4/20 -> Diablo III Open Beta. Any players here? (fighting, multiplayer, single)

[DFWgal]

Hi C-D Gamers!

I saw on FB that Blizzard is stress-testing their servers so they opened the Diablo III beta for everyone until Monday morning. Is approx. 3 GB.

I've played D1, Blizzard and Sierra expansions, D2, LoD, etc. for years. I was waiting for D3 and I was finally able to try it.

I have a regular laptop, nothing fancy, and the game still looks awesome. I don't know if it's the computer, inet, or the servers being tested but it felt a bit laggy. I like the idea of "salvaging" magic items for crafting, monsters now being able to enter the town and even kill soldiers (feels "more real") or not being allowed to use town portals when you're fighting the bosses. I did not like that you could only choose the skills that you wanted instead of assign points. It's like driving an automatic car instead of a manual LOL.
(A friend that has been playing the beta says that players should be able to assign points freely and apparently it's "locked" for this open beta. Hopefully... )

Have you played the beta? Are you playing this weekend? Impressions?

[kazyn]

I've been playing the beta for about 2 months now. I'm sad that I will be cut off on the first. Luckily enough, my Book of Cain is coming in tomorrow, so I'll have something to do for the 15ish days till launch.... although I'll actually probably read it within the first 2 days or so while I'm on the bus on the way back and forth to work

My PC needs updating, I'm running on an old C2Q6600 @ stock 2.4ghz, 16GB PC2 6400 RAM, GTX550 ti, etc.... it runs it well but it lags a little when the game first loads, I think my hard drive might be to blame for that though.

I personally LOVE that you can create a single player game and turn it into a multiplayer one. A lot of people are upset you have to be online to play single player, but you get the best of both worlds: You can pause single player, and if you need help or someone comes online you want to play with, you can easily convert it. I think it's awesome.

Points allocation takes a while to get used to not having (I have been playing D2 for a few months also again, but on the reddit slashdiablo server), but overall I like the way they're doing it. With runes it still feels very versatile, and leveling always feels rewarding. There are no points and will be no points. Stats are automatically given and you gain skills via leveling at a preset rate. I find it dynamic enough to replace D2's old system.

In D2 there was no variety: Stack enough str to wear your gear, enough dex to max block (optional) and the rest in vit. There was no straying from that unless you were an ES sorc or something. Skill points were dumped into the skills you wanted, and synergies. Why even have points? Just get the skill and use it.

I think this game is going to be great.

I might even pay for a vent server again, I used to have one when I played WoW but that was long ago.

[DFWgal]

Originally Posted by kazyn

I personally LOVE that you can create a single player game and turn it into a multiplayer one. A lot of people are upset you have to be online to play single player, but you get the best of both worlds: You can pause single player, and if you need help or someone comes online you want to play with, you can easily convert it. I think it's awesome.

I agree with you. It was a pleasant surprise when I noticed this yesterday. Other awesome things are that you don't have to compete for loot and there is no danger to lose your things when you die anymore.

Originally Posted by kazyn

Points allocation takes a while to get used to not having (I have been playing D2 for a few months also again, but on the reddit slashdiablo server), but overall I like the way they're doing it. With runes it still feels very versatile, and leveling always feels rewarding. There are no points and will be no points. Stats are automatically given and you gain skills via leveling at a preset rate. I find it dynamic enough to replace D2's old system.

In D2 there was no variety: Stack enough str to wear your gear, enough dex to max block (optional) and the rest in vit. There was no straying from that unless you were an ES sorc or something. Skill points were dumped into the skills you wanted, and synergies. Why even have points? Just get the skill and use it.

I can't get used to it. I liked when I was able to use all my points for mana and build a "glass canon" sorceress to play with DH's barbarian as a "tank". I had another sorc a bit stronger with tele maxed to do magic find, etc. I know there is a level of customization but I can't get used to it (yet?)

Originally Posted by kazyn

I think this game is going to be great.

I might even pay for a vent server again, I used to have one when I played WoW but that was long ago.

Maybe we'll "see" each other online in the future if you play in the regular servers... and if I buy the game LOL

[kazyn]

You can definitely still build a glass cannon, just not in the same method as D2. Selecting offensive skills and runes and forgoing defensive skills. From what they've told us, this is going to be a very, very complex game and it will not be a walk through like D2 was. I'm so excited.....only 22 days to go :P

I've already bought the CE, can't wait

Battletag is kazyn#1339 if you happen to join in on the fun!

[Randomdude]

My sis reserved it for me for Christmas, and I know a number of people who have beta access, but I dont really want to play until its actually released. Feels like a waste of time to me.