I know this is a wee bit off topic but I was wondering (since I have a wack of Diablo players in here) if someone could explain to me the multiplayer aspect of Diablo. I've been watching videos having never played WoW/Diablo 2/any MMoRPG and I just can't figure out what you do when you connect with friends in Diablo. I don't usually play these sorts of games, but I loved Skyrim so I'm considering it.
I will definitely do the honor:
In Diablo, it is very simple. You usually have an NPC fighting with you. In Diablo 3, it is first a Templar which later in the game you can exchange for a Scoundrel. Later in the game, you can also choose the Enchantress.
The moment, you choose to play an open game, other players can join. You will loose your Follower (Templar or so on) and that other person will fight with you. Up to four people can fight together. You get a system message that someone joined and that your foes got stronger or that someone left and the enemies get weaker. This happens without you having to worry about it (except you are in the middle of a fight and 3 people join - you might be toast at that point - but even that is survivable). In other words: It's easy as pie! Run to the front lines and fight side-by-side!
Alternatively to letting people join, you can join a game in your character menu by selecting to join a public game instead of starting a game.
Have to correct that: Actually, when the last friend or random player left, you are asked if you want your Follower back and you are back in business.
About the loot:
In Diablo 3, everybody has his or her own loot. That means, you open a chest or kill a foe and gold and items drop. You cannot see what drops for your mates and they cannot see yours - but if you drop something out of your inventory, other can see it and pick it up. Therefore, don't sort things by dropping stuff in a multiplayer game because people can snatch it. This system makes it easy for you to give things away to others if you don't want it.
Also: Your Treasure Chest inventory is the same accross all characters. So, in order to get a bow to your Daemon Hunter from your Monk, you just place it in your chest and log in with the other character.
Another Also: You can improve your Blacksmithing skills and Jewelcrafting skills. If you do so, they will be improved accross all your characters. So, you farm resources with your highest character and you will be good. My tip:
Always demount jewels before selling/destroying items you don't want to use anymore. Can't have enough of them.
Another thing is (like skyrim) if you hack your equipment why does it matter if it only affects you..? Does it?
Not really. Since this game is clearly more made towards multiplayer and will include PVP at one time, people who cheat might ultimately be a threat to other people's game experience. As an example: If I play a sorcerer and I am one of the Damage Dealers, I don't want to feel useless because someone hacked (or altered) his Barbarian's equipment and slashes everything with two hits. Where would be the fun in that game? Where is my sense of accomplishment? I also don't want to be forced to run alone to avoid these kind of things... If that is rendered impossible with the online-only system, I am guarantied a better quality and fairness. Besides: Played through Normal difficulty with a Monk - easy as pie! Really! Diablo didn't get me below 50% health. I already realized that Nightmare, the next difficulty, is way harder and starts to be more fun. There again: I can't cheat my way through and I think it is way more rewarding.
