Gearing and drop rates, AH use almost required to progress.

[Athenau]

Hmm, blues are quite good in d3. The damage can be on par with the best rares; but the mods will be lacking, which is about right.

I liked the D2 concept of having affixes available to blues that weren't on rares, so you'd need to roll a _really_ good rare to beat a top-end cruel with 300% ed. Right now, once you get to inferno, it feels like blues go right out the window.

D3's "elite" loot is actually more generously dropping than D2's "elite" loot. Zod runes and crap were pretty much a dream. It's just that the higher end loot is now more mandatory.

True, but my concern is the slightly less than elite stuff. The mid-range runewords, the high-end magics, the blood crafts--stuff you could (with some effort) find for yourself and be assured of a decent baseline of power. You don't need an ethereal BoTD on every character, after all.

Crafts in D3 are supposed to fill this gap, but they're just so inefficient compared to the AH. I'd be willing to spend the current prices if there were ilvl 63 recipes, but blowing millions of gold to get one potentially good piece that isn't even max level...no. Gambling in D2 was way better.

So the paragon system was very good at addressing the problem a little. Higher base stats means equipment means less and the naturally increasing MF means the poor have to not spend as much in investing in a luxury stat to actually get stuff. It's still not that reliable, but farming your way through to inferno belial is very doable, if not annoying. Still, this is closer to the original concept of farming hell til you can reach inferno concept.

Hmm, I'll take your word for it. My barb finished Act 2 before the paragon system dropped. Since then he's beaten inferno, and I think he's had one gear upgrade come from farming (siegebreaker runs mostly).

I mostly like the paragon system because I don't have to spend money on an alternate gear set so I can farm boring areas, like Act I. Farming Act III or IV where there's an actual chance of dying and the fights are exciting is way more fun. I guess that's a good sign, because I actually enjoy killing things in this game. Like, a lot. Inferno is lots of fun now after 1.04. And the upcoming mechanics changes to CC open up even more build possibilities, which will keep me playing.

But, WHY U NO FIX ITAMZ BLIZZARD?

My top priorities:
1. Items.
2. Monster randomization.
3. Skill balance

If they attack 1 & 2 in the next few months I'll be happy.