Why Diablo 2 Runewords Feel So Amazing

[JamCamAbreu]

These are great counterpoints to the prior video. The fact that runewords made white and grey items suddenly important makes for such a diverse itemization in Diablo 2. Unlike other games where "the next tier color" is the only color that matters which is so boring, so flat.

[kevindumont]

I can't get over the fact that no other game has replicated that balance of depth and simplicity in terms of itemization. Diablo 2 to this day still one of, if not, the best itemization system in the genre.

[daBulgarian]

Really love these new video formats. Very structured talking points and clear communication of ideas makes it super easy to follow! Plus the content is really interesting! Good stuff!

[Chris-liwymi]

It still blows my mind the room and the word concept was never taken into other games I can’t tell you how excited I was to get my first EBOTD Zerker axe for my zeal paladin Back in the day running chaos sanctuary forever until it dropped that level of excitement is unreal

[off-meta-michael]

I think that Runewords make the game better overall for sure..great points all round here, especially that the lowest tier items have great value as bases.

All they need to do is rebalance uniques by looking at which runewords outclass them and why. Also, i think if there was a way to change teleport charges on circlets and amulets to an Oskill we'd have a nice solution for the necessity everyone feels with Enigma.

[Aleck]

I’m sure you won’t see this but your content has helped Me a lot. D2R is my first rpg and I never understood the hype but after completing normal difficulty I got hooked. Keep it up! 🙏🏽🇭🇹

[CosmicRazberry]

Yeah, I really think Runewords saved Diablo II from fading into obscurity over the years. Some may be overpowered and needing of balancing but overall they have been a massive net positive for the game and its longevity. Unless D2 increased the drop rates for some of the uniques and GG magic/rare/white items in the game I think people would have stopped coming back without runewords supplementing the search for endgame items. I think it would simply take to long for the average player to gear out an endgame character, and the droprate between GG drops would be to few and far between. This implementation of progression towards a GG item cannot be praised more in my opinion. People clown on D2's crafting system, but Runewords are essentially a crafted item as well. As you mentioned every part in the runeword making process is a little reward. Finding a base is a reward, finding each rune is a little reward and this matters when items in this game can be SO rare. Like I have THOUSANDS of hours in this game and have found some items only once. Lets say it takes 40 hours to find the runes and base for a runeword, and the same 40 hours to farm a comparable single unique. Which feels better to the player? Getting a drop every few hours, or getting nothing until the end. I think the answer is obvious.

So many other ARPGs have you collecting meaningless crafting materials that have zero other use outside of crafting/modifying a unique/legendary. Meanwhile runes have multiple uses, they can be currency for trading, used individually for their affixes like Ist for MF and Cham for cannot be frozen, and they can be used in multiple different runewords giving the user choice. I have played Diablo II since the original launch, with breaks of course, but I can pretty definitively say without runewords I would never have picked the game back up or played D2R.

[reventon]

Something that runewords did great was to give you a "guarantee" of an item that does something. Instead of thinking if you're gonna find X item you can plan for getting a guaranteed Y item that does the job.
Also another thing I'd say is that they promoted Ladder play when runewords earlier were ladder specific. This increased their value in trading too. (Which is an important part of the game)

[Keypoke]

Can't agree more. PoE is too much complication, d2 is so simple yet so satisfying. I have a complicated job, I just want to have fun and grind simple stuff in my free time.

[mikeblenheim]

I like the building wealth part, while hunting for what I want being able to sell pammys, rals, junk jewels etc allows me to not feel like my time is wasted

[MatthewEast-dvwo]

What has TRULY killed the grind and magic for me was finding out that you can purchase these sought after runes for literally pennies online.... years of grind or 5 bucks online

[eis]

"Life is not about rune words, it's about the uniques we find along the way"
- Sun Xio Bing Chilling

[SoundboundOfficial]

Well, well, you played us all, Mr Llama. Very valid points indeed. After 23 years, I got my FIRST EVER ENIGMA a month ago, and it was mind blowing joy for sure.

[AlkaPwn]

I love that one of the showcases for a beautiful non-runeword item was a base that is only good because of the runeword you can make out of it. Absolutely love the content, I just found that bit funny :)

[macjj]

The currency aspect of runes has keep me playing D2R for the long term and will keep me engaged into the future.

[SwopetheDope]

I love Runewords! Runewords missing out of D3 and d4 made is a big miss...

I know people think runewords are op... my solution is to BUFF uniques...

[cklocka]

07:30 well that's what I've been thinking for 10 years "I got ITH! Now I'm just two runes away from it!"

[zrpan]

@mrLlamaSC Can you make a video talking about differences in expansion vs classic? I'm curious on things like if it might be worth making a classic character to farm things like SoJs and bringing them over to normal

[SamCote_]

12:15 ... clever Llama . you found a Ko, you found a Lem, and now you can start to build your "wealth" ... clever Llama

[LetsPlayBojangles]

Runewords bring the most feeling of accomplishment offline where you had to grind for a week straight to cube up enough runes to get jah and ber from lower kurast.