb the way it was meant to be played. I'm doing it straight up...no whirlwind crap

and now, it is fun...the barb, once you gear it to a certain point, is the most fun char you can play. I'm also constantly looking for bargains on the AH...i just bought godly bracers off the AH for 400k which was a steal. Some people just don't know what they are selling lol

 

Nice. I'm still having fun too. I finished the game with my wiz by playing melee and leveled a barb to 60 and can't progress to act 3. I made a 60 DH and am still having fun playing range again but is still a weakling in act 3 lol. I just recently realized how to play the barb as Dual WW I'm currently having fun playing it just running around the mobs and killing them (sprint/run like wind rune). Although I dont have good gears with it yet.

Are you in US server? What's your btag?

Btw, some players after upgrading really just sell their gears for cheap just to dispose them. Those ones that have insane amount of golds. I guess its better like that than salvaging them. At least someone like us can have a chance to use them.

 

Post/link your profiles/heroes from battle.net! It's a really cool new feature

I'm still addicted to my WD after 3 major build changes, my current CC build is just so fun (that I have no intention of playing any other char). I spent around 100mil on my gear, and any other upgrade is just through the roof - ~50mil for a chest upgrade. Unfortuantely I'm not Athene.

My drops have not been great too, so it's mostly AH for me.

 

barb is the hardest player to play imo...and it is the most gear dependant class. If you want to solo inferno act 3-4 with a barb, you really need these stats imo to make it fun:

Min stats to be viable in act 3-4 inferno for dual wield barb imo post 1.0.3 patch:

45-50k life
30k base dps
10k armor buffed
750+ physical and Fire Resist (buffed)
500+ all other resists (buffed)
1500 life on hit


I don't like the tornado/WW builds that everyone seems to be using these days. Its kinda boring. If i wanted to cut the grass, i'd go into my yard lol.

IMO, If you aren't geared (or even if you are...) this is the most optimal build for a barb, and this is the build i use

Barbarian Optimal Build IMO

start sprint like the wind, then charge against the tough mobs in act 3-4...loh will heal you full with charge and the tornados also prop loh.
You'll need Berserker against the tough elites
Another important stat is the overpower with Crushing advance. This props my life on hit. I currently have 1700 loh. So i stand in poison or fire and hit overpower and my life fills up. This skill is critical for barbs in Act 3-4 inferno

What char are you playing now Geo? i assume WD = Wiz? What is your build for wiz? I'm creating a tank wiz with frost nova and slice' em up with blades primary

 

Witch Doctor, started the game with him, still playing.

Geo - Community - Diablo III

Post yours!

 

oh ya Witch Doctor lol...DUH

NIce items! I have your Chest and the matching helm in my inventory...dropped for me (zunimassa's Attunement and Vessel). I was gonna sell it, but i'm holding on to them just in case i start a WD. I can also wear the Zuni's Vessel on my wiz

NIce char bro!

Geo...i'm adding you tonight. I don't know how the time difference will affect us, but it would be cool to get some act 3-4 runs in. i'm not posting my char as i don't want my battletag to be public knowledge lol, i already have too many people on my list...but you can inspect my char later

 

I'll check the barb build later and try it out. Cant see it from work.

I tried spectral blades on my wiz as tank for a long time and it works great. But later on I changed to Wicked Wind as primary as I can cast it from a distance and I felt like it proc crit mass more frequently than blades.
Basically I have:

Left: Energy Twister/Wicked Wind
Right: Energy Armor/Prismatic
1: Explosive Blast/Chain Reaction
2: Frost Nova/Cool Down or Damage Rune (Forgot the name)
3: Diamond Skin/Crystal Shell
4: Teleport/Fracture

Can decently carry complete group on act 3/4. Its a bit harder on act 4 if other players have low dps though. It gets tiring spamming keys waiting for them to DPS as mob health are higher. Doesn't have a problem keeping nova lock as long as there are enough numbers of mobs. Only problems are the kiting/range mobs that's why I have TP.

 

this is very similar to what i'm building for my wiz...but instead of teleport...i have blades. I love playing the tank wiz

EDIT: thanks for the PM...adding you later today

 

Well, sprint/toronado/WW have perma bersek (and easier to gear out), CC immune make most elite/rare cake. And the best is that you can skip white mobs

 

the tornado/WW build is very powerful indeed. But to me it gets boring. I prefer to dual wield straight up. The gearing requirements to do this straight up is indeed much higher but i've been patient and added pieces here and there to the point where i can solo act 3/4

 

Lvl 52 DH and all the loot I've picked up has been trash and not for a DH or the loot is for 5-10 levels below me.

Really pisses me off, I'm sitting at 8K dps (with crit skill), and I have to rely on the AH for gear. I'm sitting at 200K gold, I guess once I get to Act4 hell to farm, but I don't know what to farm though.

Love the game but hate my drops which frustrates me and I stop playing.


I mostly play Public because its the only way I get consistent drop rates.

