SRSLY?: Ranged Class

[Cable]

SRSLY?: Ranged Class

Every Diablo III dedicated site has numerous discussions about the two unrevealed classes -- and the biggest expectation is a class that specializes in bows and/or crossbows and/or other ranged weapons.

However, looking at how Blizzard is approaching the game -- and how the current characters are built thus far, I am under an impression that doesn't allow me to sit well with the idea of a ranged class (of course that could be just me)...

Let me elaborate. I do believe there will be a ranged class of sorts. I don't however believe that it will have to rely on any specific weapon(s). I was under the impression that any class could use any weapon, the weapon in question though may or may not be statistically complimenting (ie: while a Wizard can use a sword, an orb may have better complimenting attributes). So I was under the impression that Blizzard wanted us to build whatever character we like, since fixed stats and skill trees tend to narrow the customization ever so slightly. So if I rolled a Barbarian and I wanted him/her to use maces instead of axes -- I could do that.

I suppose what I'm trying to get at falls in with this question: Do we really want a ranged class that is bound by a particular weapon type?

I personally would like a ranged class that benefits from any weapon type such as the current Wizard who's conjuring tree allows him/her to draw upon more weapon types then just magic friendly weapons.

 

[LaZeR]

Re: SRSLY?: Ranged Class

Why bound by a paricular weapon type?

1. It can be every Range weapon. I'm not saying it's a Bow char. I'm saying it's range physical char.

2. The char would obviously have other skills than Range, probably close melee, so it's not like you can use Bows and nothing but.

However, you make an interesting point.
Bounding us with specific weapoins (even if it's a wide range of Range weapon) is not very D3- I mean, I can't use Magic Arrow with my dagger, can I?
This does cast a shadow on the Ranger idea. However, this can be solved by:

1. Making every item throwable and make so Range skills are applied for every wep. Wierd, cool, and probably won't happen.
2. Deal with it. Range bow style class is just too mandatory and a must in such a game, and has already be handled with the Amazon Bow/Javeline only skills. A bit restricting, but what the hell..

 

[squid knight]

Re: SRSLY?: Ranged Class

Range bow style class is just too mandatory and a must in such a game, and has already be handled with the Amazon Bow/Javeline only skills. A bit restricting, but what the hell..

Mandatory? Says you. I think a pure physical ranged class is boring as hell. If something like it makes it in-game I'll guarantee you it'll not be anything like the ranger/woodsman BS that everyone and their dog is throwing out there on this board. It's true that there's no physical ranged anything right now, but that's no reason to have a class that is only that. If they added some physical ranged abilities to BOTH the new classes (fitting in with the class itself, of course), we should be all set in that department.

 

[paperkut]

Re: SRSLY?: Ranged Class

Another option would be to have a class that has skills that have the same effect for ranged and close combat. By not making skills specific like "magic arrow" and more like "magic strike" you can use any weapon to achieve the magic damage effect.

 

[Romak]

Re: SRSLY?: Ranged Class

Same here... why bound to 1 weapon type? Was the amazon BOUND to bows? Amazon = Bows, Crossbows, Javalins, Spears... and each of them plays slightly different. Just because Diablo 2 wasn't balanced enough to allow anything other than Bows and Javalins for the amazon doesn't mean Diablo 3 will be like that too. Same goes to the barbarian - how many weapon masteries he had? I don't even remember. My point is, the complete freedom of customization exists only when all of your options are equally good for you. The more unbalanced the game is, the less customization you have. And I just can't picture a barbarian going around with a wand and magic orb with the intention of being "The most powerful", sorry.

 

[LaZeR]

Re: SRSLY?: Ranged Class

Mandatory? Says you. I think a pure physical ranged class is boring as hell. If something like it makes it in-game I'll guarantee you it'll not be anything like the ranger/woodsman BS that everyone and their dog is throwing out there on this board. It's true that there's no physical ranged anything right now, but that's no reason to have a class that is only that. If they added some physical ranged abilities to BOTH the new classes (fitting in with the class itself, of course), we should be all set in that department.

Yep, says I. I'd be super suprised if Blizz doesn't make one. Why?

