Diablo III --Impressions start on page 36 --

[Fez]

I'm still on the fence about getting Diablo 3.  I'm kind of worried that it becomes just a loot grind.  Is the co-op fun, and is it easy to find PUGs?

[Arclight]

I'm still on the fence about getting Diablo 3.  I'm kind of worried that it becomes just a loot grind.  Is the co-op fun, and is it easy to find PUGs?

Isn't that what defines games like this, primarily?

[skystride]

It's a loot grind if you intend to play at the higher difficulties.  But if you are playing at the higher difficulties, you've probably already got your money's worth by going through the normal content (probably with several classes).

[Fez]

How do the mechanics work at finding co-op?  Easy to play with others in PUG fashion?  Or do you need to know other people playing?  I've always been the nerdiest of my close group of friends, so I rarely get to play with people I know.   

[Gratch]

So where is this auction house thing?

[leo8877]

So where is this auction house thing?

Main menu

[Harpua3]

How do the mechanics work at finding co-op?  Easy to play with others in PUG fashion?  Or do you need to know other people playing?  I've always been the nerdiest of my close group of friends, so I rarely get to play with people I know.   

I've found it VERY easy to play with friends. Also seems easy to play with strangers if you want to do so.

[Crusis]

For mac fans. Diablo III runs amazingly well on my little Macbook Air.

[stimpy]

The problem I'm seeing/having is when I need to step away for a bit.
If l go to ESC, it disconnects.
If I just leave my toon standing there, it disconnects.

So it looks like I cant be comfortable walking away for a few minutes without losing my progress.

That, is not acceptable, whether it be a single player/multiplayer/MMO game.

[Harkonis]

The problem I'm seeing/having is when I need to step away for a bit.
If l go to ESC, it disconnects.
If I just leave my toon standing there, it disconnects.

So it looks like I cant be comfortable walking away for a few minutes without losing my progress.

That, is not acceptable, whether it be a single player/multiplayer/MMO game.

I haven't had any of these problems.

Between frequent checkpoints and just porting to town so I don't die, I'm able to still get stuff around the house done while playing.

[Orgull]

I haven't had disconnect problems either. I wandered away for over ten minutes once today and I was still logged in and in-game when I got back.

[Clanwolfer]

I am starting to get sick of the first part of Act I - but only because I've run it about six times already, between four characters and co-op, not counting the open beta. One more to get a wizard up to a decent level, then another push forward. About to finish Act I with my demon hunter, and the monk's not far behind.

I'm really enjoying how differently each character plays, though - I suspect this persistence with getting one of each leveled is going to pay off soon. My Demon Hunter feels very well geared, so hopefully I can use him to grab some loot for the other characters - my Barbarian in particular was really only getting bows as drops for a long time, so I struggled even with the Skeleton King. The money I invested in the blacksmith early on is really paying off, though, as the salvage I'm getting ensures I have a few tries to get each character up to a minimally acceptable level of gear.

[Nonnahob]

From what I've seen the demon hunter is incredibly powerful as a dps character.

I've got a wizard at 16, a barbarian at 18 and a monk at 9 so far. I will echo sentiments of each class being distinctly different and a good change of pace.

Just getting going with act II right now and so far the game seems great!

[Roman]

Beat the skeleton king tonight with my barb. Only at level 9.


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[Blackjack]

Played a couple hours with Namatoki and a bud of his, in the low-mid 20s. Total blast.   WE had a sprinkling of deaths, enough to keep us on our toes. Definitey saw some impressive enemies that I"m sure will kick some serious butt in Nightmare.

Even though Nama and I were DHs around the same level, we largely used different skill mixes, and along with the Wizard, quite the lights and animation show.  

Meant to play til about 1:30 a.m. It's 3:30 a.m. I'll have to avoid this on weekdays, but it's good to feel addicted again.  

