Why go Hardcore?

Pros of going hardcore:

- E-peen
- It gets your blood pumping
- No RMAH (yes, this is a good thing)
- Less hackers and dupes. At least this was the way in D2.
- The game has much longer longievity
- You become a better player simply cause you have to pay more attention

Cons:

- None if you stay alive. However 99,99% of hardcore chars will eventually, at some point, die (not counting mules ofc, lol)
- When you die (not if) you may be tempted to quit the game forever. It all depends if you can handle the defeat like a man.
Its nice to have stocked up some items on mules as it will make it easier for you to start up a new hardcore char. If you have absolutely nothing when you die its really hard to start all over.

The best advice I can give is to try it out and though its a cliché, it has some truth to it: Once a hardcore, always a hardcore". This was the case for me and many others as well. You simply do not wanna go back to softcore after having tried hardcore.

Nilrem United States. January 30 2012 09:51. Posts 1360

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To me, I like both the idea of hardcore and standard. I am not the type that would so easily belittle or throw under the bus any single way of playing. We all have our preferences; suggesting one is simply better is rather flawed and egotistical.

For me, I would be trying to do both (as I have done with Diablo II). Both types have their perks and flaws; although with the personality of many going into hardcore, I sometimes grow quite tiresome of them. But will find the elitist type on all games so can't be helped. It is justone of those things where you try them both and choose which ever you have most fun with. There is no single best way or correct choice.

Vilonis United States. January 30 2012 10:21. Posts 130

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It is the difference between playing minecraft single player normally and playing it hardcore. You don't do it for the rewards (to my knowledge there are none), you do it because it makes the game much more intense. Every time you see a monster you freak the fuck out because it could END YOUR GAME. You are more careful and more methodical about everything you do. You prepare where you have the chance and take advantage of every item/ability you have. It just makes the game better, if you want the extreme, intense, gratifying experience, that is. If you just want to casually play there is no reason to play hardcore.

"Such is the vastness of his genius that he can outwit even himself!" - Iskaral Pust, High Priest of High House Shadow

Mataza Germany. January 30 2012 10:22. Posts 1614

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Just reading this thread gets me excited to play hardcore on D2.

Ask yourself:
Can you have fun when the game doesn´t try to fucking kill you?

If yes, then play Softcore. If you can´t, play hardcore.
I certainly can´t. If you want the game be different on hardcore, then you probably want a new game, not a harder difficulty.
Culling of the weak is a good thing, even if I myself get culled.
(And boy, being culled sucks)

Last edit: 2012-01-30 10:24:12

If nobody hates you, you´re doing something wrong. However someone hating you doesn´t make you right

Hikari January 30 2012 10:26. Posts 1784

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On January 30 2012 09:34 DaCruise wrote:
Pros of going hardcore:

- E-peen
- It gets your blood pumping
- No RMAH (yes, this is a good thing)
- Less hackers and dupes. At least this was the way in D2.
- The game has much longer longievity
- You become a better player simply cause you have to pay more attention

Cons:

- None if you stay alive. However 99,99% of hardcore chars will eventually, at some point, die (not counting mules ofc, lol)
- When you die (not if) you may be tempted to quit the game forever. It all depends if you can handle the defeat like a man.
Its nice to have stocked up some items on mules as it will make it easier for you to start up a new hardcore char. If you have absolutely nothing when you die its really hard to start all over.

The best advice I can give is to try it out and though its a cliché, it has some truth to it: Once a hardcore, always a hardcore". This was the case for me and many others as well. You simply do not wanna go back to softcore after having tried hardcore.

The frustration over losing your 100hr+ HC char is too overwhelming. On my 2nd HC char I pretty much become almost frightened to play on a regular basis because I am afraid of dying again -_-.

Zanzabarr Canada. January 30 2012 11:17. Posts 128

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I got bored of Softcore D2 by the first 6 months, but D2 HC extended the replayability of the game to several years.

In addition to the thrill / excitement / adrenaline / achievement of it all, is the aspect of how hardcore mode serves remove items from the game's economy, and prevents bad/careless players from getting great characters and great items.

In SC, any drooling retard could get a high level character with godly items if they simply put enough time into the game and got lucky with RNG, but in HC the same type of player wouldn't even be able to get out of Normal difficulty (at least in D2).

D3 HC will not have an RMAH, but even if it did, it would be unlikely to suffer from the mindless gold/item farming rackets (chinese or otherwise) that will undoubtedly exist in SC.

