UPDATE:
So the update didn’t break my build, but it did kind of break the game: as others have pointed out, H3 is way too easy, making builds seem way too powerful, even with lowered attributes.
I also feel the update has pushed paragon skills to the background. Instead of revisiting trees every paragon level earned, we’re now revisiting skills every 4 levels earned. Flat bonus attributes mean, at a certain point, we’re just selecting skills for the bonuses they give—NOT for the skills themselves (even though the skills are supposed to be the focus now). The ability to mix and match 5 skills is cool, but prerequisite skills and the inability to select skills between/among paragon “groups” (e.g. Vanquisher, Gladiator, Survivor, Brawler, Slinger) is limiting.
Which has got me to thinking.
What if, after completing a paragon group, such as Vanquisher, we gained the ability to select any 5 skills from any of the 15 in Vanquisher—such that we could select Greed, for example, without any of its prerequisites?
And what if, after completing multiple paragon groups, we could link “skill trees” (e.g. Treasure Hunter, Ranger) between/among these groups—such that we could select up to 5 skills from up to 5 skill trees (these numbers could increase as new paragon groups are added—such that completing 6 paragon groups would allow for mixing and matching up to 6 skills)?
It strikes me that the circular paragon groups lend themselves to being wheeled about so that skill trees/skills can be kinetically linked (I actually mocked this up and was planning to embed the mockup below, but I don’t see how to upload an image).
ORIGINAL POST (AND EDIT):
With the coming Diablo Immortal update, the build I have spent the past 2 years creating will be broken.
My build is based on persistent attributes (i.e. Armor, Armor Penetration, Potency, Resistance, Damage, and Life) that I have carefully selected across the 15 paragon trees. I’ve only actually completed 2 trees.
With the new paragon system set to remove the player’s ability to select persistent attributes, builds based on these attributes will be broken. As angry as I am about losing my paragon level, I could have accepted that punch to the gut. But I can’t play with a broken build.
A potential fix for this would be to preserve the current paragon tree system as an option for players who actually enjoy it and, like me, have used it very effectively–and depended on it even–to create builds with greater variety, that fit our playstyles, and are fun. Yes, we’d be sacrificing the ability to mix and match new paragon “skills,” but at least we’d be making that choice ourselves.
I understand the desire/need to attract new players, but I don’t understand why this kind of “simplification” is needed now—especially when it comes at the expense of existing players. Tempest alone would have both attracted new players and had existing players, like me, creating new characters and inviting friends who haven’t played the game to join us as we build our Tempests from scratch. Not now. Frankly, that only makes these changes seem even more unnecessary and, as they will clearly break builds based on persistent attributes, more likely to have the opposite of the intended effect.
I love this game. But, as it stands now, May 22 will be the last day I can play my build.
EDIT:
I’ve been talking about this in the in-game chat and realized some additional context would be helpful.
I play as a Wizard, which is squishy, and have found putting points into Armor, Armor Penetration, Life, and Damage really helps with survivability and dealing damage. Currently, I have these persistent attributes maxed out:
760 Armor
760 Armor Penetration
66000 Life
6800 Damage
After the update, it appears maximums will be adjusted to
750 Armor
750 Armor Penetration
60000 Life
6000 Damage
This is NOT the problem.
After the update, my paragon level will be around 275, which means I’ll have
680 Armor
680 Armor Penetration
54400 Life
5440 Damage
THIS is the problem.
After adjusting for the new paragon/paragon tree system, I will lose
70 Armor
70 Armor Penetration
5600 Life
560 Damage
It appears, regardless of class, ANY existing player who has maxed out ANY persistent attribute will, after the update, start with a deficit in that attribute and NOT be able to max out that attribute again until Paragon 300.
For high-level paragon players, this deficit will be less, but still be a deficit.
For lower-level paragon players, this deficit will be much greater.
It’s also reasonable to think players who have simply invested more points in an attribute under the existing paragon/paragon tree system than the new system will allow will also see a deficit.