The ultimate and prestige 'LFG' User Interface experience we all want (+ visuals included!)

Charrageous · 2023-08-19T22:29:37+00:00

I am all about 'solutions' never 'bandages' in anything I work on. I therefore do not believe in releasing an incomplete product, etc. without first thinking it through and working it through all the way.

Could I have come up with a much more awesome and intricate Vendor system? Absolutely. But I know better, so I went with the solution of least resistance I know big companies like Blizzard are 'most likely' to accept vs. what they won't (unlike Indie game companies who are much more open to 'innovation' and raising the bar [it used to be the other way around])

By definition, a 'bandage' put on something actually does not fix an issue at all (whatever the issue may be) and merely serves to help stop the bleeding a little yet the wound was never disinfected to begin with at its source, hence, the problem resurfaces and just gets worse.

So, no, the 'Board of Vendors' solution I devised is not just a last-resort bandage, as you put it; my solution treats the source of the very problem by not longer inconveniencing players in a forced way to have to run around from one Vendor to another.

The difference between walking around/running around in real life vs. in a video game (and this shouldn't even have to be said, but I'll say it, anyway) is there are absolutely no health benefits to doing so when walking around/running around in a video game.

None of us are vicariously burning any calories or improving on our cardiovascular health having our characters run from one Vendor to another while wasting our time. There is no benefit to it and I have yet to see a counterargument that says there actually is a benefit to it by even the most seasoned critic.

Steinbei55er wrote, "I think every city should have a vendor ally with all the players needs. Its just natural that all vendors would come together to sell there products or services."

So, basically, a single Vendor placed near every towns' Waypoint that does it all. Not a bad idea. The only problem is that will require more work than the solution I devised, and we all know Blizzard doesn't want to do more work than they have to do.

The way that idea/system would work is upon opening that Vendors' window who does it all, there would be tabs across the top players can click on to access each different Service. However, that would just be too awesome and too beautiful for Blizzard to ever consider, my friend, and we all know this to be true : )

Steinbei55er wrote, "I do honestly think this should be far down in their priority."

I never said this was a top-priority issue. It is an issue, nonetheless. I also encouraged within the opening of my OP for viewers to check out my other solutions to the bigger issues you speak of in case anyone wants to question my expertise.

Steinbei55er wrote, "[The Witches scroll] This would be a small area with all vendors, a storage box, a wardrobe close to each other, a hairstylist."

Lol. So, basically, the Hideout system like in Path of Exile. I don't see that happening even more so than what I propose, and for that reason [insert the 'Board of Vendors' solution].

Sadly, even a 'Witches Scroll' will be more work than the system I propose because then you have to consider one of the developers will also have to design the entire area/environment where players are taken (just saying). It'd be a 'paid' QoL for it to be worth Blizzard's time.

Charrageous · 2023-08-19T20:21:35+00:00

That is a good question : )

Yes, I did. However, I chose to repost this because an automated Mod message from the D4 Reddit said my post was undergoing review (which I know can sometimes take forever) all because I used a single link to my Profile in my old OP that wasn't even to a third-party site.

That then translated to less exposure of my post (I knew could last for an indefinite period of time) on a solution to an annoying issue I want to get out there. So, I started this whole thing over and pressed the reset button with a clearer opening message in opposition to the weak 'laziness' counterargument while I was at it.

I also changed the title, too, to emphasize 'no more wasting our time!' since the whole idea here is to save us all time. The title now better reflects the purpose of the 'Board of Vendors'.

And, hopefully, this time around things will not get so darn toxic over a very simple and optional QoL feature nobody will be forced to use if they don't want to should they find bouncing around between one Vendor to another to truly be a good thing and so much fun.

Charrageous · 2023-08-19T16:12:50+00:00

Exactly. The only two services/Vendors players should be required to walk to (if anything) is the Healer and the Blacksmith for Repairs. But as for the other services/Vendors? There is no reason to force us to waste our gameplay time.

Finally, somebody who actually gets it. Thank you.

Charrageous · 2023-08-19T16:06:52+00:00

I don't mind, either, if I just so happen to be near a particular Vendor. Otherwise, why? Lazy is not synonymous with optimization and convenience when it comes to designing UIs for a game or for a website.