Also, since the need to start new characters is so high in HC, items that are good for their level req are a lot more valuable and useful to collect.

All of these factors (lack of millions of baddies farming items, lack of chinese item/gold farmers, the constant removal of items from the economy via HC character death, and the constant need to start new characters) will greatly serve to negate any sort of economic inflation, and keep all levels of items useful.

Lastly, at least in D2, was HC PvP. HC PvP was insanely intense and rewarding. It remains to this day the only aspect of any game that ever had my heart pounding for any length of time. I'm not sure how D3 HC PvP will be handled, but even if it's not perma death, it will still be great fun considering the knowledge that every person there didn't just buy their gear from the AH for real money.

It's understandable that HC isn't for everyone, but I'm especially looking forward to it in D3. D2 HC was plagued by the ability to instantly exit a game or tp to town to prevent death, and the use of full rejuvs to instantly go up to full health. The mechanics in place to prevent such exploits in D3 are going to make the HC game so much more intense then ever before.

Netsky Australia. January 30 2012 12:36. Posts 1102

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Because of the challenge - think of normal mode like playing the game in noob/trainer mode, whereas Hardcore is the actual game.

Playguuu United States. January 30 2012 13:08. Posts 882

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Do they throw you back into the normal realms? I know path of exile does that. I'll try it out if they change how it works. I don't want the game to be super easy, but dying instantly like in d2 to curses or those stupid dolls is pretty frustrating.

I used to be just like you, then I took a sweetroll to the knee.

AimlessAmoeba Canada. January 30 2012 13:42. Posts 679

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The best I ever did with D2 HC was get a character to Hell difficulty, at which point I died in act 2. That in itself was one of my proudest accomplishments, but I have to admit losing that character was one of the hardest gaming experiences I've put myself through.

Sc2Requiem United States. January 30 2012 14:22. Posts 121

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LOVED playing hardcore in D2 and plan to devote more time to it for D3 as well. 5 slots for softcore characters and 5 slots for my hardcores that is. D3's gameplay is going to be more harsh on hardcore players (no insta-quit) so I'm excited to see how it pans out this time around.

I have never played a game that has gotten me so emotionally invested in my character and the gameplay simultaneously. The challenge of perma-death isn't just a challenge you tackle its a constant creeping fear in the back of your mind, because you realize that your impending demise isn't a question of "if" it's a question of "when" (Extra Strong, Lightning Enchanted, Conviction Aura). The best of the best can make that one fatal misclick and find themselves overwhelmed with a sense of defeat unrivaled anywhere. A sense of defeat that is mirrored by the indescribable elation you feel when you beat the endgame with your first hardcore character. To me, hardcore mode defines what it means to be a gamer. The risk, devotion, ups and downs; it all comes together for an experience you will never forget.

It's not for everyone, but if you're up for a challenge and are willing to sacrifice a good bit of time and energy (you'll die, you'll die a lot at first) you might be pleasantly surprised how addictive hardcore gameplay can be.

"What is defeat? Nothing but education; nothing but the first step towards something better."

Kevin_Sorbo Canada. January 30 2012 15:19. Posts 420

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wow man, over a 1000 hours of call of duty?? owww I bet you wont ever see those again... Call of motherfucking duty? :, (

User was warned for this post

GET TO THE CHOPPAAHHHH!!!!

gosublade January 30 2012 15:54. Posts 492

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Please stop with the pros and cons comments if you haven't played a week of hc. Trying to speak like you have a deep understanding of the hardcore mode while having played hc for 2 days and quit... it just makes you look like a dick and makes our brains hurt.

Not even death can save you from me.

HaXXspetten Sweden. January 30 2012 16:15. Posts 15716

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On January 30 2012 06:55 Nunc wrote:
Also, although I agree with the OP I just find it a bit ironic or just funny he'd do a thread like this and have his signature be something like «If it is worth doing, it is worth OVER-doing». Isn't then HC seriously over-doing it, hence worth it?

Oh cmon, that's a Mythbusters quote, kinda irrelevant for this lol

On January 30 2012 15:19 Kevin_Sorbo wrote:
wow man, over a 1000 hours of call of duty?? owww I bet you wont ever see those again... Call of motherfucking duty? :, (

Heh, yeah, I've sort of got this love/hate relationship with CoD, but I've sworn to never play it again at least. Wrote a bit about it in my blog as well.

