1.3.1 Patch, New Microtransaction Videos, Unique Item Preview and Design Process

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super-secret supporter-designed

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acme_myst wrote:

While I agree with the sentiment that this new unique is hardly useful, I don't think the way that this critique has been delivered is very constructive.

What confuses me more, though, is that GGG thinks of this unique as "A powerful late-game item for players to aspire to". Let's look at what this item does, and what GGG says about it.

With regards to the +1 Gems, I will hands-down agree that this is "universally strong", no question about it.

However, saying that "its defensive values are reasonably good"? It provides marginal armor and evasion. Also, it provides this through a percentage increase of the base values, so quality will be ineffective at increasing these stats. Furthermore, it provides no life, and no resists. Given how (effective) defense works in this game, this item's defensive values are pretty much outdone by any rare item dropped on-level, let alone late game.

Then, the 40% reduced light radius. While the opposite, increased light radius, is often (and rightfully) considered a lost affix slot, 40% reduced is a HUGE quality of life loss. Having played with Darkray Vectors in the past, this stat alone would keep me away from the item, even if the other stats were way better.

And finally, the signature mods on the item, the %increased attributes. Going from the rolls on the item, I'd expect a range of 5-15%, maybe 5-20% if being optimistic. So that gives you, with perfect rolls, around 40 to each stat, assuming you already have 200 base. In other words, you need to already be heavily invested, for the increase to become somewhat useful. Even then, "use it with PotCG"? Given those stats, that's about 2% IAoE, 4% AS, and 64% IPD on a 33 pdps base. Is this really something GGG thinks players will "aspire to"?


Admittedly, this post also fails somewhat in being constructive, in that I really don't see how to "fix" this item, within its design. You could increase the numeric values, making them a bit more useful, but even then I doubt this would see much play. As is, it looks extremely underpowered, even compared to an average level 51 rare.

In short, I really feel that GGG should rethink how they approach unique design. Clearly, there is a huge disconnect between what they feel is good design, and what players are looking for in an item. "Interesting" unique design doesn't mean that the item has to be the most effective way to accomplish something, but that also doesn't mean that ineffective uniques are automatically interesting. I'm not saying that every unique should be omfg-faceroll OP, but they should all have a reasonable use case within the current state of the game.

edit: math.

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acme_myst wrote:

While I agree with the sentiment that this new unique is hardly useful, I don't think the way that this critique has been delivered is very constructive.

What confuses me more, though, is that GGG thinks of this unique as "A powerful late-game item for players to aspire to". Let's look at what this item does, and what GGG says about it.

With regards to the +1 Gems, I will hands-down agree that this is "universally strong", no question about it.

However, saying that "its defensive values are reasonably good"? It provides marginal armor and evasion. Also, it provides this through a percentage increase of the base values, so quality will be ineffective at increasing these stats. Furthermore, it provides no life, and no resists. Given how (effective) defense works in this game, this item's defensive values are pretty much outdone by any rare item dropped on-level, let alone late game.

Then, the 40% reduced light radius. While the opposite, increased light radius, is often (and rightfully) considered a lost affix slot, 40% reduced is a HUGE quality of life loss. Having played with Darkray Vectors in the past, this stat alone would keep me away from the item, even if the other stats were way better.

And finally, the signature mods on the item, the %increased attributes. Going from the rolls on the item, I'd expect a range of 5-15%, maybe 5-20% if being optimistic. So that gives you, with perfect rolls, around 40 to each stat, assuming you already have 200 base. In other words, you need to already be heavily invested, for the increase to become somewhat useful. Even then, "use it with PotCG"? Given those stats, that's about 2% IAoE, 4% AS, and 64% IPD on a 33 pdps base. Is this really something GGG thinks players will "aspire to"?


Admittedly, this post also fails somewhat in being constructive, in that I really don't see how to "fix" this item, within its design. You could increase the numeric values, making them a bit more useful, but even then I doubt this would see much play. As is, it looks extremely underpowered, even compared to an average level 51 rare.

In short, I really feel that GGG should rethink how they approach unique design. Clearly, there is a huge disconnect between what they feel is good design, and what players are looking for in an item. "Interesting" unique design doesn't mean that the item has to be the most effective way to accomplish something, but that also doesn't mean that ineffective uniques are automatically interesting. I'm not saying that every unique should be omfg-faceroll OP, but they should all have a reasonable use case within the current state of the game.

edit: math.

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KorgothBG wrote:

What i hope to see is more uniques with which you can create a build around... these are the uniques that i actually care about. Yup like facebreakers, or three dragons, or well .. you know what i'm talking about.