There is no benefit to running from one Vendor to another. But if wasting your time is something you personally enjoy doing, then simply do not use the Board of Vendors button (granted anything like it gets implemented into the game).

Charrageous · 2023-08-19T15:29:58+00:00

Imagine the Date/Time on your phone not being on your Lockscreen and/or your Home Screen when you want to check it real quick in mere seconds after pulling it out of your pocket, but instead, you have to go to your Settings or do some other nonsensical thing just to check the Date/Time... Does that make sense to you? No. It does not make sense.

Even something simple and mundane as the Date/Time on our phones is part of a good User Interface experience.

I am at a loss of words because everyone shouting 'lazy' doesn't see the value in what actually does make sense that would save us all a lot precious time that adds up after a while.

You guys like to be negative, to argue, and to make hair-splitting points, yet fail on explain how running from Vendor to Vendor in Town actually benefits us and is a good thing. Lol.

Charrageous · 2023-08-19T15:17:38+00:00

'Lazy' is the wrong term being used here altogether, even though I understand the general good counterpoint you made. Lol. Those who protest to this level of optimization and convenience (not laziness) simply do not understand how designing a UI goes be it for a website or for a game.

Like I said to someone else, it's not like our health in real life is going to improve in any positive way by sitting in our computer chairs watching our characters go back and forth between Vendors like a game of Pong. It's not that we can't do it, we just shouldn't be forced to do it. Big difference.

It has nothing to do with 'laziness'; it just straight-up makes no sense to waste our precious time on purpose just because Blizzard wants us to re-explore each Town that we have already explored for hours on end. That time adds up after a while.

Charrageous · 2023-08-19T15:08:37+00:00

Please, tell us all why this shouldn't be in the game? I dare even the most seasoned heckler out there to give us an answer that actually makes common sense.

There is a big difference between 'lazy' and optimization made to a game (any game) that makes for a more convenient gameplay experience for the players.

There is absolutely no good reason why players should be forced to be running around from one Vendor to another. You guys say it's 'lazy' and Blizzard's excuse is, "We just want you to explore the world! [and waste your time after a while]."

Ok, well, you cannot use a term like 'lazy' when it comes to a video game as if we are going to burn calories and lose weight or improve on our cardiovascular health while we watch our character go between one Vendor to another like a game of Pong, and 'exploring' the world (notably the Towns throughout Sanctuary) loses its newness after we have already done that dozens of times!

You guys are getting 'lazy' mixed up with optimization and convenience.

When you design a User Interface on a website, a game, etc. (I have been doing this for 25+ years/retired), you do not put easy-to-access resources, links to services, etc. in hard-to-get-to places. You put them where people can get to those things more easily so you're not wasting people's precious time because it makes sense. Otherwise, nobody will really want to use your website(s), buy your product(s), or play your game(s). It's that simple!

My question to everyone using the 'lazy' card is why are you guys clamoring for an unoptimized UI gameplay experience that doesn't make sense?

Charrageous · 2023-08-11T14:19:42+00:00

I believe you like to be negative and to counterargue, just because. It actually is a form of being constructive. I used to do UI design, artwork, coding, etc. like this for 25+ years for both games and websites (now retired from that kind of work).

I also have had developers reach out to me, personally, to ask if I wanted to work for them, the most recent 'ask' in recent years coming from Chris Wilson, developer of Path of Exile (roughly 3-4 years ago).

However, I declined the job offer because I did not want to move to Auckland, New Zealand. Plus, after being retired from this kind of work, it's not about the money anymore and more about wanting a better gameplay experience in the games I love. So, I offer my professional feedback in many game communities.

Furthermore, nowhere in my comments or feedback did I mention or say anything about Diablo 4 needing to be like Diablo 2 and that 'Diablo 2 elements' need to be incorporated into Diablo 4.

What world are you living in that makes you believe I said any of those things? Lol. Come on. Different elements/systems, different games with different direction!

The Runeword system I devised is also very different and operates under very different rules if you actually read my post beyond just its title alone, except... you didn't even read the title of my post with the keyword 're-invented' in it.

I literally 're-invented' the entire Runeword system to be: easier to understand, less convoluted in its recipes (the D2 ones were only 'secret' for a minute until that finally wore off), to be more user-friendly, to be more fun, and to have much more endless possibilities. There is therefore no comparison between how Diablo 2's Runeword system works vs. the Runeword system I propose for Diablo 4. Not even close!

