02-18-2005, 03:08 AM
While we are dreaming, here is what I'd like to see in D3:
1) Game should NOT be an MMOG! :angry: No roleplaying angels and demons, no epic 100 player battles, no 15-sided storylines, no "spawning mobs", no subscriptions. Games should be limited to whatever testing deems to be a reasonable party size, and arena games would allow twice that amount.
2) Game should be 3D, not just in graphics but in implementation (e.g. WoW has 3D graphics but is no more of a 3D game than Dragon Warrior). I would even go so far as to suggest first-person perspective only, although that would be very controversial.
3) Game and storyline should be simple, dungeon focused, and small scale. Very little combat should occur in open areas. As an example storyline: Perhaps the destruction of the Worldstone causes "Hell on Earth syndrome". As the world engages in an epic war (which would make a fine MMOG plot, but we ain't going there), Deckard Cain enlists a small band of heroes to try to cut off the problems through a backdoor approach. The backdoor: a narrow passageway into the heart of hell in a small town called Tristram, long forgotten by all but the wisest and oldest.
4) Most combat areas should be randomly generated, three-dimensional levels. Terrain and architecture should have significant implication on how to approach a level. These things can be themed, but still unpredictable.
5) Less predictability in how to deal with monsters than D2. This is partly about making mobs more unique and generation more random, but it also gets into player attacks and defenses. Imagine going into the Den of Evil (at level 1 when your attack types are obviously still quite limited and a wide variety of approaches can make a big difference), and seeing a randomly generated mix of low level quill rats, shamans (who can res everything, not just fallens), and oblivion knights. Again, these things can be themed as long as the theme doesn't suck away the fun.
6) In general, AOE attacks should be the exception rather than the rule. Even for high level characters. Most AOE effects should probably be something other than damage.
7) Implement some friendly fire ideas from the old D2 Suggestions forum :rolleyes: Reputation and/or experience penalties for the player doing the damage, hitpoint penalties for the player receiving, etc. Players should take splash damage from their own AOE skills when relevent.
8) Game pace should be slower than a shooter, but faster than an RPG. Diablo and D2 did not feel turnbased. NWN and WoW do. D3 should not.
9) Random items should be capable of being more powerful than fixed artifacts. Items in general shouldn't be overblown.
10) Include some sort of literally endless maze for high level characters where everything is insanely random and the mobs keep getting tougher as you go down. This should be only accessible near the very end game and should only be loosely plot related.
11) Make sure that small groups of players and small groups of enemies both are equipped with unique support skills/spells to keep things interesting.
12) Hero has good intentions, but ends up doing something boneheaded (probably at the suggestion of Deckard Cain) which will seem to conquer evil, but actually make the world more screwed up at the start of Diablo 4.
1) Game should NOT be an MMOG! :angry: No roleplaying angels and demons, no epic 100 player battles, no 15-sided storylines, no "spawning mobs", no subscriptions. Games should be limited to whatever testing deems to be a reasonable party size, and arena games would allow twice that amount.
2) Game should be 3D, not just in graphics but in implementation (e.g. WoW has 3D graphics but is no more of a 3D game than Dragon Warrior). I would even go so far as to suggest first-person perspective only, although that would be very controversial.
3) Game and storyline should be simple, dungeon focused, and small scale. Very little combat should occur in open areas. As an example storyline: Perhaps the destruction of the Worldstone causes "Hell on Earth syndrome". As the world engages in an epic war (which would make a fine MMOG plot, but we ain't going there), Deckard Cain enlists a small band of heroes to try to cut off the problems through a backdoor approach. The backdoor: a narrow passageway into the heart of hell in a small town called Tristram, long forgotten by all but the wisest and oldest.
4) Most combat areas should be randomly generated, three-dimensional levels. Terrain and architecture should have significant implication on how to approach a level. These things can be themed, but still unpredictable.
5) Less predictability in how to deal with monsters than D2. This is partly about making mobs more unique and generation more random, but it also gets into player attacks and defenses. Imagine going into the Den of Evil (at level 1 when your attack types are obviously still quite limited and a wide variety of approaches can make a big difference), and seeing a randomly generated mix of low level quill rats, shamans (who can res everything, not just fallens), and oblivion knights. Again, these things can be themed as long as the theme doesn't suck away the fun.
6) In general, AOE attacks should be the exception rather than the rule. Even for high level characters. Most AOE effects should probably be something other than damage.
7) Implement some friendly fire ideas from the old D2 Suggestions forum :rolleyes: Reputation and/or experience penalties for the player doing the damage, hitpoint penalties for the player receiving, etc. Players should take splash damage from their own AOE skills when relevent.
8) Game pace should be slower than a shooter, but faster than an RPG. Diablo and D2 did not feel turnbased. NWN and WoW do. D3 should not.
9) Random items should be capable of being more powerful than fixed artifacts. Items in general shouldn't be overblown.
10) Include some sort of literally endless maze for high level characters where everything is insanely random and the mobs keep getting tougher as you go down. This should be only accessible near the very end game and should only be loosely plot related.
11) Make sure that small groups of players and small groups of enemies both are equipped with unique support skills/spells to keep things interesting.
12) Hero has good intentions, but ends up doing something boneheaded (probably at the suggestion of Deckard Cain) which will seem to conquer evil, but actually make the world more screwed up at the start of Diablo 4.