What do you think of Act 3?

I like the setting of Act 3. My major problem with act 3 is much more the size of the maps and the waypoint locations. Usually I can't play much more than an hour, so not finding the next waypoint is a real big problem for me. I would like it MUCH more if the waypoints are more to the map entrance than the end; the size of the maps would be ok for me then.

I like Act 3 a lot; no problems here with the large maps.

Issue: where the waypoints are, coupled with lots and lots of 'failed to connect to instance' occuring.

It's not a huge issue, because I assume the failed to connects are just going to take time to tweak the servers, but, I would say it's a 25% chance that I'll disconnect when tp'ing or using a waypoint--way too much, and makes closed beta look good as far as disconnects are concerned. (in CB I might've had a failed to connect to instance twice a day/session at the most.)

The locations of the waypoints at first run through don't seem to make any sense, especially if you compare their locations to how the waypoints are laid out in the first 2 acts. The Sarn Slums waypoint makes a lot of sense; Warehouses waypoint doesn't make any sense.

The first 2 acts you just kind of stumbled across them, never went looking for a waypoint. Now, with the giant maps, I find myself trying to find the waypoint, so I can go do something else, which I actually wanted to do 20 minutes ago, but since the maps are so large, it can be somewhat a b**** to find the wp.

Overall though, these are just nit-picking; act 3 is great. My issues are more than likely going to be fixed with patches, and if the wp problem isn't fixed, I'll adapt to how they're laid out.

Act 3 has many more cramped areas than the other acts. Lots of places that have tight hallways, in sewers and in Warehouses.

In terms of creativiy it's the best yet. But in terms of sheer fun, honestly I do prefer Act 2s open areas, it's so much more fun to gather large mobs of enemies and lay waste to them.

I realize there is a need for a change of pace and rhythm. But still:

- In Act 3 there are many obstacles (broken houses, debris) that are not super obvious and a bit annoying to navigate around

- Too many square buildings which are boring.

- Warehouses is probably the worst zone of Act 3. It's really boring. Square buildings, long hallways bordering the map, doorways that are dififcult to see, interior buildings very boring and with rigid layouts. I try to get in the sunlight asap, and then find the next zone asap :/ Too bad because the music there is brilliant.

- Warehouses has really long hallways around the buildings. It theory it should provide interesting gameplay but in practice it's just really annoying as you run out of Quicksilver pots and you're stuck killin enemies that block the way one at a time.

- Sewers are ok, I understand that having doorways can provide some tension with the way you get surrouned by enelmies and the lack of escape routes, but I wish there were much larger rooms. I don't know why but Prison in Act 1 for example feels much less cramped yet it also has plenty of walls and rooms. EDIT: On that note, the Caves in Act 1 were improved and now have a large open area sometimes. That's really cool. I think sewers could also use that, as well as wider tunnels for fun party play.

- Sarn City is a really fun short map like the first one in Act II. Great for testing AOE skills, plus a little thrill now and then ;). It's really well thought out, with the little "thrill" spawning on one side of the map. Portals should however no longer take you to Act II once you have reached the town.

- Sarn Slums is brilliant. The open air mixed with interesting Escher-esque pathways and stairs. There are many cramped pathways but enough change of pace and open areas and courtyards, and you can leap slam!! And if you don't have Leap Slam, you can throw Fire Traps or shoot from a distance. That makes it much more fun than Warehouses, even when you're on he plank bridges with little space to move.

- The quests are areally annoying. Creative but they make absolutely no sense to me whatsoever. I am still confused as to how I get the three busts. I just find them. Did I repeat the same map three times? Did I do tree differeent sewers? Hpow many different sewers are there? I'm still confused to be honest. The way the seweres connect to other areas is very unintuitive.

- The Temples are great, the status are awesome. The ribbons are such a cool idea. I love When they're on fire the fire shows really neatly all along the top edge of the big ribbons :)

- Lunaris Temple, Solaris Temple... that got me confused as well. On that note, there is not enough visual distinction on the map. Maybe the world map could benefit from having more "iconic" nodes so that each area has a unique icon on the map. The world map has no unique visual sign for the zones, just generic nodes. That's why I was really confused about which temple is which, and how sewers are connected. The world map feels like it still needs a big improvement, like it's an afterthought.

"My 2 cents"

Absolutely love its design, not so sure about balance. With all the new nerfs and content, its really hard for me personally to give a full out assessment without some more hands on.

Cheers.

Everything Def46 said I think the opposite~. I guess that is why you can't please everyone :).

Act 2 is the part of the game I struggle to get through because the wide open out door zones are so boring. Warehouses is one of my favorite zones in the game. I agree with others though that the waypoints can be an issue in A3 and even parts of the other acts. I'm also a person who plays in 30 to 60 min chunks and sometimes I just run past everything just to find a waypoint and I don't think that is the intent of the zone design.

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peachii wrote:

I love everything in Act 3. I'm compulsive kill everything, clear every corner, look in all the closets just for fun though.

This probably is one of the main reasons why I think Act 3 maps are too big.

Off-topic: Congrats on becoming a moderator peachii! just noticed now ._.

My only problem with act III is the fps is a little lower than act I and II but my PC isn't the newest so it's not really GGG's fault.

IMO the design of the lunaris, solaris temples made up for everything.

As soon as I started reading how long it took you to clear Lunaris I knew you were lacking DPS, and after you said you couldnt kill a life regen mob, it was confirmed... I never had problems with those, and I just use self found gear

Now I actually agree on the waypoint thing and map respawning... I think, considering you can manually create new instances (GREAT mechanic btw, props to GGG for this), there is no reason whatsoever for them to automatically reset after 10 minutes or whatever it is, and leave you out in the cold

Before anyone says "but the game is hardcore its supposed to be difficult" - there is nothing challenging about maps resetting, its just annoying as hell to walk back into a map you fully cleared 20 minutes ago, and everything is gone... Makes it feel completely pointless

I hope they address this issue in the coming weeks