07-08-2003, 01:45 AM
I've been just wondering about this question, and your post provides a data point.
I routinely play players 1 solo. 1.10 clearly gives more xp than 1.09. I think I was around lvl 13 or 14 when I killed Andy, instead of the lvl 11 I would usually be at in 1.09. Currently I'm lvl 29 in Act V hell (glacial trail, pre-ancients); I'd guess in 1.09, I'd typically be around lvl 25 or so at that point (not completely sure), and maybe around 30 after Baal and entering nm diff. Very roughly speaking, my clvl in 1.10 has been close to where I'd be in the following act in 1.09. Nevertheless, the game is clearly tougher, so the monster changes outweight the lvl gain. But might it be the otherway round for players 1 vs. players 8? Obviously the monsters are harder in players 8, but if you play straight through at that setting you're also lvling up much faster, which could actually make it *easier*, since you won't be up against the clvl/mlvl curve, not to mention the access to additional skills and stat points (though you will have the same equipment -- which would hurst melee/bow types vs. casters types).
Overall, despite some bugs and oddities, I see nothing to complain about with this patch on normal difficulty. In fact, it's more af a change than I expected, given Bliz's previous statements that they didn't want to change normal too much. It's definitely slower going and tougher than before though still very reasonable. (I died once so far -- I ran into the middle of a fallen pack and couldn't get out in the cold plains at clvl 2 or 3, so I don't really count that one. :P )
I routinely play players 1 solo. 1.10 clearly gives more xp than 1.09. I think I was around lvl 13 or 14 when I killed Andy, instead of the lvl 11 I would usually be at in 1.09. Currently I'm lvl 29 in Act V hell (glacial trail, pre-ancients); I'd guess in 1.09, I'd typically be around lvl 25 or so at that point (not completely sure), and maybe around 30 after Baal and entering nm diff. Very roughly speaking, my clvl in 1.10 has been close to where I'd be in the following act in 1.09. Nevertheless, the game is clearly tougher, so the monster changes outweight the lvl gain. But might it be the otherway round for players 1 vs. players 8? Obviously the monsters are harder in players 8, but if you play straight through at that setting you're also lvling up much faster, which could actually make it *easier*, since you won't be up against the clvl/mlvl curve, not to mention the access to additional skills and stat points (though you will have the same equipment -- which would hurst melee/bow types vs. casters types).
Overall, despite some bugs and oddities, I see nothing to complain about with this patch on normal difficulty. In fact, it's more af a change than I expected, given Bliz's previous statements that they didn't want to change normal too much. It's definitely slower going and tougher than before though still very reasonable. (I died once so far -- I ran into the middle of a fallen pack and couldn't get out in the cold plains at clvl 2 or 3, so I don't really count that one. :P )