Topic created by a hardcore player as to how they plan to attack Reaper of Souls. My response:
Before we can safely play hardcore we need to understand how all the mechanics work.
I already know what I’m going to do. While I plan to quickly unlock Torment first, I also plan on re-rolling from scratch the main classes that I usually play. The main reason is exactly as you mentioned, game mechanics. The entire game play experience is going to be changing, and I want to experience those changes from low level all the way to level cap. I also want to get a better baseline as to the new limits those characters can handle from low to high level.
The other aspect to the above is since the actual loot mechanics are changing, I want that system to work for me as my character levels. Smart drops are not only based on class specific drops and stats; there is also a chance that you’ll see specific drops based on your skill set selection. Thus I want to re-gear up to level cap by playing the game. Current legacy gear sort of short circuits that loop since you’re playing from level 60 to 70 with those older pieces which lacked the progressive upgrade of items from actually leveling from scratch. Anyone who tries this now (re-level from scratch to level 70 legitimately) in RoS F&F will notice they’ll usually be pretty decently geared from a level 70 starter perspective.
For example, say I’m playing a wizard using mostly around lightning based skills. There is a better chance of me seeing smart drops with stun abilities. Doesn’t mean there won’t be other interesting things that will drop which will make me think of different possibilities. But I would like to see those occasional rolls that offers some synergies with what I’m playing with.
As for rifts, this is likely where a lot of hardcore deaths (low to high level) will be happening. One of my feedback was asking if they could fine tune the monster AI to occasionally throw a very difficult combination of dungeon layout and monster spawns based on your build as you enter a zone. Rifts should give you that occasional “fly by the seat of your pants” feel where every previous experience that you thought you were ready for, feels like is out the door during that moment when you transitioning into the next area, and find your worst nightmare of nightmares being thrown at you simultaneously.