1. According to the chars we've seen so far none of them will use range physical weapon. Or at least aren't incourged by any skills to do so. So nobody's going to use Bows and Crossbows?

2. I agree with boring, but this can be solved very quickly- Make it interesting. Add unique skills aside from Range like Summoning, Surounding Control or Shape-Shifting and you have a more diversed Ranger.
I'm concerened about the whole weapon restricment much moer than if the is boring or not.

 

[Arkardo]

Re: SRSLY?: Ranged Class

The 'ranged' class could also be using a weapon that can (and should) be used for melee as well, like the Amazon's javalins. Like, throwing daggers or something.

By the way, do you guys think that the range of ranged attacks should still be the entire screen? Since the resolution has increased since D2, I think that it should be thought about. Then again, I think most (all?) of the Wizard's ranged spells already have fullscreen range.

 

[TammerHime]

Re: SRSLY?: Ranged Class

If they want to make a physical range class heres how they should do it imo. It should be more like an weapon master class, one that relies on its bow for some situations and going in a killing people with daggers or swords or whatever you have to do. A weapons master, someone who can be proficent with any weapon without really loseing anything. You could make one tree range/throw then 1 handed weapons then 2h weapons. Right their you make a class that is workable for useing the range weapons that you impliment into the game and you also get someone who is not stuck to that one set of weapons.

 

[squid knight]

Re: SRSLY?: Ranged Class

Yep, says I. I'd be super suprised if Blizz doesn't make one. Why?

1. According to the chars we've seen so far none of them will use range physical weapon. Or at least aren't incourged by any skills to do so. So nobody's going to use Bows and Crossbows?

2. I agree with boring, but this can be solved very quickly- Make it interesting. Add unique skills aside from Range like Summoning, Surounding Control or Shape-Shifting and you have a more diversed Ranger.
I'm concerened about the whole weapon restricment much moer than if the is boring or not.

1. "It's true that there's no physical ranged anything right now, but that's no reason to have a class that is only that. If they added some physical ranged abilities to BOTH the new classes (fitting in with the class itself, of course), we should be all set in that department."

2. That's exactly what I meant by "I think a pure physical ranged class is boring as hell. If something like it makes it in-game I'll guarantee you it'll not be anything like the ranger/woodsman BS that everyone and their dog is throwing out there on this board." and "If they added some physical ranged abilities to BOTH the new classes (fitting in with the class itself, of course), we should be all set in that department." If it has summoning or shape-shifting or whatever, it's clearly not a ranger...

 

[LaZeR]

Re: SRSLY?: Ranged Class

Not a typical Ranger, hell, even the Amazon wasn't purely physical Ranger class if you consider Javalines more of a melee attack.

And I haven't seen any suggestion of purely Ranger class. Ofc it won't be all Ranger, like the Sorc isn't all about firing magic spells like in D2, but has complex Summoning skills, melee skills and Time Control skills.

 

[Chorkstain]

Re: SRSLY?: Ranged Class

Are you kidding? It's always being suggested. Anyway, I'm sure there will be a character to use all those bows, but I sure hope it's not a 'Ranger' or anything remotely like the Amazon.

 

[Midoxp]

Re: SRSLY?: Ranged Class

Do you think the range wepone could be a webones or guns?!

 

[Kalkanor]

Re: SRSLY?: Ranged Class

Do you think the range wepone could be a webones or guns?!

what are webones????
and i think guns have been ruled out already

 

[squid knight]

Re: SRSLY?: Ranged Class

Not a typical Ranger, hell, even the Amazon wasn't purely physical Ranger class if you consider Javalines more of a melee attack.

And I haven't seen any suggestion of purely Ranger class. Ofc it won't be all Ranger, like the Sorc isn't all about firing magic spells like in D2, but has complex Summoning skills, melee skills and Time Control skills.

first of all...no, i don't count javelins as melee. amazons were most definitely a purely ranged class. and wizards are pretty much a pure magic class...i don't know why you don't count time control as magic, and the only spell that's a little different is the summon hydra. i would count the wizard as a pure magic class. and i would count the barb as pure physical melee class.