Diablo IV is a game about collecting rare loot, decking out your character with as many shiny weapons and armor as possible, and diving headfirst into increasingly challenging combat encounters. Just recently, players discovered all six of the game’s elusive unique drops. These items are extremely difficult to obtain and are nearly impossible to drop for the average player. But are they paying off? They are unmatched in strength.
But is it good for Diablo 4? Does the addition of these six extremely rare items add some mystery to the game, or take away the real possibility of getting the best gear from the best players? In this piece, Connor and Sharif discuss the issue — vying for their views in a bitter war of words.
Are super rare unique drops good for Diablo 4?
Sharif: I hate to be the “this is actually good” person here, but today I have to be a little bit. I’m not all for these six specific items, despite their rarity, I prefer the idea of a loot game with desirable targets.
Part of that is extremely rare loot drops, which shouldn’t deprive players of all the other unique drops they’re guaranteed to get after completing certain activities. Obviously, the rarest items will be unlocked by the game’s most dedicated players, who also happen to get really lucky. This is good. I know that’s never going to be me, and I’m happy for anyone who gets one (or more) of them.
I don’t feel left out because Diablo IV has so many other rewards to chase, so much to hone, that those items never make or break my builds.
connor: I hear it, but I think the problem with this situation is that with the low drop rate, dedicated players used to These items can be reliably obtained. There is a wish, but that wish is based on absurd luck, not player skill or a definite level of time investment.
These items are so fantastic, it means that a dedicated Diablo 4 player has to sit through countless miscellaneous content to get the best gear for his class. You don’t have to be good to get them, or achieve a goal like “beat these extremely difficult dungeons without getting hit,” you just keep rolling the dice until the game thinks you deserve it. best return.
It also means that some random players, those who haven’t worked towards these ideal goals, may stumble upon these items. Dropping these items as wildcards does hurt other gear players can work towards, as all rewards pale in comparison to them, and those who put in the effort don’t necessarily get them.
Sharif:Yeah, I totally find the current odds stupid… but I can’t say improving them would make things better. Imagine if they went up to 5%, which means you might only have to run a dungeon 100 times to get one (Diablo 4 has a lot). This still has little effect on the vast majority of players.
For the same reason, if you attach them to some end game event (requiring a lot of skill to beat) and make sure they drop, they will lose all their current appeal. Diablo IV is full of unique build-altering content, some of which players have targeted (and acquired) to enhance their existing builds.
Adding six more isn’t going to meaningfully change, well, anything. Hardcore players will just have something else to look forward to, and casual players won’t really appreciate the difference between those six and the existing unique items (which they have a higher chance of getting) – if they care about that side at all No gear hunting.
I think a good compromise would be for Blizzard to share the drop rates for these items, and anything that goes into the ultra-rare category. Kind of like how publishers now have to share the breakdown of loot box odds.
connor: They’d lose a lot of their current appeal, but gain a reputation as in-game excellence. Currently, it’s rare to see something like this in the world, but there’s no way to tell if the player wearing it is good or just dumb luck.
Consider the humble World of Warcraft mount ecosystem — it’s a perfect example, in my opinion, and you can compare it to just about any game in terms of rarity and virtual reach. The mounts that stand out and really matter are either the ones that have some serious porting behind them (the gladiator PvP mounts), or the ones that require some great feat that’s long gone (the classic WoW Scarab Lord mount).
These items have prestige because you have to work really hard and play well to get them. Mounts that reset 0.1% every week do look cool compared to the piles of drop rate porn, but have no real value in the eyes of collectors. It’s just a matter of time, not merit. Officially disclosing the drop rate will only drive home the absurdity of the situation.
Sharif: Given Diablo 4’s isometric perspective, I don’t think most gear and weapons will stand out like World of Warcraft mounts. Diablo 4 mounts might actually be the only thing you’ll see other players mount, and they’re completely cosmetic!Even armor loses in the noise, you have to real If you can identify a named pawn on a random player, then you know your stuff.
The real appeal of the game’s super-rare items is that they’re incredibly powerful and nearly impossible to obtain. For most people, they’re not destructive enough to be worth the struggle, leaving this job to very dedicated hardcore gamers who are already more inclined to pursue these things regardless of the odds.
Blizzard needs to provide guaranteed drops for certain endgame events, which will solve the problem for players who want certainty, and leave some other weirdness that maybe 1% of players will see.
Finding these ultra-rare items isn’t the only thing Diablo 4 players will be concerned about, as Season 1 is on its way and will bring a slew of new content for the masses to enjoy.