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Diablo 3 Developer Explains Health and Potion Changes

Posted by Soulskill on from the where-would-I-put-this? dept.

One of the new features in the upcoming Diablo 3 release is a change from the traditional potion-guzzling, inventory-clogging system of previous games to a new scheme in which monsters drop health orbs on the ground that refill your health when you touch them. Lead Designer Jay Wilson says the change makes for more varied gameplay and a more consistent way to scale difficulty. He told the Multiplayer blog: "When the player has similar downsides, it means we can make a lot more interesting monsters. We don't have to kill you to challenge you. We can make a monster that affects your mobility, we can make a monster that has different kinds of attacks that are dangerous to you and that you actually have to avoid. And so it makes the combat a lot more interesting."

8 of 177 comments (clear)

  1. Finally! by fructose · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Thank goodness! No more 10 minute sessions of inventory management just to juggle your potions around.

    1. Re:Finally! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Speak for yourself. That is what made the Diablo games different. In fact, the many hours that I spent playing Diablo and Diablo 2 gave me the inventory management experience to land me my dream job. You are currently reading the post of the Senior Late Night Inventory Management Specialist at Safeway Food and Drug, Whitefish, Montana.

    2. Re:Finally! by maglor_83 · · Score: 5, Informative

      See Baldur's Gate.
      You have a maximum number of slots, and a maximum weight. If you go a little over the weight, then you slow down. If you go a lot over, you can't move.

    3. Re:Finally! by Guruthegreat · · Score: 5, Funny

      Everyone knows you don't carry 14 different massive hammers at once, you carry 12 massive hammers and a magic box with 2 massive hammers inside it

      --
      Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges
  2. Re:Well... by 4D6963 · · Score: 5, Funny

    How is that going to affect boss matches? Unless the boss monster has a load of minions, that could be quite a challenge!

    Indeed, I only hope the monsters drop these "health orbs" through specific orifices. Would give a new sense to beating the proverbial shit out of them. Mostly if that shit heals your wounds.

    --
    You just got troll'd!
  3. Re:"new" ??? by idlemind · · Score: 5, Informative

    Yes, it's new system for Diablo. It's not like they are claiming they invented it.

  4. My mature, well thought out response by Alzheimers · · Score: 5, Funny

    click...click click click click click ooh shiney clickclick click click click click click click click click...

  5. Re:What about bosses? by tknd · · Score: 5, Funny

    I propose a much better system where the player dies after one hit or tap from a monster. And if the player wishes to be able to survive a second hit, he must either find the nearest mushroom or orange flower hidden away in some box disguised like all the others.