07-22-2003, 04:57 PM
Balance in single player is a funny thing. In a humorous vein, I think the new patch might call for a new game name, which I propose here:
"Izual, Lord of Distraction!"
What is part of the reward basis for Diablo II? For that matter, what is part of the payoff for ladder running, once you have beaten that game in Hell?
"You want that new level, you want that new skill point, you have to go and pound away at monsters time after time, and if you spend enough time, you will get a reward: the little red crosses will pop up!"
Izual is the personification of that interaction: you sit there with the mouse button depressed, and if you are patient enough, you get a red button reward in the form of two skill points.
Last night, as I wandered through Act IV in SP players 6, I came upon Izual. After about 5 minutes of pounding away at him, I went to town, set Players to 2, and returned to the Plains of Despair. I then spent the next 9 or 10 minutes with my trusty poleaxe, and my rogue, beating on him. Poor Izual, he gets no respect, but he illustrates some of the patch game mechanics beautifully all by himself.
He died, did his angel thing, and I got my reward. :)
I then tried it at again players 8. I could not make the life bar move very far before I got rather tired of the whole ordeal.
I suppose that is OK, given that I was a lone player and I lacked the synergy of other players helping me reduce his life bar. Something tells me that what is going on is a case of
"Social Engineering" so decried by the old Whirly Bararian crowds on bnet pre Lord of Destruction: the aim is to get people to play together.
"Izual, Lord of Distraction!"
What is part of the reward basis for Diablo II? For that matter, what is part of the payoff for ladder running, once you have beaten that game in Hell?
"You want that new level, you want that new skill point, you have to go and pound away at monsters time after time, and if you spend enough time, you will get a reward: the little red crosses will pop up!"
Izual is the personification of that interaction: you sit there with the mouse button depressed, and if you are patient enough, you get a red button reward in the form of two skill points.
Last night, as I wandered through Act IV in SP players 6, I came upon Izual. After about 5 minutes of pounding away at him, I went to town, set Players to 2, and returned to the Plains of Despair. I then spent the next 9 or 10 minutes with my trusty poleaxe, and my rogue, beating on him. Poor Izual, he gets no respect, but he illustrates some of the patch game mechanics beautifully all by himself.
He died, did his angel thing, and I got my reward. :)
I then tried it at again players 8. I could not make the life bar move very far before I got rather tired of the whole ordeal.
I suppose that is OK, given that I was a lone player and I lacked the synergy of other players helping me reduce his life bar. Something tells me that what is going on is a case of
"Social Engineering" so decried by the old Whirly Bararian crowds on bnet pre Lord of Destruction: the aim is to get people to play together.
Cry 'Havoc' and let slip the Men 'O War!
In War, the outcome is never final. --Carl von Clausewitz--
Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum
John 11:35 - consider why.
In Memory of Pete
In War, the outcome is never final. --Carl von Clausewitz--
Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum
John 11:35 - consider why.
In Memory of Pete