The Diablo Podcast #52: Max Schaefer Interviewed

[jamesL]

http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/commen ... nterviewed

just went up,
haven't heard it yet
listening now

[TheLurker]

After listening to Max's comments, apart from the fact that you should also market and sell blood popsicles as promotional giveaways for TL2, I've got only Three Words for Runic:

==>>> "Add A Necromancer--!"


"That is all."

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Summoning classes are cool. Do it! Something, anything - as long as it summons minions! Everyone loves minions! Max misses 'em, we miss 'em, put 'em in! Round out those character classes properly!

(Especially Flying Monkeys - "Oh-Weeee-Oh! E-Ohhhhhh-Ah!")


We'll even give ya an extra $5.

-------------

(And if anyone suggests 'but you can just mod 'em in' - I got a Nerf baseball bat with your name on it!)

[DarkTails]

Ew, necromancers.

Also, ew flying monkeys.

If there is a summoning class [later on, not to delay TL2] I hope it's more original than those.

[Zidders]

It's not wether or not the character class is original or not. No matter what they pick, it's going to either piss some people off because it's not original, or it's going to piss some people off because it's too out there for them. Besides Diablo II, I say they should do a necro. 1.because I loved the necro in D2 and 2. tails will get all butthurt.

[xani]

If there is a summoning class [later on, not to delay TL2] I hope it's more original than those.

We need catomancer - summon swarm of bloodthirsty cats, or giant lion
or terrormancer, summons terrorists

[Webbstre]

Max is hilarious, I liked this interview a lot.

[DarkTails]

A necromancer as a playable character makes no sense in Torchlight. This isn't Diablo, adding a necro here is too forced. The main heroes aren't interested in raising the dead (maybe that wacky Alchemist might though), they want to keep the monsters dead and buried instead. Maybe Mr. Wiker has a necromancer planned for later anyway, who knows.

I don't know about the Runic staff but I think it's a little insulting when the only reason someone wants a certain feature in TL2 is "because Diablo did it." The game is awesome as it's currently progressing, no need to wedge in a random class and rewrite or tack-on a bunch of random story to accommodate it. I get the feeling people mostly want this class because, like Dret said about an Inspect feature, it's something they're used to getting, so they want it without caring how little to no sense it makes to have it in the game.

If the reason people want a necromancer is because they like the playstyle, then cool, how about the class summons things that make sense with the story instead of generic corpses, like ember elementals, machinery, be creative. I don't know, maybe there's a class with a skill that lets them use scrap machinery and the power of ember to revive corpses, so they come back as a Frankenstein type creature with nuts and bolts and gears sticking out of it.

Maybe you can use more than one corpse at a time to get different effects, like you use the body of a bat and a broken robot and you get a flying robot minion.

I don't know, that seems far more interesting than just another generic necromancer.

TLDR: Summoning classes are fine as long as their theme fits the story. Necromancers are fine, just not always appropriate.

[turnipz]

Bring back the alchemist with a summoning tree, bam problem solved.

Though we already have zombie dust.

[freddy]

DarkTails already mentioned why a Necromancer wouldn't fit the TL world.

Anyway, I relly loved the alchemist's robots in TL1. For example, creating a summoner that uses bots, robots, traps, whatever -as long they are some kind of mechanic- would fit the TL world. But we are lucky and will get the overhauled, more powerful TorchED(2) editor. Therefore, I guess we will definitely see some exciting, and creative summoner classes in TL2.

[Perictione]

I said it before; I'll say it again - Necromancers are invariably the villains. Of course, when I announced my opinion on this subject earlier, the thread was promptly shifted to 'off-topic'... go figure.

*shrugs*

It's a cruel world

I myself see the ethics of the class as being similar to that of a rapist's, thief's, murderer's or slave-trader's: no matter the rationalization, they're beyond the pale of decency, and shall never deserve or acquire proper redemption. At best, they're tragic anti-heroes, subject to the corruption that taints or perverts anything decent or sacred. That players enjoy games the feature such reprobates says a lot, I guess, about gaming culture. It's a harsh assessment, I know, my dears. But think it through, and you'll invariably come to the same conclusion.

That said, wasn't Diablo 2's druid also considered a summoner class? True, ravens, wolves and direwolves weren't as interesting as skeletons and golems, but it was a step in the right direction - what was missed entirely was the classical druid's ability to both curse and to heal. Adding shape-shifting was a bonus (werewolves? cool!), especially with the available attack and damage bonuses.

If a summoner class is introduced into Torchlight, then I'd hope to see a character class that avoids necromancy entirely but develops the idea of a transfigurating nature mage (for ease, call 'em Chthonians) a bit more.

