WW isn't going to be your primary skill.

[Gamekk]

Too bad! Just look at the damage on the trailer (the ones popping up which are probably crits). It looks like a trong ground pound can do up to 600 damage, and your old WW is just right below 100.

Even if it hits 4-5 times, it's going to ge a risky melee skill if this time, we cannot rely of life leach (wouldn't be a surprise)

I guess it will be used as an AoE skill, for weak clusters of monsters!

[AxlStrife]

Too bad! Just look at the damage on the trailer (the ones popping up which are probably crits). It looks like a trong ground pound can do up to 600 damage, and your old WW is just right below 100.

Even if it hits 4-5 times, it's going to ge a risky melee skill if this time, we cannot rely of life leach (wouldn't be a surprise)

I guess it will be used as an AoE skill, for weak clusters of monsters!

True, lvl 1/20 does 25% weapon damage, and gets +5 after that. If the # fpa is close to what it can be for D2 and/or has sick knockback it MIGHT see some action. Of course, it's still in development, so it might get a buff (I hope so.)

[Cwicseolfor]

I don't think you're thinking about it correctly.

Blizzard is designing the game so you don't have a 'primary' skill. You'll be using 3 or 4 skills regularly. That's what they've said they intend, that's what they've shown they intend with the skill bar, and that's what would be more fun to play.

[Funkopotamus]

I don't think you're thinking about it correctly.

Blizzard is designing the game so you don't have a 'primary' skill. You'll be using 3 or 4 skills regularly. That's what they've said they intend, that's what they've shown they intend with the skill bar, and that's what would be more fun to play.

I kind of wonder how they're going to do that. Low skill caps? No levels on skills? "Weak to X/Y/Z attack" mobs?

[DoomBoy]

that's a lot of clicking! not that I'm complaining :)

[mince pies]

If you remember, in DII WW was crap until you got it up. If I remember correctly, at level one it done something like -50% damage or something (sorry if I'm wrong, haven't played a Barbarian in a while)

[ill logic]

I doubt that ground pound is going to be the primary skill as well. It's far too safe of a skill, whereas you're risking your life more with WW.

Secondly, WW is more iconic for barbarians. Although, it is a whole new ballgame, it's hard to believe that WW will not at least be competitive w/ ground pound i.e. WW would be better in some cases. It looks like even as an "AoE skill, for weak clusters of monsters" ground pound is better. I didn't see a huge drain in stamina or anything

There's also the possibility that it won't be based on wep damage, but have it's own level based damage like a Sorc spell, so that it would quickly become useless late game against high HP/regen monsters unless you do +skills focused equip. That would be cool for war crier/caster builds, but (if D2 is any guide) the other wep dam. based skills would suck.

And, ofc, the skills haven't been balanced yet so ground pound is only tentatively superior.

[CarsV]

I bet the catch with the ground pound skill is that you can only do it with a 2-handed hammer/maul, or something like that, and it increases durability loss.

[HaLoPhReAk]

I kind of wonder how they're going to do that. Low skill caps? No levels on skills? "Weak to X/Y/Z attack" mobs?

Not all skills are capped at 20, some are just 1, 5, or obviously, 20.

[smartdot]

Not all skills are capped at 20, some are just 1, 5, or obviously, 20.

just wondering: have they actually come out and said this, or is this just a guess on your part.

[AxlStrife]

just wondering: have they actually come out and said this, or is this just a guess on your part.

It's in the gameplay video. Also, there's a thread that dissects that video, and there's a ton of other info on the game. I suggest you and everyone else read it over.

[Bakerking31]

the video of them playing it probably isnt gonna be anything like what it will be. they havnt put out a release date which probably means its at least a year in the future. What most likely happened was the programmer just made this 1 section, not the whole game, nothing made that wasnt needed for the video. They make it to try to sell the idea to blizzard of making a new diablo, blizz liked it enough that they put the vid up to get ppl excited already, but its doubtfull that much if any coding on d3 has actually been done yet

[snugglson]

it would seem rather odd to have skills with 1 level, 5 levels, and 20 levels. i would guess that the 20 max gets lowered.

[Mythor]

With the game making the shift to 3D it's also possible that weapons will affect the radius of AOE attacks like Whirlwind. Or when dual wielding you'll get more attacks versus a two hander, etc. We may even see Whirlwind be a constant power drain while you continue to use it, rather than it costing X regardless of how long or short the Whirlwind is. If it's a constant power drain that would make it possible to Whirlwind into the centre of a group and continue slicing and dicing without having to wind up again. That could certainly make it better than a slam or ground pound.

Wait and see. :)

[Gamekk]

With the game making the shift to 3D it's also possible that weapons will affect the radius of AOE attacks like Whirlwind.

It already was the case in DII =) (More info on Arreat Summit)

Yes, and the other point I realized it's that the game will probably be designed to rely on 3, 4 or 5 spells at least. That's adding a touch of challenge and fun IMO

[5zigen]

I kind of wonder how they're going to do that. Low skill caps? No levels on skills? "Weak to X/Y/Z attack" mobs?

Skill cooldowns

[Akse]

Or tough monsters with special abilities. You will have to use your brains a bit for killing. Some hard hitting monsters, should I ww trough and come out as dead? OR should I use my special skill that stuns them then WW them to dead!