 

Lol. Wait til you get to Act 4 Inferno and loot some lvl 52 blues

Anyway, I hope this will bring up some good results/changes:

Patch 1.0.4 Info Coming Soon - Forums - Diablo III

 

Cool...thanks for the info.

i wonder how much more stuff is going to get nerfed lol

 

loh, Crit Chance, Crit damage, toronado(wiz/barb)and MF !

 

Here's my DH
Mortimur - Community - Diablo III

 

LOL...i hope not, or all those barbs breezing through act 3-4 are going to be on the AH shopping lol

Cool...thanks for sharing!

 

Spam ^

would I or anyone else buy gold?
Are you that lazy to play the damn game? Its not like its sub based and you are competing for 1st place.

 

More info for those that didn't see this...patch 1.0.4 is coming and here are the *improvements*...essentially, it makes the game even more user friendly than 1.0.3 for the masses. Eventually, you won't need to be geared at elite levels to beat inferno lol

Patch 1.0.4
-Removing monster enrage timers
-Removing monster Out-of-Combat healing
-Removing shared MF and GF in Cooperative games
-Lowering repair cost of high-end items by 25%
-Lowering monster bonuses in Cooperative games substantially (including HP multipliers)
-Increasing maximum damage on level 60-62 weapons, thus increasing their viability
-Increasing viability of 2-handed weapons, adding new 2-handed weapon affixes
-Removing "Invulnerable Minions" affix
-Decreasing difficulty of Rare / Champion monsters by 10-25%
-Increasing difficulty of normal monsters by 5-10%
-Increasing Magic Item drops from normal monsters by 4x
-Buffing and balancing many class skills such (Like WD Zombie Dogs and Gargantuan)
-adjusting Legendary Items (to make them legendary compared to the crap they are now lol)

1.0.4 Systems Preview - Diablo III

 

The changes in the skills is the scary one. The game looks like its gonna be easier but we dont know the details of the class skills changes yet. Incoming nerf on crit, melee wiz, WW/Tornado barb, melee DH? Hope not.
Thanks for the notes Slick. Cant see the link from work.

 

np Robert

Right now magic find is averaged in a group...so if you are wearing 400 mf and the rest aren't it is actually reduced depending on the number of players. The other players who just have 75% mf due to Nef Valor will benefit from that one player with 400 mf as their average mf goes up...but that player with the 400mf goes down

However, the reverse is gonna be true...in 1.0.4, i can wear 400 mf gear and let everyone kill things around me and i'll pick up better stuff lol...

IMO, they should remove MF all together

Essentially, blizzard is making the game easier for the masses. People play, hit a brick wall and quit. This way, more and more average players will be able to play act 3-4 inferno. I can already hear the whining of the good players now...that the game will become too easy..but from a business perspective, Blizzard can't lose more players in D3...they have to make the game easier for the masses

EDIT: one more thing...i'm guessing that godly builds like WW/Tornado barbs or crit tank wiz's will get *balanced* (whatever the heck that means lol)

 

Skilled players will just be able to farm faster and thus get better items to sell for more $$$

I would love a challenge but Blizzard just cannot satisfy everyone, so yeah, they are making it easier in favour of the masses. They should add in an endless horde mode with increasing difficulty for us or something

I'm uber happy my pets will be viable in Inferno, patch approved. <3

 

Geo, you are right. I never thought about it that way before. The skilled players will kill faster in act 3-4 and thus it also becomes more viable for them. Good point!!!!! +

My barb is going to roll through act 4 inferno like never before lol...and i'm glad that i didn't invest time or gold into a WW\tornado barb build as that will surely get brought down a few notches

 

Anyone know if the existing Leg/Set items in-game will get buffed or only those that will drop after the patch?

 

its only on new drops after the patch that will get the buff...all existing legendaries will still suck

 

Only on new drops iirc.

 

I see. Thanks.
I'm thinking of getting a couple of Nat's gear for my DH. I guess I'll just wait.

 

Where do people find a list of sets?

 

List of Set Items - Diablo 3 Wiki

 

I noticed I haven't touched the game for a while. :O I hope the next patch will bring me back.

 

All the new patch will do is make the game more accessible to the casual gamer who wants to play in act3/4 inferno. Currently, this is not possible for the average casual player

So the patch will bring back the majority of people who hit the act 3/4 inferno wall, who got sick of dying and paying high item repair bills and left the game.

 

I'll just wait patiently until this game is $10. With Activision behind this, maybe a few years, rofl.

 

Then I guess you wont be able to play this game. If this game becomes worse than the current situation then they will just probably stop selling and supporting it lol! If it gets better due to future patches (which is hard to believe) then price will probably not go down to $10.

Even if it goes down to $10, I'm sure you wont buy it knowing the game sucks right? IMO, its barely OK, depending on your purpose on playing. I still have good friends playing it so I still enjoy it.
Right Slick

 

Either of those scenarios is fine by me. It's obvious to me it's not worth it's current price. I still have Deus Ex: HR to finish.

 

Come on, this game worth more than that Once you start hard to take it down .

 

I have other games but on 360 but the only multiplayer I enjoyed playing was MW3 but got tired of it also. I'm not too much into solo play. I prefer playing on a multiplayer setting where there are interactions between players even if the game is not so great. I guess that's one more reason I'm still into D3.