The season journey: When the boon becomes the bane

[Darall-11275]

I will talk about tempering, you have been warned.

First, I consider myself a casual gamer who plays hardcore for the adrenaline and to find purpose in defeat. I play about two hours a day when kids are asleep. My view of Diablo IV are somewhat uncommon, but the rationale behind considering my season complete might be more common than it seems.

I died yesterday! My main and sole active character is gone. Do not get me wrong, I lost more characters this season than all previous seasons combined. Starting over, leveling, finding items, trying skills, Doing Helltides and Blood maiden, Pushing the Pits, everything was so much fun…

Until the Greater Affix became a necessity, it hit me like a truck.

I want to clarify, I do not follow build guides or watch videos; I simply play the game my own way without needing others to tell me how I should play.

I was disheartened to discover the few good items needed, knowing that 9 out of 10 times, they would prove unworthy to wear. All thanks to the limiting attempts of tempering. I am not looking for solace, but simply expressing my perspective and compared to others’ experiences on the matter. Without addressing the tempering, here are the problems I faced, especially after reaching level 100:

• Prevents quick and small upgrades: I quickly went from multiple upgrades a day to maybe one or two upgrades a week.

• Prevents to experiment with other skills, builds, synergies: Upgrades are so rare that you have to commit to your main strategy.

• Prevents to create a set of items for multiple circumstances: I was barely able to support one build. It was just unthinkable to support more than one.

• Most tempering categories have too many options: Getting the desired attribute from 5 or 6 options is ridiculous, especially when receiving the same attribute 4 times in a row.

• Some class tempering options simply lack the desired attributes: Like vulnerable damage for Barb weapons.

• Tempering is required for Masterworking: Experiencing bricking early in the crafting process renders most good items found nearly unusable. I would likely mind less if the bricking mechanic occurred during the final step of crafting, akin to the Vaal Orb in Path of Exile.

• The impact on late game progression is excessively steep. The quantity of good GA (even single), combined with the chance of obtaining the two desired attributes, is just too unlikely.

To sum up, the sole reason I’m not beginning anew this time is that I am now aware of what lies ahead. At leveling, tempering is a real boon, but it quickly becomes a bane. This season was such a good one, I played more than ever, and leveled more character than ever. It’s just sad that such a small mechanical had such a significant impact on my endgame.

I strongly wish to see the restrictions on tempering removed, but I understand that this mechanic is in place to retain other players. (just not me). I would also appreciate hearing from you about your endgame experience and what is currently bothering you the most.

Have a great second half!
Thanks for reading me.

[Graveslave-1131]

While I agree, people are already saying the game is too easy (for them). removing tempering restrictions will surely destroy the already easy game (for them).
if they are to remove tempering restrictions (the bane) then (the boon, trading) needs to be limited or adjusted to maybe a single trade per week? (lol)

[Conceited-1464]

Rather than get into why I think tempering is fine too much, I”ll take a different approach.

I honestly don’t care one way or another. At the end of the day if they were to change it, it would just mean I move the already barely there meter I have in my brain to stop looking for anything not GA during the leveling process at WT4. Getting 5/5 925 by about level 65-70 is insanely easy.

I’ve never had a BiS 3 GA item drop, I still wouldn’t trade until it is in the game. If they changed all that, I’d hit BiS 3 GA in a matter of days, no problem.

I think all it will do is make everyone start complaining about masterworking demanding they change it too.

I despise the random 25% affix every 4 levels way more than anything related to tempering. I won’t go back and reset masterworks, and I can get 550 netharion in less than an hour.

[Darall-11275]

@Graveslave-1131

people are already saying the game is too easy

I am one of them, but I strongly believe that progression does not necessarily correlate with difficulty. For me, the main purpose of tempering restrictions is simply to slow the pace of progression.

@Graveslave-1131

then (the boon, trading) needs to be limited or adjusted to maybe a single trade per week? (lol)

I do not engage in trading because there is currently no decent trading system implemented in the game. However, I understand that removing the restriction alongside trading poses a problem.

[Graveslave-1131]

@Darall-11275

For me, the main purpose of tempering restrictions is simply to slow the pace of progression.

I feel the same way. I spent probably billions and have I think a single 3-star item that rolled with something I would consider usable for the build i’m playing. the rest that were “bricked” went to the vendor or salvaged, not to mention countless master-worked items salvaged for mats just to shave off some game time in the pits. oh and I do not trade, I play with what I find.

[Urza-1177]

Overall idea of tempering is awesome but the execution is poor.

The manuals are the problem.

Tempering 2.0

Here is an idea for tempering 2.0 based on changing the manuals. I think what the devs failed to realize is ruining a nongreater or 1 greater affix item is not a big deal but ruining a 2 can be and a 3 is rage quit time for many players and can you blame them? They just got a great item or bought a great item then wreck it. 3 greater affix items are more rare than ubers. I have literally got more ubers than 3 greater drops. So when players are ruining high value items over and over it just …

[Darall-11275]

@Conceited-1464

I’ve never had a BiS 3 GA item drop, I still wouldn’t trade until it is in the game. If they changed all that, I’d hit BiS 3 GA in a matter of days, no problem.

I couldn’t even fathom a 3GA. I may have seen 2 or 3 since day one, and they were trash. I did found a few good 2GA but ended up trashed in the end.

@Conceited-1464

I think all it will do is make everyone start complaining about masterworking demanding they change it too

lol, You’re probably right about that. Nevertheless, I loved masterworking items, even though I was barely able to reach Pit 61.

@Tempering 2.0

I think what the devs failed to realize is ruining a nongreater or 1 greater affix item is not a big deal but ruining a 2 can be and a 3 is rage quit time

Lol, failing a 1 GA was kind of a big deal for me. I probably don’t have as many items as most regular players do. I play a lot, but it feels like significantly less compared to what most people here play. This mechanic will slow down big players, but it effectively halts players like me.

[Conceited-1464]

I’ve played quite a bit, what few 3 GA’s I get are almost always life on hit somewhere or all defensive stats on gloves (which actually just dropped a second ago).

I have other reasons, but I feel like tempering saves me a lot of time. I’d rather not ever really have a good item and “brick” it then hit the less desirable or even useless affixes (armor) on the 25% masterworks over and over. I can’t imagine resetting trying to hit 2 or 3 times of the same affix on purpose. I’d rather get to pick all my 25% affixes or even one of those for each item at the very end.