Runewords and Party On!

I’m excited.  Looks like a lot of you are too about Diablo 4 becoming a lot more accessible and fun.  I spoke with a friend this morning he said his Battle.net friend list is showing more and more Diablo 4 over the past few weeks.  As I previously discussed in my last article, the Diablo series has gone through this cycle a few times to see what players like and dislike, and the game is becoming much more robust than at release and the announcement of runewords was icing on the cake.

I even briefly was at level 100 in Hardcore for the first time as I’ve enjoyed Diablo 4 more in the past month than I have since release.

I find the game refreshing and variety has allowed more ways to play myself and others as we generally have our own way of leveling and progressing.  I also have stalled out on my Hardcore Tournament Diablo 2 Septemvirate because I’ve been enjoying Diablo 4 that much! And that says a lot for someone who still plays it all the time 24 years on as few games hold my attention for more than a character or two.  Rush and Gazerrick have both written about the upcoming changes and their excitement for them too.  Check out our podcast where they go over all the new changes!

Rune Words

I like what they are doing here.  It adds a nice touch, and I can’t wait to see all the cool combinations players find to fit classes.  Add in cross-class functionality and maybe we can also get cross-class functionality on some legendary abilities. The holy grail of options in Diablo 4.  I don’t want classless, but I do like cross-class odd stuff. Although I love cross-class abilities and skills, I am a hard pass on something like Enigma, and the gaining of a teleport skill is so overpowering that most players play with it as it warps the way in which we farm.  I’m pumped for the Berserk at least!

Party Finder

I said it last time, but this is what this game has needed from the start.  I’m glad they are shifting away from Dungeons as the “group experience” as there are better options.  The dungeon requiring all players to have it unlocked was off-putting for myself as I’m with Gazerrick in the waypoint unlocks need doing. I’d also say I hope this brings the multiplayer back to Diablo.  Diablo 3 was good with this and Diablo 2’s functionality still works great too.

I can’t say enough about how this is a game-changer for Diablo 4.  This is one that is sorely needed for many players as it was recently stated the majority of players (86%) are solo and I’d gather most of that is the group portion of this game isn’t push a button and join a party.  Many players just want to do that for a game like this, myself included, if I’m not playing with a friend or two on rare occasions.  I want to hop on, do a run or two, and then handle whatever else I need to.  As Abraham Lincoln said in the most Excellent Adventure, Party on Dudes!

Final Thoughts

The Diablo franchise starting in 1996, was changed from a turn-based game to a real-time action role-playing game.  This was the beginning of a new genre and led a generation of gamers to enjoy the Diablo series.  The games all have gone through changes after the first Diablo (which is mostly the same still since release) while the other two and Diablo 4 have had massive changes and overhauls to the systems as they developed with some of the biggest changes coming around the time of the first expansion for each being released.  With Diablo 4 we see these changes happening and we also see the benefit of a live service game that is able to adjust more quickly than the previous games.  With Vessel of Hatred just over a month away, I know I’m getting ready to experience the storyline and see the new areas, challenges, and items.  I have one request, can we get a Mythic Unique Storm Shield, and can I get a Unique Totem, please? Also adding some companion bonuses would be perfect!

Diablo 4 has already come a long way and it is starting to hit the right spots.