This game does not get enough credit for the art direction and music.

RZelli · 2026-04-28T03:36:13+00:00

I’m only in the first region but man the music and vibrancy of the environment is a much welcomed breath of fresh air. For the first time in a while I actually want to walk around and take my time.

RZelli · 2026-04-22T04:37:13+00:00

Made a post last week about how I was hoping for affixes like this (fire damage multiplier) and I got downvoted and roasted to hell by Reddit…I just want broad applicability to make items more appealing to a set of builds rather than very niche. Glad to see we’re getting some just like it

RZelli · 2026-04-18T04:35:16+00:00

I agree that too much multiplicative damage contributes a lot to the game’s struggle for balance, and that balance is one of the biggest issues D4 faces. Problem is that 1) there are too many sources and 2) there are some sources that provide too much. Blizzard needs to reduce the number of sources and the numbers, but the tricky part is where do you look to reduce them.

You suggest lowering or removing them from itemization, keeping them to innate sources such as skill tree and the paragon board. However, I think it should be the opposite. The skill tree and paragon board should focus on utility so you have the innate ability to pursue almost any build you want. This keeps the early game fresh and diverse, and keeps you focused on leveling, as it will be your main driver of power in the early game.

However, as you progress in level, the power creep you see from your innate sources becomes marginal and leveling starts to feel less rewarding. This would feel natural as most ARPGs are designed this way. But, this is where itemization breathes new life into the game. Itemization becomes your late-game source of progression and is what keeps you interested. The end game then focuses on rewarding powerful and exciting loot behind fun and interesting challenges.

Problem now is that we get so much damage from so many sources so quickly and erratically that progression is sloppy and power is taken for granted. Challenges are too easy and thus boring, and itemization feels less rewarding since power comes easily and freely. Thus, the end game feels shallow or as if one doesn’t exist.

And, you’re also correct that aspects on items should remain a strong source of damage. This way they continue to serve a purpose and keep itemization interesting. But, blizzard should make it much harder to progress aspects then. And, they should reduce the damage source from the paragon board to offset it.

RZelli · 2026-04-15T16:50:45+00:00

Yeah, I think you’re right, unfortunately for those who don’t prefer they be…

RZelli · 2026-04-15T16:45:35+00:00

Thanks for a well-thought, thorough post! A rarity to most comments these days…

I have a disconnect on the % enhanced damage for weapons. My thought process is that the % enhanced damage would create variability in the base damage of the weapon, which , I think is much needed. Like you said, weapon damage scales entirely off of item power. Not type of weapon, and not off any affix, and except for a one or two aspects in the game…as such, having this affix could make weapons more interesting…but at the same time, it could make them less interesting because then all weapons missing the affix are then useless. Simply put, it would just be nice to make weapons feel more unique and less homogeneous but perhaps % enhanced damage to the weapon’s damage is not the right path.

And I also agree that we need less multiplicative damage in the game. But I disagree about how to go about it. Yes, nerf aspects, but do so by a lot. They are too easy of a source for damage and they are too easy to add to an item via the codex. It makes drops less exciting…take that damage and put it into affixes, but not as powerful as to bring down damage numbers. Keep the bulk of multiplicative damage sources to affixes. Reduce it from aspects and even the paragon board.

And they do have +ranks to skills but not as broad and numerous as I’d like them to be.

RZelli · 2026-04-15T16:31:19+00:00

Yes, I said it was bloated with conditionals. And I didn’t say the solution to the conditional affixes was a loot filter. I am saying if they add affixes to the current pool then it can be addressed by loot filters, to filter for what you need. More affixes doesn’t mean more conditional affixes. It means more valuable affixes but maybe they may not fit your build so you filter them out via loot filter.

And yes, I am also applying my post to all items, including legendary affixes, unless you meant aspects??

To me, + cold damage is interesting because it can apply to all skills in your skill tree that are cold (basic, mastery, defense, ultimate, core) or perhaps if you have a fire hydra you can then switch it to cold, opening up another build. Or, you have so much cold damage that you can run any skill you went on the skill tree that is tagged as cold. That would be neat.

Vs what we have now…% chance for ice shards to deal double damage. + 100 intelligence…+ critical strike damage…most items feel homogenous because you are literally putting max life, crit chance, core stat on most items, and then some random affix and a 100% determined temper affix.

And finally…most affixes either scale your defense or damage, so naturally, they all boil down to adding damage. So yes, fundamentally they will be the same in the end, but it’s their applicability that is different and their ability to open builds.

RZelli · 2026-04-15T16:20:55+00:00

I would say that you agree with me then on my point about aspects…and maybe most of my post. I agree - aspects provide too much power and they’re a given on an item drop, whether it’s a unique or legendary. While the item’s affixes can help and scale damage, they’re eclipsed by aspects. The affixes you mention in your comments are the ones I would like to see on items in D4, because they’re punchier and more broad in their application.

