I am writing this as one the few players that play endgame content in pre-expansion HC online. I know pre-expansion is a small group, and pre-expansion HC even smaller. If you play pre-exp HC online consistently for about two weeks, you probably will have meet everyone that plays pre-exp HC! So thank you for even paying attention to this and giving this read a bit of your time… The two requests are not far fetched and easy to implement (I’m assuming).
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Shared Stash/stash size… There is no one I play with that thinks the no shared stash “for reasons” is a good thing. When random rares are the best items, you want to hold on to random things that take up alot of space, as opposed to in expansion where your looking for certain gear and runes. In pre-exp random rares are typically the best gear. You don’t know if your random rare is gonna be the best thing you find in the next month or not - you just don’t know. Having space to share and store items is important. I think shared stash and stash size is as important, if not more so, in pre-exp than exp. There is so much time that is wasted in our small community transferring items to alts. Not having a shared stash doesn’t stop us from transferring items, it just makes it more grueling of a process.
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Many of the people I play with would welcome a weapon swap. This is just a quality of life thing that would make the game less clunky. Not having a weapon swap isent stopping the builds that already swap weapons before or during a fight from doing it, and having it doesn’t do anything for those that don’t already swap weapons. Like I said, this would make the experience less clunky for us.
These are the two changes I’ve come across from denizens of pre-exp HC Sanctuary in my travels. Perhaps a mage at the blizzard tower could work some Vizjerei magic to make these things possible? Till then ill keep vigil and slay demons as I call upon the fist of the heavens with conviction and strike with vengeance.
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Agreed with both of those! The shared stash is also important because as is there is no way to transfer in Classic single player. I don’t think there’s even a third party option available. I have been playing offline HCC, which has been fun, but having to cosntantly figure out what to drop and what to hold, as well as not being able to equip alts, or gamble at low levels, is a huge pain.
The weapon switch would be nice for more space, horking weapons, pre-buff, and so on, which I would love.
I would add a third suggestion: make mercenaries useful in Classic. The 2.4 changes to mercenary look awesome, but they won’t do much for classic players. If they persisted and could be equipped it would add some new dynamic play to Classic. If people prefer the way things as they are currently they could just ignore the change and not use mercenaries, as they are likely already doing. It just stinks that they’re present but largely useless as is. I’d love to have an enchant merc on my barb after 2.4 drops.
Also, with equipment in Classic mercenaries wouldn’t be overpowered. No eth items, no strong uniques, no runewords, few sources of crushing blow, and so on means that while mercenaries would be useful with a decent gothic bow or lance, they wouldn’t be able to carry you.
Immunities are really difficult to overcome in Classic since the addition of synergies in 1.10, so havine mercenaries be useable would help single element builds a lot too.
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I agree at 1. but 2. is much more than a QoL change. You’d allow much overpowered builds suddly that heavily impact the game, especially at pvp.
Examples: Barb easily swapping between 1h and 2h means he can either deal huge amounts of damage OR take 6x% less physical damage, whenever he needs.
Amazon can just swap between bowa and psn jav, basically doubling her powers. Especially defensively.
Sorc can hold for example a 2+ 20 fcr 3+ blizz staff at 2nd slot and switch to 105 fcr whenever she needs to escape. Crazy damagebuff.
For PvM it’d allow quick 120mf kills (gull+Milabregas) without a sacrifice of power. To have such values you’d sacrifice alot atm. You basically get a 3 sock helm and chancies for free.
It’s just insanely powerful and would mean a big balancechange. A no from me there.
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I do see your point about #2. I wonder how many people in this small community would actually play like that. I myself don’t play like that, I’m slow at reacting to things. My builds are slow and steady group builds typically (like dim vision/support necro or smite pally with defiance).
Also Id like to take the opportunity to say I think pre-exp is much better for group play (cuz nobody has access to another classes kit). Would just be nice for bliz to show Pre-Exp a little bit of love in terms of things like the stash to maybe bring in some people from the exp… I know some people that would play but they don’t just cuz of that stash being so convenient in exp. I think many people don’t realize there’s even a pre-exp mode and that its an entirely different game mechanically and if they were to try it, they might just like it more! If they made it just slightly more accessible than it is now, there would be more people giving it a try and having a great time playing together. I think there would be more traffic, which would be a welcomed thing.
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Bring the QoL changes to Pre-LoD mode too!
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[Classic] Shared Stash is needed.
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Even just doubling the classic stash to OG LoD size would be a huge help.
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Just curious, what keeps you playing Classic vs. LOD?
Its mechanically a different game… There would be alot to list mechanically speaking. One of the easiest things to quickly grasp is block rate. What is listed on your shield is the block rate and its not calculated from dexterity. Another is mercs don’t have equipment and are useless, your alone all the time pretty much.
As for myself, there are two things. I like the separation of powers that comes with classic. I like that if you want meditation or conviction it has to come from an actual player… I personally believe for this reason alone classic is better for group play and LoD is better for single play cuz you have access to other peoples skills. So I make builds like conviction pally or lower resists necro and its more meaningful because its the only way to lower resists for others.
The other thing is that the best items are random rares vs runewords. For me personally, it makes things a little less cookie cutter and captures that excitement more when you identify an item.
edit: @SillyGoose
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Yeah, I feel you about the not having access to other kits bit. I miss that about 1.09 too. That and being able to level past 80 easier.
I do enjoy post 1.10 LoD a lot too, but the homogenization that took place has drawbacks.
@Beoron Yeah Ive always like summon druid with bow. I know its not a meta or min max build but I have fun with it, I like the fantasy of it. So I play LoD too when im in the mood for druid.
As far as your merc ideas go. Two thoughts: if they are trying to recreate the feel/experience then no; however, if they are trying to improve on poor implementation then yes. What we got were mercs that run into battle shouting “For sanctuary!” followed by death sound “arrghh!” I dont think bliz north would spend resources to intentionally program such a useless game mechanic. This topic is something if wondered about for years actually. Ultimately I think its one of those things you cant have both ways and as a dev I think they need to ask themselves are we recreating/recapturing an experience or improving on it. One of those pick a lane and stick to it moments. I do think though having mercs follow you to different acts wouldn’t be a big deal, they are just gonna die anyways lol!
That said Id love to see a d2r+ mode where they fix some obvious poor implementation of things and add some content like an endless randomized dungeon that gets harder with each level and resets on tp (like ancients). Would be an interesting way to level in Pre-Exp I think.
I feel like mercs should serve some purpose, and their implementation in LoD would be a good template. Otherwise they’d need to have a whole new implementation to try and balance, and I doubt a project of that scope is on the table for Classic.
The other option is to leave them as is with their very poor implementation while also missing out on the merc changes in 2.4.
To me there’s no downside to making them LoD-like since they could be ignored. Plus, you’d get to see items like Hellplague or Wizendraw have uses, and it’d be fun to theory craft Classic itemization for mercs.
Enigma is what makes LoD so cookie cutter. Everyone should not have access to teleport. Next tier is mercs having insane auras like conviction, meditation etc…
Hi all!
HC classic is a GREAT game mode. Almost every rare is a thrill as it COULD be a best in slot item. While I agree with #1 to a point I strongly disagree that #2 is QoL.
I’ve been waiting for ladder to launch to begin my HCCL journey!
See y’all in Sanctuary!
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Yeah it was more conducive to group play and respected class fantasy more pre 1.10
One more thing to mention, all the additional LoD attributes (like charges, etc.) are missing in classic, which makes rares more likely to be good. I always said that rares in Classic are the rares how they where intended.
Cause I love [Classic].
LoD is kinda a mess and too easy.
There’s a different breed of human playing as well.