Blizzard Entertainment has been giving quarterly updates on the upcoming Diablo IV, and the most recent update detailed major changes to the game's Skills and Talents systems. Based on community feedback, many fans felt the previous systems in Diablo III were too simple. Now, Blizzard is reworking both in Diablo 4 in hopes of creating more distinct character builds for players.
From the get-go, Diablo 4 is aiming to reinvent the Diablo franchise with open world multiplayer elements. The series has already gotten several shake-ups. Now, with major changes to the Skill and Talents systems in Diablo 4, players can expect even more differences. For fans who complained of Diablo 3's simplicity, most of these changes should be welcome news.
In the latest quarterly update, Blizzard showed off how skill trees work in Diablo 4. The skill tree for the Sorceress class is a literal tree dotted with various nodes. Each node represents different character aspects, like abilities and passive upgrades. Additionally, Skills and Passives will be separated. Players shouldn't expect to unlock all nodes for a character in a single playthrough, which means they'll have to decide which paths on the skill tree to take - and which ones to ignore. It's quite a bit different from the skill system in Diablo 3, a system that essentially chose players' skills for them and eschewed a tree-like system for one based on tiers. The skill trees in Diablo 4 will require more thought and decision before unlocking a node and choosing a path.
Diablo 4's Skill Trees Can't Be Fully Unlocked In One Playthrough
Despite fans' concerns that Diablo 4's Skills and Talents would be as shallow as Diablo 3's, the newest update makes it clear that Blizzard wants more in-depth character builds. The new Skills system in Diablo 4 is built around playstyle choices, as players will likely only unlock 30%-40% of their skill tree nodes in a single playthrough. Because of this, Talents are directly affected as well, as players' choices will become increasingly important. A new Enchantment system, for example, was unveiled for the Sorceress in the latest update from Blizzard, showcasing the company's emphasis on class-specific combat in Diablo 4.
The current gear mechanics of having Angelic, Demonic, and Ancestral Powers are also getting an overhaul, although specifics weren't shared. Developers said they're looking at ways to have gear with unique stats, which can then be combined for ability bonuses. The takeaway from all of this, of course, is that Blizzard wants lots more customization options for characters in Diablo 4 than it had for abilities and classes in Diablo 3.
From the latest quarterly update, it appears Blizzard has listened to fans' complaints about the simplicity of Diablo 3's character builds. Now, the company is pushing toward new, highly customizable character builds based around an overhauled skill tree system. For anyone who wants more in-depth options for their characters in Diablo 4, that's great news.
Source: Blizzard Entertainment