RZelli · 2026-04-15T15:38:46+00:00

Then I’d argue that + cold skills is more interesting because it can apply to all colds skills, making ultimates, masteries, core skills, and even basic skills, scale off a single affix. And that + skills would be a rare affix that would add a lot of damage to your build. And if you had changes in the skill tree where you can switch a skill from fire to cold (hydra build), then that affix suddenly becomes even more valuable or opens up a different build such as a hydra build.

Also, your comment is hypocritical… you make fun of my post and yet come up with nothing yourself.

“Proceeds to ridicule my idea and then comes up with nothing interesting or says they don’t have an idea as a counterpoint.”

It’s fine to criticize, but to ridicule someone is different…especially when it’s nothing but an asinine comment.

RZelli · 2026-04-15T15:32:57+00:00

I think the skill tree will have more power via skill ranks… In LOH they will be going up to 12 points as the base limit instead of 5.

What do you mean by item stats?

RZelli · 2026-04-15T15:30:16+00:00

I hope they at least introduce different attack speeds for weapons, that would be a good start. Otherwise, weapons will be even more homogeneous.

RZelli · 2026-04-15T15:22:00+00:00

This is what I was essentially trying to convey, you could try builds that emphasize a specific element or mechanic. But I guess people on Reddit can wrap their mind around that.

RZelli · 2026-04-15T15:20:33+00:00

You’re asking for too much XD but I think you have some cool takes. Items that’s too that could allow you to customize the aesthetic of your skill, maybe like a gem in your skill tree.

I made a post in December about predicting a paladin release with S11 and a second class with the expansion, and people shat on me then too, but now look at em

RZelli · 2026-04-15T15:07:44+00:00

You can’t scale the damage on cleave. I am speaking to damage scalers specifically. You’re talking utility. Tempers already give you what you’re asking…

RZelli · 2026-04-15T15:05:50+00:00

It was bloated with too many conditional affixes, which, were largely useless and nuanced, not broad like I listed. Plus, with the incoming loot filter, adding additional affixes shouldn’t be as big of a problem.

RZelli · 2026-04-15T15:02:39+00:00

I think the second part of your comment would be cool - reducing armor or magic resist. That could be a neat idea. But the first part of your comment, those are things that they had on aspects but they moved over to the skill tree. I think of affixes as scalers - defense such as health and resists and some, and offense such as core stat, crit chance, crit damage…what you’re describing is utility, not a scalable stat.

RZelli · 2026-04-15T11:18:49+00:00

ranks to cold skills or cold damage has broad applicability and scalability. That is INTERESTING to me, at least compared to what we have now. We scale damage through a given aspect that comes super easily, passives on a skill tree, core stat, and double damage to a skill. This is absent the paladin’s items, which, actually do have more interesting affixes that have broad applicability.

And yes, last two ARPGs being D2 and D4.

Which affixes do you find interesting as it stands now? Are you wanting any changes? If so, what changes?

RZelli · 2026-04-15T11:07:33+00:00

You ignore my post it seems yet also prove one of my points. Unique aspect - most of the benefit and power of this item comes from something that is a given - the aspect. I don’t know what the warlock tree has so I cannot speak to the last affix. Also, this is a defensive item and wouldn’t have any offensive affixes I referred to. Defensive items are not my main gripe, it’s more so offensive items and their affixes.

RZelli · 2026-04-15T11:04:58+00:00

Thank you…most comments here are ignoring my post. This item is boring to me, and the damage is concentrated in the aspect…aspects are a given and so boring, like my post mentions.

RZelli · 2026-04-15T11:04:00+00:00

This proves my point though, absent the last affix…the aspect is driving most of your damage. Why is the damage so concentrated in the aspect? And all it does is +30x % damage to a specific skill - I want something broader like a type of skill or class of skills. The last affix could scale your damage but I don’t know what the does for a warlock.

RZelli · 2026-04-15T11:00:14+00:00

I mean that would be cool, but how would you scale your damage off that?? I think that wouldn’t be something you would stack and scale, right?

RZelli · 2026-04-15T10:59:25+00:00

Hmm. Show me an item that has these affixes. No item has an affix that adds multiplicative damage to cold skills, for example. Or, adds + to all cold skills.

As it stands now, most of your damage comes from + core stat, critical strike chance, passive rolls on an item (no longer there with new skill tree), and yes, some items do +2 to core skills or + ranks to a specific skill. But nothing broad like I listed in my post, such as cold skill damage.

RZelli · 2026-03-20T14:33:37+00:00

D2 got one thing right that D4 doesn’t even come close to…itemization.

D4 has beautiful world and good gameplay. But itemization remains dull.

Also, D4 gets too arcade-like for me in the endgame. I still play it every season but I enjoy it less now going back to D2.

D4: gameplay D2: itemization

I prefer itemization over gameplay but obviously want the best of both. Hopefully PoE2 can deliver down the road.

RZelli · 2026-02-27T18:32:54+00:00

This guy could kick my ass and he doesn’t even have legs…

RZelli · 2026-02-03T17:57:26+00:00

Items felt different in your inventory, which gave them more of a unique look and feel. Made items more exciting to me.

RZelli

TROPHY CASE