D3

• Has anymore thought been put into Hardcore? Are any features decided-upon?
  
• Has a definitive MP player-limit been set?
  
• How is EXP-sharing going to work? Similar to D2?
  
• I've been playing a bit of D1 and D2 lately (on Hardcore) and I've down-centered on what I feel is most wrong with D2 compared to D1. When you get hit in D2, it feels so trivial. I think it's a combination of not feeling the danger of death often enough and the onscreen event of being hit itself (very underwhelming). In D1, I'm always scared poopless to take a hit - it's very jarring and it gets my heart pumping. I suppose this isn't a question, but thoughts on the issue would be appreciated. While I know the design philosophy is to encourage combat, how are you/can you keep every skirmish heart-pounding?
  
• SATANIC COMPULSION!: ?sessalc htfif dna htruof eht era tahW
  
• ... At the least, how far along in development are they?
  
• Should we be looking forward to a *major* informational update soon?
  
• Will regular enemies have spell abilities that can cause the loss of character control (fear, etc.)?
  
• What is a work day in the life of Bashiok like?
  
• I've heard that you guys affectionately refer to Boyarsky as "Leonardo." Truth?
  
• What is the approximate maximum number of summonable creatures for the Witch Doctor?
  
• What are the class-specific items for the Barb, Wiz, and WD?
  
• Can we expect more out of Nightmare and Hell than improved drops and tougher enemies? Is there any talk about designing Hell-only quests, alternative challenges, etc.?
  
• Is gold truly on auto-pickup or was that just set in the gameplay movie?
  
• Can we make other items auto-pickup?
  
• Can you reveal yet how Gold is being made more valuable?
  
• Will gold values show on ALT-hold?
  
• Can you explain how Town Portals work now? Are they completely gone or just extremely rare?
  
• SATANIC COMPULSION!: ?yrots eht ni eb elor s'airdA lliw tahW
  
• Will the other D2 character classes be making appearances (a la Blood Raven & the Summoner)?
  
• Will permanent mercenaries be making a return?
  
• Are any notable sound effects making returns?
  
• While technically dead, will The Wanderer be making an appearance? Albrecht? Lazarus?
  
• From the Blizzcast 8 screenshots, it looks like the action bar at the bottom has become a lot bigger. Is this so, or is it just the screenshots? I thought it looked pretty darn good in the reveal trailers.
  
• Will there be an option to hide the action bar?
  
• What do the each of the 6 menu icons on the action bar do? Does the potion one just take you to the potion inventory? If so, that seems somewhat superfluous, especially if the inventory remembers your last tab.
  
• What is the purple glow on the Witch Doctor's sword in the gameplay trailer?
  
• If potions are so rare, what do belts do now? Do they add additional potion tab slots? Are they just another opportunity for item bonuses?
  
• Will a melee character's range increase with a longer weapon?
  
• What is the icon to the top-right of the minimap in the gameplay trailers?
  
• Can we expect any built-in screencap functions?
  
• How is the mule/character mail system coming along?

D3 B.Net 2.0

• While I understand that D3's B.Net 2.0 must still be in early production, can you reveal any special features?
  
• Will lobby character models be returning?
  
• Will the lobby have the same layout as D2?
  
• Will there be an option to unlock a private game? Say I want to ensure that 2 of my buddies can get in and then open the game to a pubbie?
  
• Is VOIP on the table?
  
• Ye olde wille itte be free questionne?
  
• Will there be a LAN option so I can play lag-free HC Ironman games?

I'd also like to mention that I really think the Wizard's Stone Armor looks great in the Leoric fight. She looks solid, but still mobile. Small details like that get my very excited. I also really liked the Minion Explosion spell, Horrify and Confusion.

I do worry about Soul Harvest, though. The spell just feels so generic. The animation is snazzy, but it comes down to being a Nova. Also, I would have pegged Threatening Shout (as it appears in the Blizzcast 8 screenshots) to be a Battlemaster ability, but that may be me lumping Shouts together as "battlefield control." What are the philosophies behind each of the Barb's trees?

- Idomis

Oh... why not. Questions with uninteresting "no comment" or "unknown at this time" answers removed.

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Q u o t e:
Has anymore thought been put into Hardcore? Are any features decided-upon?

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I think the last thing I heard from Jay on it in public was something along the lines of "Ok fine we'll just commit to a hardcore mode here and now" outside of that no details have been released.

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Q u o t e:
Has a definitive MP player-limit been set?

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No

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Q u o t e:
Should we be looking forward to a *major* informational update soon?

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Haha, you did my work for me. Yes, soon. :D

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Q u o t e:
Will regular enemies have spell abilities that can cause the loss of character control (fear, etc.)?

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I'm not aware of any, though there are some things that will hold your character in place. They're usually resolved through dealing damage though, so it's not like you actually lose control of your character. It's up to you how fast you regain movement control. Quite a few trap and monster abilities have yet to be designed though, so I wouldn't count anything out. In general I'm not sure full loss of character control fits into this game.

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Q u o t e:
What is a work day in the life of Bashiok like?

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A serious answer would just depress everyone.

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Q u o t e:
I've heard that you guys affectionately refer to Boyarsky as "Leonardo." Truth?

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I've called him Chef Boyarsky, but I don't think it caught on.

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Q u o t e:
What is the approximate maximum number of summonable creatures for the Witch Doctor?

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You mean mongrels, or how many abilities does he have that summon creatures? Neither would be final so I guess it doesn't matter. :P

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Q u o t e:
Is gold truly on auto-pickup or was that just set in the gameplay movie?

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You only need walk over/near gold to pick it up.

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Q u o t e:
Can we make other items auto-pickup?

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Not planned.

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Q u o t e:
Can you reveal yet how Gold is being made more valuable?

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People will want more of it.

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Q u o t e:
Will gold values show on ALT-hold?

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Yes.

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Q u o t e:
Will the other D2 character classes be making appearances (a la Blood Raven & the Summoner)?

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Could be.

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Q u o t e:
Are any notable sound effects making returns?

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Hrm, interesting question. I'm not sure. Probably not.

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Q u o t e:
From the Blizzcast 8 screenshots, it looks like the action bar at the bottom has become a lot bigger. Is this so, or is it just the screenshots? I thought it looked pretty darn good in the reveal trailers.

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I hadn't noticed that. I'm not sure.

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Q u o t e:
Will there be an option to hide the action bar?

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I would guess that there will be so you can take a screenshot without UI elements.

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Q u o t e:
What is the purple glow on the Witch Doctor's sword in the gameplay trailer?

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Probably a +arcane damage stat.

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Q u o t e:
If potions are so rare, what do belts do now? Do they add additional potion tab slots? Are they just another opportunity for item bonuses?

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Stats.

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Q u o t e:
What is the icon to the top-right of the minimap in the gameplay trailers?

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Unless I'm mistaken, World Map.

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Q u o t e:
Would Bashiok be so cruel as to say soon and let us wait for months?

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>:D

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Q u o t e:
I'm definately getting the feeling that he's used a reasonable definition of "soon".

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Hahahahahahahahahahahaha

no.