We got a lot of new information over the weekend. I think the game is definitely headed in the right direction and it seems largely due to the team they brought in to port it to the console. It's a little ironic considering people thought that console development is what screwed up the original release.

http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/ros-adventure-mode-hands-report-blizzcon

http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/reaper-souls-faq

http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/reaper-souls-nephalem-rifts-hands-report-blizzcon

http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/reaper-souls-preview-panel-qa

http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/blizzard-reveals-adventure-mode

http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/reaper-of-souls-trailer-for-blizzcon-2013

One of the main new game systems is "Adventure Mode", which opens up all areas of the game and lets you choose wherever you want to go. Part of Adventure Mode are "Bounties" that can be collected by killing specific, randomly-chosen monsters in different areas, which give nice XP and loot when you kill them.

Completing bounties also can get you Rift Keystones, which allow you to open up "Nephalem Rifts", the next big game system. The rifts are 100% randomized dungeons, both in tileset and monster groups, so you can expect to see some pretty interesting combinations. I think that the Rift portals can also spawn randomly throughout the world.

I'm pumped

Seems like pc gamers get boned on this. All the features will be on Ps4 but some are missing on PC.

What features are being left out of the PC version?

No news about an xbone release?

I don't follow the console situation that closely, other than to see what new features are being carried over the PC. Obviously the game isn't an exact copy since you can have local 4 player co-op on console as well as offline single player (and the hacked characters/items that go along with that), but it looks like with RoS, the "Loot 2.0" update, and the end of the auction house the PC will be getting all of the gameplay enhancements made as a part of development for the console version.

I have this on PC, but I am seriously considering picking it up on ps4.

Dunno yet.

I play on the PC. Who has played on console? How does the game play with controllers?

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I have this on PC, but I am seriously considering picking it up on ps4.

Dunno yet.

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+1

Seems like the console version is becoming the definitive version. Would be weird to play and not wear out a mouse.

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Would be weird to play and not wear out a mouse.

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Precisely. How can you play without the clicking? I hope they make this release better.

I could be wrong but the version being released for PS4 will include Reaper of Souls, which means that there won't be much difference between the PC and PS4 versions of the game. Other than console-specific controls and local coop they should be essentially the same game.

I've heard good things on my favorite gaming podcasts about the console version, which is bizarre cause I can't imagine Diablo without the furious clicking

[This message has been edited by elliot p. Campbell (edited 11/13/2013 11:14p).]

Diablo 3: Reaper of paradigm shifts

big patch is finally out fyi, all new loot system and so forth.

Really want to like this game. Was so incredibly disappointed in D3, remembered playing D1 when it first came out, and absolutely loving D2. D2 had so much replay value and still does to this day.. If they remade D2 with better graphics id play it in a heart beat.

So auction house exclusion and new loot system is currently live?

The auction house still doesn't close until March 18.

This will give you a good summary of all the changes, including a list of what's still to come next month in the expansion.

http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/diablo-3-v2-0-1-tutorial-welcome-back-hell

I played some last night and it was a LOT of fun. The health and monster damage tuning makes combat a lot more interesting and loot 2.0 is easily the best thing that could have happened to the game.

[This message has been edited by benMath08 (edited 2/26/2014 8:39a).]

Thanks for the link!

Some of these tweaks are going to take kiting to an entirely new level.

I've preordered.

Guess I need to give the new patch a try.

Two new features are "clans" and "communities", we should create a TexAgs group. I'll see about doing that this afternoon.

EDIT: Ok so I created a clan called "TexAgs" with symbol TAMU. You should be able to search clans for it and request to join. Anyone who becomes a member can invite new members as well.

[This message has been edited by benMath08 (edited 2/26/2014 1:37p).]

Sweet...I've not played in a few months. I'll check it out 2nite and give the communities thing a whirl.

Played today for a bit and enjoyed it. Replaced a healthy chunk of my items using the loot 2.0 thing. Two legendary items out of about two hours on Master difficultly, and both were upgrades that my monk could use. I'll probably be buying the expansion after what I saw today. Act V plus adventure mode w/ bounties could find me getting some more mileage out of this one! Wish the PS4 port was coming out at the same time...

I'm patching mine right now and will be playing on my DH a bit later. I had well over 300k dps before I quit a few months ago, so we'll see how the new loot stacks up.

The new 2.0 loot system is awesome.

It's patching now. Hopefully will get some time in tonight.

Played a couple hours tonight. Upgraded a weapon with a legendary drop. Love that pages are gone from crafting. Those were annoying.

Seems like its a lot harder to die now. I ww barb mostly and only die if I'm stupid and don't watch health vs elite packs. Monsters seem like they take a lot longer to kill now but that could just be because my gear pretty much sucks.

New loot is neat. Found a few upgrades my monk can use while playing DH. Torment 1 is not that bad. Torment 2-3 starts to approach old school inferno type of difficulty when you solo it. I've heard 4-6 are rough, bit haven't tried.

Btw if you ID a unique on a different character it gives the right main stat. Tried it on my barb after finding a sword on my DH. Gave me the appropriate strength stat.

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Btw if you ID a unique on a different character it gives the right main stat. Tried it on my barb after finding a sword on my DH. Gave me the appropriate strength stat.

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Good to know, thanks!

I put in a couple of hours last night after re-downloading it and I'm loving the changes.

I switched up my main to a fetish/zookeeper style witch doctor and I'm rolling over things. I found about 3-4 legendaries in Act 1 and replaced my belt only, but they were good drops none-the-less.

Pre-ordered the expansion too so looking forward to the new act and new class.

I got some time in last night late. The loot drops were definitely higher. I got one legendary. I thought it was interesting that you have a time limit on trading legendary drops before they are account bound. I'm curious to see how that shakes out with the community. The level increase is going to make for a lot of level 60 gear to flood the market when it goes live.

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The level increase is going to make for a lot of level 60 gear to flood the market when it goes live.

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After the 18th (I think) there will no longer be a market... The Auction House is gone after that date, and that timer will be applicable to you and anyone else that was in your party when the legendary drops. After that timer is up, it's BoA.

One cool clan feature is that you can see all the legendaries we've all looted. I'm jealous of that one-handed crossbow two of you found...

I did send a clan request last night.