[jersoc]

on to hell mode now! act 3 took a while because I kept messing with a billion builds. i got about 30 yellow drops today too. sold a few so far, i maxxed the auctions(seriously, 10? gtfo blizzard) so i have a bank full of them i need to mule.

crafting is getting crazy expensive too, but very much worth it.

[DonD]

I am starting to get sick of the first part of Act I - but only because I've run it about six times already, between four characters and co-op, not counting the open beta

This.  I've done it 4 times now between coop runs, my witch doctor and my hardcore monk.  I really wish I could jump ahead to level 10 when more skills start unlocking and skip the early game.  Part of it is the repetition of going through the areas, but the other part is the lack of any real choices, so it feels grindy.  This part of the game lacks any difficulty or threat, so again, it feels grindy.  

[leo8877]

I finished normal with the Witch Doctor and face rolled.  I think I died once because I logged in and was surrounded by mobs.  Nightmare feels a lot better and I've had some challenges since my pets get killed so fast in aoe stuff.

Going with dogs/gargantuan and grasp/firebomb/locusts.  It seriously owns everything.  Also used the Scoundrel follower for the most part.  He's hilarious.

[wonderpug]

What's the punishment if your character dies?

[CeeKay]

Beat the skeleton king tonight with my barb. Only at level 9.

on regular?  I think everyone is level 8-9 at that point.

[The Grue]

What's the punishment if your character dies?

10% armor degradation.

[forgeforsaken]

Grasp of the Dead with Acid Cloud is a crazy good combo.

[leo8877]

What's the punishment if your character dies?

10% armor degradation.

Yep and you respawn at your last checkpoint.  Pretty tame really.  That and you feel bad for screwing up or biting off more demon than you can chew.

[Harpua3]

The problem I'm seeing/having is when I need to step away for a bit.
If l go to ESC, it disconnects.
If I just leave my toon standing there, it disconnects.

So it looks like I cant be comfortable walking away for a few minutes without losing my progress.

That, is not acceptable, whether it be a single player/multiplayer/MMO game.

I haven't had any of these problems.

Between frequent checkpoints and just porting to town so I don't die, I'm able to still get stuff around the house done while playing.

Once on day one I got dropped in a similar situation. Since then not at all, in fact when we are playing my buddy and I just leave it on and take a break and sit down and there it is still connected and running.

Btw, the frogs from the witch doctor are rather comical;).

[Teggy]

My 35 demon hunter is looking pretty snazzy:

[USMC Kato]

My 35 demon hunter is looking pretty snazzy:

Your DH has pointy elbows

[Roman]

Beat the skeleton king tonight with my barb. Only at level 9.

on regular?  I think everyone is level 8-9 at that point.

Oh I know. It wasn't meant as a feather in my cap type post. Just lamenting on how slow I am in comparison.


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[Harpua3]

Also just beat the Skelton king last night. Gonna play more now!!! Seriously, as sad as it is, I wonder how many people quit/ lost their job due to this addictive as hell ( pun intended ) game!

[Caine]

not sure why, but I decided to start up another character instead of continuing with the DH.  I think I like the barbarian more now.  dude just wipes the floor with the mobs.  so damn epic seeing a swarm of them run up, then getting to unleash a mass stun followed by a crowd sweeper to cause bleeding (plus explosive corpses!) and then kick off a an attack which hits everything for half a screen.  I need to get fraps running for those moments as the screen is just filled with item names and dead bodies everywhere.  I keep trying to increase my X killed with one hit record. 

so much fun.  hard to go back from this to the ranged character. 

[TiLT]

I keep trying to increase my X killed with one hit record. 

There are achievements for killing plenty of monsters in one hit. I got one during Act IV for killing more than 30 monsters in one blow, and another for killing more than 20 of the same type that way.

[Blackjack]

I keep trying to increase my X killed with one hit record.

There are achievements for killing plenty of monsters in one hit. I got one during Act IV for killing more than 30 monsters in one blow, and another for killing more than 20 of the same type that way.

I think my monk got 23 with one hit yesterday. Although my DH is a demon-killing machine, he hasn't had any "in one hit" records close to that, afik. just got 57 with one hit just now. 

