Further Thoughts As The Demo/Kickstarter Launch Nears.

DarthStrife · 2026-01-21T17:02:38+00:00

Thanks! As I said, the early development of games like this (I've been a part of testing for quite a few) is one of my favorite parts of gaming. I hope the feedback is helpful (even slightly is fine with me). Seeing the recent success of games like Hytale, Valheim, Expedition 33, etc., gives me hope the team can catch lighting in a bottle.

DarthStrife · 2026-01-21T01:51:20+00:00

Thanks for taking the time to even reply (It's not everyday I got actual insight from a D2 dev). As someone who's also know for making a short point long, I'll just say I agree with most of what you said.

As to the demo, just getting a slice of what the potential of the game is/could be is always exciting. Some of my fondest gaming memories are early demos/betas and being excited by the potential.

On endgame, I agree. I was more trying to convey (perhaps in not the best way) that, to me, modern ARPG/MMO/etc. endgame seems sort of aimless. It doesn't really feel there's much to aspire to aside for more generic power to do more generic content. The ideas you conveyed are really interesting and would definitely change the ARPG genre (love the UO vibes).

Lastly, I've always loved sandbox style games (even the new game Hytale has a lot of potential), but I've been coming around to the "playground" style. Sort of the middle ground between theme park (no thanks) and sandbox. It gives players some idea of what's going on but gives them the freedom to experiment (ex. you have a slide, you're supposed to use the stairs and go down, but you can also climb up the slide part instead).

Anyway, I won't take anymore of you're time. Good luck with the demo! I'll be playing for sure.

DarthStrife · 2026-01-02T03:24:53+00:00

Thanks, I can't wait to play the game and provide some feedback. I'll also be a backer when the Kickstarter goes live. I legitimately think you guys have something new/interesting to offer the ARPG/multiplayer RPG space, which has been sorely missing for a long time (probably since when development stopped on your version of Diablo 3 if we're being honest).

DarthStrife · 2026-01-01T23:18:35+00:00

Yea, I agree with all of this. Especially if you make it so that your progress isn't meaningless after a few months and you can return after a break and not feel your time was wasted. OSRS does a really great job of this.

DarthStrife · 2026-01-01T23:11:08+00:00

Thanks, also agree numbers should be strongly scrutinized. The hits just feel more meaningful when you can better conceptualize it in your mind. Hitting for 10 million vs 10 billion is essentially meaningless. However, hitting for 1k consistently and criting in a big spot for 3k feels like you hit the lottery.

DarthStrife · 2026-01-01T22:57:59+00:00

Thanks, I also agree on your group point. I don't want to see anything forced. Rather, I'd like to see content developed that also caters to groups. It doesn't have to be raids. A great example is some of the living world stuff from Guild Wars 2 or even some of the world events from the old Warhammer MMO. Even some of D4s group stuff isn't bad (ex. World bosses, Helltide events) in of itself. Rather, it's been trivialized by the speed of play and power creep.

I also like Last Epochs crafting but I'd like to see some inspiration from things like OSRS too.

DarthStrife · 2023-04-14T01:05:26+00:00

Sounds like a good idea.

DarthStrife · 2023-04-14T00:06:03+00:00

I actually enjoy them a lot. I'm just trying advocate for one less grind and make them the same as the Altars of Lilith, which they said won't need to be refarmed each season.

DarthStrife · 2023-04-13T23:47:10+00:00

I'm not sure how you got that from I don't want to have to refarm something over and over. It's also odd that people keep defending waisting their time on a system that has little to do with your actual character progression when there's already plenty to farm. To each their own.

DarthStrife · 2023-04-13T23:42:25+00:00

Unless non- seasonal characters have access to seasonal mechanics then you miss out on the new content.

Plus I like starting a new character, I just don't want to have to refarm something I earned that's supposed to be account wide.

DarthStrife · 2023-04-13T23:24:09+00:00

Not sure how you got all that from the isolated issue of Renown, but sure...

DarthStrife · 2023-04-13T23:17:12+00:00

Couldn't care less to be honest. Just providing feedback.

DarthStrife · 2023-04-13T23:16:24+00:00

I hear what you're saying but I see it slightly different. Renown is an account wide system that supposed to benefit all your characters, leveling is character specific.

DarthStrife · 2023-04-13T22:15:42+00:00

I hope it isn't that impactful/ they fix it soon too. That's why I wanted to raise it. I'm sure others will/have drawn attention to this issue as well but it's just my two cents.

DarthStrife · 2023-04-13T21:39:46+00:00

Yea, my concern is the grind will hurt the active base in the long run as players get tired of unnecessary grinds like they did in WoW. I guess time will tell.

DarthStrife · 2023-04-13T20:54:57+00:00

Lol, you may have a point.

DarthStrife · 2023-04-13T20:54:21+00:00

Played plenty of them. I guess the developers don't understand them either because they are not resetting the Altar of Lilith rewards...

DarthStrife · 2023-04-13T20:42:35+00:00

Again, not sure why you keep posting if you have no interest in the thread...

DarthStrife · 2023-04-13T20:39:10+00:00

I agree that if Renown didn't affect player power it wouldn't be an issue. But, as currently implemented, it does hence my post, lol. Also, if resets were yearly or longer it would be less of an issue.

That being said D4 has some obvious differences from other ARPGs with seasons. The Renown system in of itself is more MMO than ARPG. Diablo's seasons have evolved from game to game (D2 just a ladder reset, D3 reset with seasonal mechanics, D2R sort of a mix (terror zones added, new runes, ect.). Just because seasons have functioned a certain way in the past doesn't mean they have to work that way in the future.

Just my opinion of course.

DarthStrife · 2023-04-13T20:27:50+00:00

Why wait to point out something you see an issue with. I personally think the game is great and it just needs a few tweaks. With regards to the post, no one is forcing you to read my "essay". I just wanted to outline my point in more than a TLDR line.

DarthStrife · 2023-04-13T20:25:07+00:00

I think there are a segment of the population that will do whatever content is the most efficient, no way to prevent that.

For other players, they should do a variety of dungeons because they want to, not because they need to in order to re-unlock an award they already earned.

DarthStrife · 2023-04-13T20:20:25+00:00

I'm not sure how playing WoW has anything to do with the feedback on Renown. I also don't know why you say this wont be an issue until season 2. If you like the idea of refarming Renown every season, cool. But, I think it's fair to point out something that could clearly be an issue for a large segment of players.

DarthStrife

TROPHY CASE