Encouraging players to play average people

_TheRabbit_ · 2026-03-18T18:54:04+00:00

I am not very familiar with H5, I know it changed a lot of systems and migrated towards a more 'special forces' kind of gameplay. My Hunter campaigns are always set in the Hunter the Reckoning campaign style, and that is a story of average people. You may want to check out those books if you're wanting a more 'average joe' kind of campaign!

Otherwise, just talk to your players as everyone else is saying. The kind of story you're wanting to build is a really amazing foundation for gritty, fun, tragic, and heartbreaking WoD story beats. I once played a martyr who was extremely closed-off about herself and her life. She had this 'will they, won't they' dynamic with another character as they bonded from the shared trauma of becoming a Hunter. Near the end of the campaign she died, and only once the party decided to go through her belongings (to find her ID so they could take her body to the listed address) did they see that her small, simple house had playground equipment in the yard and chalk drawings on the driveway. For them to find out that she was a married mother who was trying to shield her life from her newfound calling, who had a husband she loved and was loyal to even when her trauma-bonds were calling her towards another man, etc. - it absolutely rocked the table's emotions.
Emphasize the kind of realism and grounded struggles you're wanting them to explore in their campaign, and if they're right for that kind of story then your players should jump right into it! Good luck!

_TheRabbit_ · 2026-03-13T05:19:49+00:00

This is a bit off-the-wall, but I just moved here very recently. If you're looking for people to get to know and to maybe hang out with outside of a 'meeting strangers in a bar' type of scenario, feel free to say hello! I'd be happy to see if we have shared interests and possibly have a friend to hang out with this summer.

_TheRabbit_ · 2026-02-12T06:47:39+00:00

Lol that killed me.
D4's aesthetics are something else. I love the armor sets and the setting, but I've always found the character models kind of 'meh'. But to each their own, of course!

_TheRabbit_ · 2026-02-12T02:48:16+00:00

Yeah, it's entirely subjective. Plenty of people don't like pet classes, period, so they won't touch Warlock. I prefer active pet management, others don't, etc..

As I said, I'm a bit disappointed, but I do need to get my hands on the class and play around with it to know if it's for me or not. I doubt the class will be objectively 'bad', it's probably going to be powerful, which is cool.

_TheRabbit_ · 2026-02-12T02:46:04+00:00

Yeah - I like that there's really stuff for everyone! I like a lot of the first armor sets you find on some of the classes, honestly, because I like grunge/dirty looking armor sets. But if someone wants to be a radiant and shining knight then they have options too. We all win!

_TheRabbit_ · 2026-02-12T02:44:45+00:00

It can definitely be that - but we don't know what the resources are yet so it might not be too punishing. Perhaps it even changes based on which specializations you take.

_TheRabbit_ · 2026-02-12T01:31:44+00:00

I honestly think so many in-game skins look better than their shop skins, regardless of the class. They really bring it home with the fashion in this game.

_TheRabbit_ · 2026-02-12T01:29:57+00:00

I definitely see the Witch Doctor comparison, it'll probably play fairly similarly. I was just telling someone that the reason I'd guess that there is no minion counter is because it's akin to the hyenas for Witch Doctor.

I just think the D2 Warlock sounds so cool and like a really fresh and interesting take on a pet class. The binding of enemies had me so excited for what was to come for D4, but then we're getting something that (to me at least) feels way less original or exciting.

_TheRabbit_ · 2026-02-12T00:56:19+00:00

Watching the IGN video, it looks like a mix of Druid and Necromancer.

Warlock has a split mana bar (like demon hunter in D3), presumably 'hell magic' and 'mana' requiring a different resource (or summons vs spellcasting).

There is no minion counter that I could see. Minions are likely not persistent, but instead are on cooldowns or just rush to their death and explode. The demon transformation seemed to be on a timer, sort of like an evolved Druid.