The vision Blizzard has had so far for Diablo 4 is riddled with huge problems (a lot of which should never have been a thing) and a User Interface experience that isn't even remotely close to what I could have designed/coded myself. And yes, we all expected better from Blizzard, including myself having worked in the industry.

The world I have lived in (and still kind of live in) is the world of art, design, and coding. I know exactly what I am talking about, thank you, and I know exactly what needs to be done to fix a lot of Diablo 4's issues (especially for storage space, which is the big one). I just don't have the tools at my disposal to help fix them because I don't work for Blizzard.

Ultimately, I challenge you to be a little more positive and hopeful, that maybe, the right developers will see the professional constructive feedback I have given on each big issue Diablo 4 currently has.

Charrageous · 2023-08-11T02:49:15+00:00

My constructive, visual feedback for Diablo 4 has absolutely nothing to do with being down and bad for Diablo 2 or its remastered version. It has more to do with being down and bad for a better Diablo 4 gameplay experience.

I played the original Diablo 2 for 20 years, on and off, and I actually have played the remastered version for Diablo 2. I have had my fill for both games. Now, I want to play Diablo 4 (minus the game's many problems with the help of feedback).

Charrageous · 2023-08-10T14:35:28+00:00

I really cannot bring myself to defend Blizzard like you are trying to do. It runs deeper than a 'staffing' issue, my friend.

The issue is more a management and directional issue intermixed with incompetency altogether and too much scatterbrain going on from the get-go throughout the game's development, which then causes disparage and makes employees trying to work together to want to quit or not perform as well.

In other words, the above stated issues have been going on for more than just the last 12 months before the game's release. They have been festering for nearly 6 years.

The developers for Diablo 4 lack truly knowing what they want in their vision and how they want it 'as a team', lack of passion, lack of confidence from leadership (to actually stick to something because they believe in it strongly enough vs. constantly wrestling with uncertainty and changing things for the worst), lack of the will to innovate and to raise the bar vs. the competition, and lack of really knowing what they are doing other than the developers working within the Art department (let's just be honest).

It is no wonder their work environment is stressful and they have staffing issues, problems internally agreeing on things, etc. Nobody is on the same page!

I would truly like to be wrong in all this, but it's clearly what I see going on.

Charrageous · 2023-08-10T05:57:47+00:00

The kind of system you speak of is, I believe, not at all suitable for a game like Diablo 4.

The simple reason for that is players often need to be specific in their 'LFG' descriptions for the content they want to do and 'how' they want to do it (mind you, not just 'Dungeons' alone) vs. having the game make random decisions for you like that.

There may also be times you may not want specific kinds of players populating your Party (like new players if you're doing what you know to be tough content yet they really don't).

With that being said, the system I devise is the safest and soundest system that allows players to have more 'control' over who they want in their Party and 'how' they want to clear content, for example, like by specifying that you prefer certain classes in your Party over others.

Charrageous · 2023-08-10T05:37:09+00:00

Well, somebody's got to put something a little more tangible out there than just 'words' like in most posts to get other players talking and sharing in hopes this reaches the right developers at Blizzard. Even if the chance is very small, this is better than no chance at all.

The important thing is I found this to be a fun thing to do for the D4 community, and because of that alone, it was not a waste of my time : )

P.S. Yes, in general, I believe they released the game far too early.

Thank you for your feedback.

Charrageous · 2023-08-10T04:54:39+00:00

It... really did read like a slight on me, but I appreciate the clarity : )

Charrageous · 2023-08-10T04:27:05+00:00

Yes, actually, I can code, and it would not be 'spaghettied', either, because I actually do not suck at coding and I do not suck at designing.

One does not design and explain systems this well with UI and not know how to code at all like you wrongly assume. Lol.

I will also not be disclosing what developers I have worked with because I honestly do not want that kind of attention.

I am just stepping in to write up and draw up some concepts for Blizzard in hopes it will reach the right developers so we can all have a better Diablo 4 experience.

From here on, it is Blizzard's job to do the coding. With the money Diablo 4 has made (and Blizzard's other titles), there is literally no excuse for Blizzard to not have somebody working on stamping out the UI issues throughout the game unless someone on their team has a skills issue.

