One thing I’d love to see implemented is faster gem leveling.
Currently, let’s say you want to put lvl80-100 augments on all your items (which is reasonable once anyone starts to push their character). In order to get just all lvl80 augments, you need 13 slots * 80 gem lvls / 5 lvls per GR = 208 total GRs, assuming no failures and constant empowerment. 260 GRs for lvl100 augs.
Honestly this feels pretty ridiculous and time-consuming, and as someone who likes to play many different builds, it limits their effectiveness. I would propose increasing the number of base gem lvls from completing a GR from 3 to 5, and those tied to deaths from 1 to 2. Empowerment could go from 1 to 3. Total of 10 potential levels per GR. Might as well also add a button to add 5 levels at once to gems so there’s less clicking and waiting around.
While it would still take a lot of time to fully augment a character, I would find the grind a lot more palatable if it could be sped up a bit. People would also likely be more willing to experiment and invest in a new build.
It doesn’t need to be implemented quite this way – anything that reduces the grind is fine by me.
1.) Make a “apply all” button to the gem level button so we dont need to click when its 100% chance
2.) Add another way to get more augments per GR…
At the end of the day, we are running GRs all day everyday… These small tediums are actually monumental in player retention. I myself get burnt out of GRs because of things like this. It would also make getting gem of ease to 25 and creating PL gear less tedious.
i think augmenting is fine the way it is, i usually aim for a 101 set for farming and then burn out in season while working towards a set of 130 gems. Getting a full set of gear worth dropping 101’s on takes alot of time, so while you’re leveling those gems for augments you’re also getting minor upgrades along the way. It’s a good loop; I need to upgrade gems, while upgrading gems i gradually upgrade my gear, by the time i have all 13 gems to say… 101 the gear should all be good enought o justify dropping 101’s on them. That then spikes me up in damage enough to go a bit higher.
I honestly usually burn out in seasons after farming my first round of augments. But i’m usually happy to take a break then and satisfied where i leave my character.
I always thought it would be cool if you could just keep adding gold (empowered) for 1 extra gem upgrade. Why is 1 the max? Let us add more gold for more upgrades!
Do you think you would stick around longer if augments happened quicker, though? If you could apply them faster, then you would maybe consider adding them to items you would later discard for an upgrade. It’s a more gradual boost than simply waiting for the perfect item to drop. And rather than burning out on the one character, maybe you’d like to see if you could bring up another build up to par. Keeps you fresh for a while longer.
I definitely agree on the tedium. Lowering initial grind can only increase player retention as a season drags on, which I think would interest the devs. I see a lot of comments on here and reddit where people are one and done after a certain point – the grind just becomes too steeply uphill to bother going further. Increasing gem leveling rate would ease this up a lot I think.
I think it’s fine the way it is. Basically by the time I get 13 gems at level 100 I have near perfect ancient gear in all slots or am very close. I can then safely augment everything and start up again to augment with 130 gems.
On average you’re looking at 300 GRifts to get 13 gems to level 100. These 300 GRifts require about 100 Rifts for keys. Taking about 5 minutes per run you have about 33 hours worth of dedicated playing for a full set of level 100 augments. That’s not bad at all for end game grinding. A more relaxed approach will take about 60 hours for 13 level 100 augments.
During this grinding time you are also getting better gear and more Paragon. Just go with the flow and you will swim in 100+ augs.
i’m unsure, as it is once i finish a set of 100ish augs i’m usually pretty satisfied with the character and i feel “complete”. the problem with it being “fast” is then you’ll kit your character out super fast, currently it takes me about 3ish weeks to fully kit out a character in good items and first round of augments, i then push for a top 50ish solo clear at the time and then quit the character / season until the next season. I don’t have the patience to fish to push for higher than that haha. At least that’s how i approach it currently and i have fun doing it If the process was any faster i’m not sure, maybe?
The Caldeann Despair (sp?) augment is specifically intended to be a long grind. That’s intentional. It’s supposed to provide a power boost after all other power boosts have been exhausted and to reward the most powerful characters. D3 has RNG and non-RNG ways to gain power, but eventually, there’s a point where you are done with your build, diminishing returns mechanics kick in, and you’re just not going to see big power boosts without huge work.
Example:
Fresh 70 in quest yellows/stat stick legendaries
[RNG] Set/Legendaries are rare, but almost always an upgrade
[Static] Paragon points
[Static] Socketables, gems, leg gems
You get your first set complete and see a huge boost in power
Mid-range 70 min/maxing their build, increasing torments
[RNG] Set/Legendaries are less likely to be an upgrade, but more drop
[Static] Gems are all perfect, leg gems are 25+, but still upgrading
[Static] Paragon points
You get a big power boost from fully synergizing your build and getting the best stats
End-game 70 GR pushing
[RNG] Ancients and primals are the only thing you don’t auto-salvage. Your build is complete. Sets/legendaries rain from the sky but 99% are vendor trash.
[Static] Leg gems are maxed, no further benefit can be gained
[Static] You’ve capped 800 paragon, diminishing returns kicks in
It’s this last group that should be worrying about lvl 80-100 augments. They worry about them because there is no other source of power boost for them. Their build is already min/maxed. They’ve got at least ancient everything and are fishing for the rare primal. The augments are the last line of non-RNG upgrades. Yes, the grind is long. It’s supposed to be. Their primary reason to play is no longer the loot hunt. It’s done. It’s to see how high of a GR they can clear. I expect those augments to take work. It’s the last thing you can do that actually gives benefit.
If the process was any faster i’m not sure, maybe?