Hardcore Mode. (Suggestion.)

[Cironir]

In D2, I spent two years playing in "softcore" mode, but then switched to "hardcore mode" for the next three years, and it's been a blast. The difference between SC and HC is simply that in HC your character has only one life. If you die, your character and his save file are gone. I know, it sounds like nobody could possibly want to do this, but it is what kept my motivation searing for so long -- and I wasn't the only one.

Seeing that Titan Quest won't have secure MP realms, I think that long-term motivation may perhaps become a touchy topic. A hardcore mode, where "getting through" is more important than "finding the best of the best loot", might offer a nice long-term motivation. It could probably be easily implemented, too: Just add a check box at character creation, and delete the save game of the charater in case of his or her death. The save file just needs an additional flag. Small addition, with possibly a significant effect on long-term motivation.

[Crash]

Originally Posted by Cironir

Seeing that Titan Quest won't have secure MP realms, I think that long-term motivation may perhaps become a touchy topic. A hardcore mode, where "getting through" is more important than "finding the best of the best loot", might offer a nice long-term motivation. It could probably be easily implemented, too: Just add a check box at character creation, and delete the save game of the charater in case of his or her death. The save file just needs an additional flag. Small addition, with possibly a significant effect on long-term motivation.

As far as I remember devs already turned down HC chars. For one you could still delete the char yourself once it's dead. As for showing off with that hardcore char if you don't, there's a field in your stats which shows the number of deaths (of course this can be hacked back to 0 again).

And I also remember one of the devs mentioning that they liked playing HC in D2, but that TQ will be nigh impossible to play through without dieing in the legendary difficulty. Though I take it that's just challenging you isn't it?

[medierra]

Originally Posted by Crash

And I also remember one of the devs mentioning that they liked playing HC in D2, but that TQ will be nigh impossible to play through without dieing in the legendary difficulty. Though I take it that's just challenging you isn't it?

I did indeed play a lot of D2 hardcore and beat it on hell difficulty but I seriously doubt I could do that in TQ. Just getting through normal mode in TQ without dying would probably be almost the same level of challenge.

If there was enough demand after the game was out this is something we could consider for the expansion. I think you'd be in for a world of hurt though.

[Crash]

Originally Posted by medierra

I did indeed play a lot of D2 hardcore and beat it on hell difficulty but I seriously doubt I could do that in TQ. Just getting through normal mode in TQ without dying would probably be almost the same level of challenge.

If there was enough demand after the game was out this is something we could consider for the expansion. I think you'd be in for a world of hurt though.

It might be a viable alternative when online multiplayer is really run over by cheaters. And as long as it dies to the monsters and not to the lag I don't mind my virtual character getting hurt

[Nerulan]

Hardcore Mode is just another way of increasing the value of your characters, as are Items and Levels. They only work in a competitive situation.
Since TQ does not offer a competitive situation, HC is not nearly as attractive as it is in closed D2, or do you know anyone who played D2 HC in SP or open BNet?

TQ looks extremely promising and if the editor is good, it will be an almost certain Full Prize buy for me (something i usually do not do). But the main Focus of TQ is the playing of the game while you are improving your character. It is not about improving the character while playing. It is great for the (casual) gamers who like to play the game and sometimes want to enjoy it with friends, i will not be a replacement for those who play D2 full time just to make the perfect character ( and HC is just an aspect of this).

What makes it unique for me is the editor. If you are able to write dialogues like in a normal CRPG and modify the masteries, it will be great. I liked the idea of NWN, but I did not like the combat system.

[Cironir]

Originally Posted by Nerulan

Since TQ does not offer a competitive situation, HC is not nearly as attractive as it is in closed D2, or do you know anyone who played D2 HC in SP or open BNet?

I have had (still do) some HC characters in SP. I did play mostly on closed b.net, but after losing a character to lag, I created a HC-SP sorceress and quite liked the increased challenge (couldn't ask anyone for help) without the danger of losing my character. For the most part I played alone by myself anyway.

As for manually deleting the character when he or she dies, well, that's not the same as a genuine HC mode. It's hard to explain, though. Just a different feel (it's all about the adrenaline rush) and it's way too easy to make excuses just why this or that death didn't really count. It's an entirely different thing to actually make backups and play those back. That's blunt cheating, not clever rationalizing.

Coupled with a "graveyard" (sort of a highscore list for HC character), a HC mode could add quite a bit of long-term appeal.