What would this class be capable of? Learned in occult sciences, Chthonians would have the ability to summon "natural" creatures (predator birds and mammals); shape-shift to resemble an opponent (wouldn't it be fun to look like a yakotaur or storm-bear for a few minutes?); curse and heal (I think these abilities speak for themselves).

As always, this is just a suggestion.

- P.

P.S.: And I'll continue to insist Cheny (not Keith Richards) was the ideal vision and practitioner of necromancy - P.

[BloodyPred]

DarkTails already mentioned why a Necromancer wouldn't fit the TL world.

Anyway, I relly loved the alchemist's robots in TL1. For example, creating a summoner that uses bots, robots, traps, whatever -as long they are some kind of mechanic- would fit the TL world. But we are lucky and will get the overhauled, more powerful TorchED(2) editor. Therefore, I guess we will definitely see some exciting, and creative summoner classes in TL2.

Thats a cool idea.. imagine being able to find trinkets to make robot minions.. ro-BATTLE!
I like that..
I also really liked the Druid from D2.. shapeshifting is just so cool.. The Berserker class could be related somehow since they both have the whole animal magic thing going. As for a necromancer class not working in the Torchlight world, we saw walking dead in Torchlight 1 so I don't see how it won't work, it just needs to be adapted.

[DarkTails]

As for a necromancer class not working in the Torchlight world, we saw walking dead in Torchlight 1 so I don't see how it won't work, it just needs to be adapted.

We also saw frogs and horses and roaches and all sorts of animals in TL1. I think it'd be neat to have a summoner that summons animals to the fight, throws fish at his opponents, uses swordfish like lawndarts, BUT I completely understand that it wouldn't make a whole lot of sense to throw in an Aqua Beastmaster Lawndart Champion class "just because". Yeah, it could be forcibly adapted into the lore, but why would I monkey with the story like that?

Edit: Also, sheesh, I didn't know I liked Torchlight's developing story so much, which is weird because TL1 didn't have much of a story and I don't really know all that much about TL2's (only what the character bios say)

Still, no necromancers please.



Edit: listened to the podcast, yay for the Red Sonja mention

[Naihonn]

Oh, I love summoner classes so much. But of course I absolutely agree, that relying on dead bodies is awful. I love animals, but also robots, golems, ok, even calling spirits is better than making new bodies for this. But I also think, that necromancer in TL is not far-fetched at all.

[Risingsun]

Don't a few of the current classes have permanent summons? Like the Berserker and Engineer? I don't know much about the Engineer's permanent summons but I really hope they are cool.

[DarkTails]

All I keep hearing when the Engineer's mech summons come up is that we may be able to make a mount with them lol

[NavyPaul]

This interview was very well done, liked every second of it.
Well informed interviewer, honest interviewee, makes for a very informative 45 min. Also, these 2 are funny together

[Rathmaker]

Be a greeter at Walmart!!

Hey Max, I work for the Walmart Corporation. If you ever decide making games is not for you (damn I hope not!!) then you had better come to the Walmart in my area and apply for a job!

That interview was a very enjoyable listen. Thanks Max for taking the time to do it, and thanks for Flux as well!

Oh, and Happy Turkey Day everyone! Now, if you will excuse me I need to go put my combat armor on for the mobs of black Friday....

~Rathmaker~

[Mushroom]

The main heroes aren't interested in raising the dead (maybe that wacky Alchemist might though), they want to keep the monsters dead and buried instead.

Their pets are though!

Most characters I've played have pets that can cast at least one of Summon Zombies/Summon Skeleton/Summon Skeleton Archers...

TLDR: Summoning classes are fine as long as their theme fits the story. Necromancers are fine, just not always appropriate.

I definitely agree here. Summoner classes are usually my favourite type of classes to play, but I'm not hung up on my summoners being specifically necromancers. That's been done to death (if you excuse the pun).

Hmm... we've had undead summoning (Diablo 2), and robot "summoning" (Hellgate London, Torchlight 1), and animal summoning (Diablo 2), and demon summoning (Torchlight 1).

How about Faerie summoning. You could start with sprites and pixies, and move up to Ent-like dryads and stuff. I don't think that's been done before.

[Webbstre]

Do the imps count as demons for Torchlight? I can't look at them and associate them in that way. Might need a lore check once the devs come back from their holiday weekend. Seriously though, I've yet to see anything in Torchlight that I would call a demon. We've had corrupted dragons and ancient races of elf-type creatures and undead dwarves, but no demons.

[Zidders]

*Sigh*

I love necromancers because I get to be good AND a little evil at the same time. That, and summoning zombies and skeletal golems is SO metal. I'm not going to give up on hoping something about the setting allows for it. Threads on necromancey always seem to drag on, tho and i'll be honest, i'm not really interested in getting involved in another one. I like the class, have my reasons for liking it, if other people don't then there's not much I really care to do about it, honestly.