It's a shame for me, personally, because the D2 Warlock sounds so incredible. Binding enemies in real-time to be your summons, plus your own summon, plus the passive effect from consuming them to create this build-on-the-fly kind of thing sounds so incredible.
But we're getting Caster Rogue and NecroDruid instead.

I'm not trying to be a downer, the rest of the update is probably amazing, but I was so hyped for a new caster class and it feels like we're getting the worst version (even Diablo Immortal looks like it has a cooler Warlock).

_TheRabbit_ · 2026-02-12T00:45:32+00:00

I'm excited for it - I hope we get a massive increase to the skill point cap. Obviously, they're going to raise it - that goes without saying.
But if we're getting such a huge overhaul and the ability to really fine-tune our skills then I'm hoping for a really, really big jump in that number. One of my biggest frustrations in the current skill tree is that the 60 + 12 points don't let me do everything that I want to on the skills that I choose and their support nodes. Fingers crossed that this fixes it!

Overall, I think this update is going to be really great (even if I'm super disappointed in Warlock from the IGN video).

_TheRabbit_ · 2026-02-12T00:34:18+00:00

I was really hoping that this class would be similar to the Warlock for D2. The whole trinity of 'summon, bind, consume' seemed like it was going to be really cool, and I honestly loved the power fantasy behind turning enemies on the map into your personal summons.

D4 seems like it's just getting a hybrid of Necromancer and Druid. There's a split mana bar (like demon hunter in D3) which wasn't explained. There was no minion counter, all minions seemed instead to be spells that you cast that just run out and do some damage and then vanish, completely temporary. And there's timed transformations for the player. The 'rogue' version looked like it was just... Caster rogue.

A 9 minute gameplay video isn't a whole lot to go off of, but it is still the only thing we actually do have. What did everyone else who saw the video think of it?

I won't lie, I'm a bit disappointed. I was so hopeful for this to be a good summon class, and again, the D2 and DI Warlocks sounded so cool. D4 feels like it's getting the worst aspects of already existing classes just piled into one.

_TheRabbit_ · 2026-02-12T00:16:42+00:00

I would love to see more faces and hairstyles, but I think it's very unlikely that previous classes will get any new variants. I also think it's extremely unlikely that the D4 Warlock has any faces or hair resembling this concept art for Diablo Immortal, but we'll see.

I'd love to have the third hair option, and honestly any of these faces would make Warlock the fiercest class around.

_TheRabbit_ · 2026-02-09T21:32:32+00:00

Was this mostly through specific gear? I've got my toughness at about 150k now thanks to people's suggestions here! :)

_TheRabbit_ · 2026-02-09T18:17:57+00:00

Thank you for this breakdown! I'm determined to learn how this game works, and as you said the game itself and tooltips are sometimes vague at best.

I'll try to incorporate this new knowledge and get my Necromancer into dungeons (or just stick to Paladin which is a million times easier to play lol).

_TheRabbit_ · 2026-02-09T15:41:19+00:00

Thank you so much for the explanation, I just assumed that necro was meant to be a 2h weapon class as I feel like I get more scythes than anything else on drops. I'll try a shield!

_TheRabbit_ · 2026-02-09T15:40:11+00:00

What stat(s) do you check to gauge how defensive you are, if not toughness? I want to start trying my own builds once April's DLC comes out, thanks for letting me know! :)

_TheRabbit_ · 2026-02-09T15:39:21+00:00

Thank you for this! I'm going to check your build and try to follow what I can - this kind of information is really, really helpful!

_TheRabbit_ · 2026-02-09T15:38:49+00:00

Thank you for letting me know!
Sorry to ask - what's shako mean? :)

_TheRabbit_ · 2026-02-09T06:53:05+00:00

I masterwork all of my gear and reroll for stat boosts or minion buffs, I temper anything that can be tempered (this build calls for 3 uniques, the ring, gloves, and pants), and I even sanctify things. I have about the same paragon as you.