ACT 4 QUESTION:
OK, any advice for Act 4? Cause for the love of Diablo, I'm getting mauled.   So...

Spoiler for Hiden:

Early on, I just don't know what to do with all those dark spirit things. I've used all my DH arsenal and the spigot never stops, and the boss just kills me before I can make much of a dent in him. I can barely even get free enough to be able to target him.

Using Templar as follower, which has worked for most situations.

I'll tinker with my DH runes, see if there's something better suited, but man, ugh.  

UPDATE: Duh, never mind. Just keep moving. That's the tip.  

[Dunamis]

I picked up some item that shows up in my inventory with a "?" and says it needs to be identified.  Are there identify scrolls somewhere or how do I identify it?

Also, seems like I can buy better gear than I can craft.  I'm buying yellow gear right now for my level 12 DH that seems pretty powerful.  Does this level out (I'm sill in Act 1) in later acts or am I overpowered right now?

[Arclight]

I found all I have to do to indentify is to, right click on the item.
Yes, keep at crafting it gets better. Start salvaging your blues you don't need and train up a level when you can afford to.

[Nonnahob]

You just right click on those items to identify them... Nothing else needed.

[rshetts2]

Regarding the game issues, I bought mine through Newegg ( on sale) so I got it a day after release.  Due to work, I really didnt get to play until a day later.  I havent had any of the connection and error issues that have been complained about.  The only issue I have is that since its server based, you cant play a single player game when they are doing maintenance.  Not a huge deal but still kind of a pain in the butt.
 The AH needs a few more filters.  The best one they could add is a filter by time left.  Its senseless to bid on anything that has more than an hour left on it.  That would also allow you to sort through the gazillion insanely priced crap.  There was a legendary mage glove available and they had at least 45 pages of that one item.  Trying to sort through them to find a reasonable price was ridiculous.  Until they add some filters, the AH is going to be a pain in the ass, there is just way to many items to sort through and way to many idiots who think someones going to pay ONE MILLION GOLD for a piece of crap item.

[Blackjack]

Just finished in Normal, finishing up much of act 4 in a 4-player PUG. Pretty crazy fun.  

A full team of 30s is wild to watch in action. And you can sort of see when players are taking a quick breather to sort out their skills/runes for the situation. Folks were pretty good about rezzing each other.

My DH finished at L32, something like 26 hours. I didn't go back to do any farming or what not, so that's just going through the campaign without repeating much. I don't have much time to play during the week these days, so I've just been sort of playing like crazy last couple evenings.

I noticed Mirage was already up to 44.

[Crusis]

It took me almost 9 hours to finish Act 1 with a Witch Docta. I explored some areas multiple times because the art was so great. There is a ton of variety in the artwork. Overall, this game is amazing and so well polished. The only negative is the online requirement. I've been kicked out a number of times due to disconnects. ARGH.

[Misguided]

Grasp of the Dead with Acid Cloud is a crazy good combo.

I've been wanting to try that, but am loving my current build:
gargantuan w/ cleave rune
Spider Queen
Grasping hands (w/ slow rune)
Fire Bats (this is my mana consumer)
The exploding skull thingy (just switched from toads)
Mass Confusion (my panic button)

Standard opening is to drop the grasping hands. If it looks like a big fight, I toss the spider out. By that point Oscuros has pulled enemies into a bunch and I drop some firebats then skulls for whatever is left.

I love the spider queen because it is super cheap to cast and I can reposition as often as I like (for instance, if we get adds from a different direction).

Gargantuan rocks. So far, it rarely takes any damage to speak of.

I know this isn't a high damage build, but it seems to do decently enough in that regard and I like the CC I have.

[The Grue]

Beat the game on Normal last night and immediately started playing on Nightmare with the same character.  I never do that with games.

[rshetts2]

Beat the game on Normal last night and immediately started playing on Nightmare with the same character.  I never do that with games.

You just screwed yourself, you can never say never, again!