Last edit: 2012-01-30 16:28:45

HaXXspetten Sweden. January 30 2012 16:28. Posts 15716

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Double post

Last edit: 2012-01-30 16:28:31

Capped Sri Lanka. January 30 2012 16:54. Posts 2228

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On January 29 2012 17:36 HaXXspetten wrote:
I had a friend a long time ago who lost his level 94 Barbarian in D2, and he essentially wasn't himself for at least a month. It's just... cruel.

Lol? Your friends needs time away from his computer then. Not being yourself over a computer game for longer then 30 minutes? even thats a long period of time. Thats called an addiction and someone who doesnt know the true stresses and enjoyment of life.

People play hardcore for the exact reason you said, the thrill, the challenge, the do-or-die situations. Unfortunately assholes with godhacks, chicken hacks etc ruined that in D2, but what can you do.

I went HC after the 1.12 patch. I was in the top 20 for a few weeks (or so i cant remember.) pretty much playing every spare moment i had, at about 84 (i think.) i died. Druid down the shitter, i sat stunned for a few seconds because it happened so fast :-( then i just got my gear looted and started again, this time taking it easy without the ladder pressure haha :-D. I was only 12 years old or so when this happened and both my best mates played like it was religion, so i just sorta assumed sitting at my PC for 8 hours + after school every day for 2-3 weeks was ok :| Im not even sure it was that long. :D

Basically, its fun as hell, its for people who want a challenge, not for the (sorry) basement nerds who put their entire lives into a game and treat the pixels like their prized possessions.

2K BLOG - http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/viewblog.php?id=409420

Lassepetri Denmark. January 30 2012 17:34. Posts 97

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Played a lot of d2 softcore, which was ok. for a short time. Then it was just pointless. I didnt play for the sake of MF'ing and the trading on d2jsp, i played for the sake of gaming. So i started rolling HC chars with a friend. And yes, I raged so hard when my 60'ish ama died because of CPU-lag, but i was 1000x more thrilled, when I, for fun, pindle-ran on nightmare with a fury dudu and Ist rune dropped. The nail in the coffin was when i lost my 87 barb to a lagspike in a cowrun, though. That char was my pride and joy.

I guess my point is, that you start valuing the gametime a lot more, when you know the penalty of dying. There are no actual downsides when playing softcore, and no actual pride as compared to a more harsh environment of HC. For me, thats the high risk/high reward.

Empiristic bullcrap

ZergOwaR Norway. January 30 2012 17:55. Posts 280

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why do some people jump out of a plane with only a parachute as the means to survive? if shit goes wrong....
what if they suddenly got a major lag spike?

or rockclimbers, skaters, snowboarders, and so on.. they do sick stuff that with one wrong move sends them to the hospital

hardcore mode would be something like that.. only that you actually get another chance

dig dig dig dig dig dig die!

[F_]aths Germany. January 30 2012 18:27. Posts 2763

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On January 30 2012 13:42 AimlessAmoeba wrote:
The best I ever did with D2 HC was get a character to Hell difficulty, at which point I died in act 2. That in itself was one of my proudest accomplishments, but I have to admit losing that character was one of the hardest gaming experiences I've put myself through.

Once I lost a druid in Act 2, Hell, too. Once I lost an Amazon in Hell Act 4, my farthest hardcore play ever. In both cases I died to element damage. (From those skelettons in Act 2, from those element mages in Act 4.)

I also remember the good drops, like Sander's boots, the complete Hsarus Set, some pieces of the Immortal King, some Sigon parts and some unique armors with +1 skill properties. I also fondly remember gambling success where I got amuletts with +2 skills for a class. It all feels much more valuable in hardcore.

Last edit: 2012-01-30 18:31:54

You don't choose to play zerg. The zerg choose you.

Ornithorynquez January 30 2012 19:03. Posts 363

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I was never tempted to go hardcore on Diablo 2, just because me and my friend we spent so much time finding items by ourselves (sometimes trading ofc, but not that much), and we played it the casual way, we didn't died that much, but we felt that going hardcore was a waste of time and items for us, just because we knew that we will die stupidly at some point (disconnect, lag or random iron maiden or mistake), and unable to overcome the upset/frustration at the end.

But i really get why some people really love the Hardcore mode, sounds exciting and i'm quite sure i'll try it on Diablo 3.

By the way i really wish there was something between Hardcore (you die, it's over) and the pussy Diablo 2 way (gold and xp), i don't know how it is on Diablo 3, but i guess it's not that fightening.

I have to return some videotapes.