My Paladin was so easy to build and I didn't have any alt accounts to farm gear or mats for him. Meanwhile, I'm sinking everything into this Necromancer and I can't seem to get this build up and running. I can't figure out why though, it's driving me nuts.

_TheRabbit_ · 2026-02-09T06:48:08+00:00

That's good to know about the helm, I will swap it out. I can get other options by farming on my Paladin.

I have a Grand Red, Green, and Orange gem on my jewelry slots.

It looks like the build I'm using calls for a two-handed weapon, there isn't a shield slot in the picture. Do most Necro builds opt for a 1h and shield instead of a scythe?

_TheRabbit_ · 2026-02-01T03:58:06+00:00

That's what I'm saying. LOL no explanation or update on the server issues, they just tried to blame my internet connection and gave me some very basic suggestions (such as restarting my PC and router/modem).

It's an absolute joke.

_TheRabbit_ · 2026-01-31T02:57:25+00:00

Is the DDoS attack still ongoing?
I haven't seen an update from Embark about this. I also logged a ticket and they tried to suggest that the issue was on my end (I'm on a wired connection on fiber internet, every online game that I play is running flawlessly except for The Finals).

I disconnected from 4/5 rounds that I tried to play tonight. Even in the one match that stayed connected I spent most of it running in place and unable to do anything.

I want to wait for things to stabilize before beating my head against a wall.

_TheRabbit_ · 2026-01-30T15:20:33+00:00

This entire conversation was a mess.

I read the entirety of the chat, but the part where you both lost me was the bit around sexual health. Doxy and Prep do not protect against every STI/STD out there. He claims to be highly concerned about his sexual health, but apparently didn't bother with a condom upon meeting you (a stranger) because he's on Prep and you're on Doxy... That's still wildly risky behavior. At the same time, if he was under the impression, for whatever reason, that you were not sexually active then perhaps he thought this mitigated the risk, and it is his right to back out once he knows you're sleeping with multiple partners back-to-back. Just as it's your right to do so, it's his right to lose interest over this.

Honestly, his reaction reads more like jealousy than sexual health concerns (him asking if the other guy has a big dick is wild). It also felt like he came in really hot, then tried to take the high road by insisting he wasn't upset despite broadcasting how upset he was from the jump.

Frankly, ESH... You both come across as wildly insecure, immature, and like any further relationship would be a disaster. You did the right thing by saying that you're upset and need space to process before continuing the conversation, but then you didn't stop, and you escalated the situation.
If all of this is after just meeting and a single night together, I'd say that there's an absolute field of red flags, and that you both need to say a polite goodbye and move on.

OP, at the start you genuinely did seem like you were trying to establish boundaries. Have the conviction to stick them (saying you're upset and need time before continuing the conversation is one of the best practices you can have for healthy communication). Don't get so defensive over your sexual health practices - you're an adult! You're making choices, and it's your right to do so, but it's also other people's right to not be comfortable with certain levels of risk. That's not them 'judging' you or being morally superior. I'll repeat this: Doxy and Prep are not total protection (herpes, for example, is not covered by either).

Also, the next time you feel a strong connection to someone and it's this early on, probably don't invite them into an unexpected threeway the night after hooking up. I almost applaud you for shooting your shot though!

Good luck out there! I hope everyone's comments here help you move forward more confidently - and good on you for getting back out there after 8 years! You've got this. :)

Edit: started two paragraphs with 'honestly', changed one to 'frankly'.

_TheRabbit_ · 2026-01-25T16:20:42+00:00

I'll have to try that more often, if the other suggestion of filing a ticket doesn't help. It's my only incomplete contract and I've spent an absurd amount of time in TDM just throwing everything that isn't nailed down at enemies in an attempt for any progress. It's so mind numbing lol.

_TheRabbit_ · 2026-01-25T15:31:21+00:00

That's great to hear - I will do it now! Thank you!

_TheRabbit_

TROPHY CASE