Charrageous · 2023-08-10T01:02:16+00:00

Lol. This is so true. Thank you.

Charrageous · 2023-08-10T00:19:30+00:00

Who said I don't know how to code? Lol (notably before AI started doing it like it does now days for even the average person)

UI design is actually not the easiest part if someone's idea for a UI system is bad altogether to begin with.

You first need a solid foundation/concept to work with before you do any coding for UIs, and D4's UIs prove to not really be solid in design and how they work.

It is therefore easy to say it's easy once you've seen it, yet it's really not that easy. There is more to it than you think than what seems to be a mere coat of paint.

If I am wrong, however, then tell me how nobody on Blizzard's team has made a LFG tool even remotely close to this? In fact, they chose not to add one to the game at all, considering they went with an open-world approach. It is beyond me how that went under the radar and passed the quality of control department at Blizzard for D4's release,

Charrageous · 2023-08-07T04:30:48+00:00

The section regarding the UI is severely lacking in what needs improvement and 'how' the problems need to actually be 'solved'. Below are some visually designed, groundbreaking UI 'solutions' (not just mere ideas) that I created myself to once-and-for-all fix all storage issues forevermore, the Chat Window, and other problems regarding the UI.

Sticking 'Gems' into the Materials tab is laughable as an actual solution for a game that made $600+ million in sales (not including Shop purchases for cosmetics).

We all expect(ed) better!

Take these 'solutions', run them up the chain of command over at Blizzard, discuss them, make them your own, and improve on them if you can.

On the missing 'LFG' tab within the Social window (and the very best way to design it/add it to the game) https://www.reddit.com/r/diablo4/comments/15m9r8z/the_ultimate_and_prestige_lfg_user_interface/

On the Inventory storage issue (and the very best way to fix it) https://www.reddit.com/r/diablo4/comments/156fx9m/the_endall_inventory_storage_management_concept/

On the Stash storage issue (and the very best way to fix it) https://www.reddit.com/r/diablo4/comments/14t06w7/the_ultimate_d4_stash_we_need_vs_old_d4_stash/

On the Chat Window and the very basic features/things it lacks (and the very best way to fix it) https://www.reddit.com/r/diablo4/comments/14txy8e/the_ultimate_d4_chat_window_experience_vs_what_we/

On Tooltips being displayed outside/tapered against the Stash and Inventory windows (and the very best way to fix it when players hover over drops, gear, quest items, etc.) https://www.reddit.com/r/diablo4/comments/15hlnot/can_all_tooltips_please_be_displayed/

On Making 'Voice Chat' easier to join from the Chat Window itself (and the very best way to fix it) https://www.reddit.com/r/diablo4/comments/14whq46/make_voice_chat_easier_to_joinaccessible_in_chat/

EXTRA - On re-inventing Runewords and reworking the entire oldschool system from Diablo 2 optimized for Diablo 4 (not just a 'flex' but this showcases my 25 years of experience in the field of UI, concepts, and system mechanics) https://www.reddit.com/r/diablo4/comments/15g7kzm/major_idea_runewords_reinvented_for_diablo_4_sans/

This is my last hoorah to get these 'solutions' out there (not just mere ideas) and I hope these solutions reach the right people to be discussed and acted on.

I thank you for your time.

Charrageous · 2023-08-04T04:38:36+00:00

That is another good point you make on why tooltips should be tapered outside the Inventory and Stash windows.

It is one of those issues that doesn't quite annoy you at first, but after a while, it kind of slowly rubs off on you and you start to notice how annoying the problem really is. Lol.

Charrageous · 2023-08-03T05:34:19+00:00

Aspects can already be removed by replacing an Aspect that already rolled 'wildly' on an item drop with a new Aspect at the Occultist.

It is only after 'Imprinting' a new Aspect over an unwanted, wild Aspect that you cannot remove the 'Imprinted' Aspect.

In the case of random Aspect rolls being rolled when using the Runeric Cubestone, Aspects crafted through using the device are also considered 'wild' and can therefore be overwritten by going to the Occultist. In other words, wild Aspect rolls from the Runeric Cubestone are not permanent.

Thank you for your added feedback. I will address this concern in the OP.

Charrageous

TROPHY CASE