70% of Diablo 3 items unavailable in Normal mode

[James]

70% of Diablo 3 items unavailable in Normal mode

Complex items will confuse newer players

[MOnk]

Sounds fair to me. This actually makes multiple play-throughs more appealing because the monster mechanics keep changing and thus the combat keeps fresh. Much better system than just having the mobs do more damage.

[Graal]

I dunno. Isn't that what Easy mode is for? :/

[MOnk]

There is no easy mode? You start off a lvl 1 char on normal, just like D2.

[Graal]

Ah, okay. So you have to play through normal before unlocking the higher difficulties?

[Glordit]

Ah, okay. So you have to play through normal before unlocking the higher difficulties?

...as well as "lewter phat" gear!

[ZenbaaS]

I wonder how long one play-through will take...Hmmm

[MOnk]

Very rough, like super rough estimate based on beta, I would guess maybe 10-15hrs for Normal. Bearing in mind normal will be a breeze compared to the latter difficulties, so to get to Inferno will take a considerable amount of time.

[Glordit]

I assume they are also not giving out better items in Normal Mode to make it a little more balanced.

[Ancalagon]

Diablo II was the same though. Maybe the ratio was 60% or so, but most items were exceptional or elite, and thus either very scarce in normal (exceptional items), or completely unavailable (elite). Plus all uniques and sets based on them were only available in nightmare and hell.