New Improved D3. Now with chat channels

[30ftSmurf]

I've really been enjoying the 1.08 patch, a lot of really solid changes. I've not messed around much with my builds to try the new buffed skills, but the multiplayer improvements (exp+mf bonus, elite/goblin notifications, matchmaking) and monster density upgrades have made it really fun to log in, join a group & smash stuff.

Of course, it helps that I can run MP5-7 with all of my characters (higher with my CM wiz and a good group) since that means the legendaries/keys/good ilvl rares drop pretty regularly. If they manage to fix up itemization so that the new id all facility isn't just a checkpoint on the way to the vendor we could be in business.

If anyone is still playing or wants to get back into it, maybe we can have some 30 minute blasts here & there. I also have a chunk of mid level loot that might help kick you into the mp5 range for some multiplayer mayhem.

 

[Entropy]

Have they made Normal difficulty harder yet? That's a big stumbling block for me: just too tedious to slog through with a new character...

 

[30ftSmurf]

In short, 'a bit', but whether it's enough for you I'm not sure (I've only paragon levelled since the patch since all 5 of my non hardcore chars are 60):

You can bump the monster power up to 10 while levelling to increase difficulty & experience gain/magic find, which does help. That said, elites in normal still only have a single affix and the monster density change is only in inferno (blizzard have suggested they may add increased density as an option in other difficulties in a future patch).

The new multiplayer bonuses may make public games at lower levels pretty swift. You're still tied into the quest system which will slow things to a degree.

If you're just interested in hitting 60, with a level 60 ally you can power level to 60 pretty fast by running the keep depths in act3 at MP10 on each difficulty over and over, much like old baal runs. I've not done it, but I believe it takes 2-3 hours from 1-60.. unfortunately it requires friends who play, which has been a problem since launch

 

[Pictelf]

Have to admit that I have bumped up the MP lvl a couple of notches on my wizz n witchbitch as am working my way through.