Ok my reference to “half baked” is just that MP was tacked on as a feature to enjoy with friends or even a small community. I understand that people trade and play MP together but the game’s primary focus in single player - just like Titan Quest. If I chose to participate in that community then yes, I could trade and complete any set I want. So what’s the difference between that and cheating in whatever item I’m tired of farming for?
The core problem here is they have an enormous loot pool and no way to influence 90% of what can drop. It’s like playing Plinko on the side of the worlds tallest building. I don’t mind the time; I don’t mind the effort; but even if it’s “better than it used to be”, it still does not work in it’s current state. Even just playing casual over a LONG period of time, I can’t ever hope to get any particular set I want. I can only make a build with whatever items I’m lucky enough to find.
So if they want to announce “Hey, we made a new set for you guys!” they should tack on “That you can complete by trading”.
I will agree that my only issue with the loot is set completion in particular and I wouldn’t mind seeing the introduction of some kind of mechanic come into play to make it easier to acquire a complete set once you have at least one item in a set. This alone would stop at least 3/4’s of loot complainers in their tracks.
the fact that one is supported by the game while the other is not
I don’t mind the time; I don’t mind the effort; but even if it’s “better than it used to be”, it still does not work in it’s current state. Even just playing casual over a LONG period of time, I can’t ever hope to get any particular set I want.
I know several people that completed all sets over a few days last time we got new sets via a patch, via the Crucible
You know what made Diablo III into a joke? THIS! A freaking way to dress up in several days worth of gameplay.
What’s left to do when you’re fully dressed up in a hack&slash game? NOTHING! There is nothing else to do!!
Diablo II lived for seemingly eternity because it was notoriously difficult to dress up (until mass duping came), making it a journey for years.
Diablo III gets boring after a week, when there’s nothing more to do after you get another full set + supporting legs.
Please, let’s NOT remake GD into another Diablo. I’d rather see a move in the opposite direction.
I have spent almost 2000 hours on Grim Dawn + expansion and I don’t have all the items, nor do I care for that, the GAME ITSELF is fun, and making new builds is fun as well, I have 11 chars running (1 hardcore), and I sure do have great loot but at least I don’t have all of it, thus there’s still something to play for.
Point is, H&S games really do have a connection between item availability/scarcity and the game’s overall longevity.
Diablo III is a fun game! it really is. For a week. After that, when you’re fully leveled and geared (I’m skipping the optimization part here, like replacing items for the same items with better rolls) - what’s there to do, exactly? You can’t even gear up for another char due to “smart loot”.
All H&S games are loot based. Take away the loot, one way or another, and the game dies because there’s nothing to hunt for anymore except for hollow, repetitive, endless dungeons (hi Greater Rifts).
My unpopular opinion, hated by the more casual Joe, is to do the opposite. Go the way of Path of Exile. Make loot hunting hard and exciting. I highly prefer Grim Dawn’s gameplay over PoE, but they sure did itemization well. I wouldn’t say perfect tho, because of the legacy items.
Oh god, those reviews. Grim Dawn is the ARPG i played so far that is the most “average gear” friendly. Not to mention several builds that can practically walk around naked and still do fine like Vitality Conjurer and Vitality Cabalist.
