Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Diablo 3: Winning by Losing Arguments

Diablo 3 has much to teach us about the human experience.  Last night the game provided me with a valuable life lesson.  Despite what I learned, I'd like to share the bit of wisdom I gained.

While running Inferno Whimsyshire with some online friends, we started talking about gear stats.  Specifically, we discussed what constitutes an optimal piece of loot and how we planned to outfit our characters for end-game content.  Online friend said that he planned to create two sets of gear for his Demon Hunter.  One set of gear would focus upon Magic Find (MF).  His other set would focus upon Damage Dealing (DPS).  The idea, as he presented it, was to use his DPS set while killing monsters, and then put on the MF set while opening chests in Whimsyshire.  Or, he could DPS the monster down in one set of gear, and then quickly switch to his MF gear right before the monster died.

In reply to his plan, I stated that my intention is to create one gear set that optimizes both MF and DPS.  He said that was a stupid idea and I was stupid for thinking it.

When he told me that my idea was stupid, two thoughts arose in my mental space:

1:  I need to argue my point.

My first inclination was to debate.  I think the ideal situation is for a character to wear only one set of gear that maximizes all stats.  I have reasons for thinking this.  I think that my plan is the best plan.  So, when he said I was stupid, I initially primed for argument.  I intended to call him stupid, in turn, and explain why he was being moronic.  But then a beautiful, wonderful second idea arose:

2:  I benefit from him disagreeing with me.

He and I both play Demon Hunters.  He plans to construct two sets of gear.  I plan to collect one.  Since we have different goals, we seek different items.  Currently, we do not compete for gear.  But if I argue with him, explain my position, and manifest a situation in which he agrees with me?  Then I have created competition for the gear I seek.

If I convince him that I am correct, then he bids against me on the Auction House.

So, I told him that he was right.  I said that getting good DPS/MF gear is impossible.  I said that switching gear is the best strat.  I said that every Demon Hunter ought to collect two completely different sets of gear, and the attempt to obtain DPS/MF gear is an inefficient use of gold that stunts progress and item acquisition.  Only morons strive for one gearset.

I then got on the Auction House, and bought a best-in-slot belt with 20% MF and high DPS stats for an absurdly low price.

I think this was a valuable life lesson.  Too often I focus upon arguing with other people, poking holes in their positions, and correcting person's mistaken assumptions about reality.  I am overwhelmed by an urge to call shitheads "shithead".  When someone calls an idea I maintain idiotic, I am compelled to defend it.

But sometimes, it seems, it's good for people to think that I am stupid.  I benefit from their mistaken positions.  If I took the time to correct my online friend, then he would realize that my gearing plan is the best gearing plan, and he would be in direct competition with me.  His inefficient gearing choice benefits me.  His idiocy prevents him from buying the gear I want.

To achieve my goal, I need to convince my online friend, and as many other Demon Hunters as I can, that their mistaken preconceptions about reality and flawed arguments are correct discernments of the best way to play Diablo 3.

I'm pretty sure this is the sort of thing Roger Ailes figured out years ago.  I wish he'd shared it.

The problem, of course, is that this is one of those life lessons you're supposed to keep to yourself.

55 comments:

Derek Jenkins said...

I don't know, I think that the other result is that you have a server full of stupid people equipped with stupid gear, which means you get your own sweet gear at a lower price, but you also wind up being the person carrying your gimped team. I'd rather connect people with good information, knowing that I may have more competition for my own items, but I will also be able to find and acquire solid teams for the higher difficulty levels. Just my 2c, though, and I do agree with this - don't argue with people who insist on being stupid.

Of course, the other problem is that Blizzard is constantly updating skill sets, gear qualities, drop rates, etc etc etc, so the gameplay mechanics are continually evolving. A build (and gear) which is straight BEAST one day is completely outdated a month later (sometimes a day later), and it is frustrating to experiment and stay on top of the changes. I've had some real good success with the info offered over at the Codex (tinyurl.com/DiabloGamer), as they seem to be continuously experimenting and staying up on top of new developments in terms of build, gear, and even where and how to acquire gold quickly. I haven't played with their PvP section yet, but it is pretty expansive.

Do you have any tactics you use to stay on top of the best builds following various updates, or do you just experiment with it on your own?

_J_ said...

"which means you get your own sweet gear at a lower price, but you also wind up being the person carrying your gimped team"

Given that the maximum group size is 4, one's "team" only includes a few people. And, ideally, you don't have duplicate classes on your team.

That's one part of the mentality I'm advocating. I don't benefit from convincing another Demon Hunter to buy the gear I want to buy. But I do benefit from helping my tanky friends level, since I need tanks in order to get through later content. And I have some non-Demon Hunter friends who can help fill out that 4 person group, so I'll help them. I don't lose anything by helping someone who wants INT gear, because I don't want INT gear.

But it doesn't make any sense for me to try to convince someone else to buy the gear I want to have.

"Do you have any tactics you use to stay on top of the best builds following various updates, or do you just experiment with it on your own?"

At the moment I just experiment on my own while keeping an eye on blue posts. I have some blues with individual stats on them (attack %, dex, crit dmg) that I experiment with so I can keep an eye on how each stat affects my DPS. And I'll hang onto yellows that have different combinations. I read that Blizzard is thinking about nerfing attack speed %, so obviously that's going to factor into my decisions for what to buy.

Caleb said...

Clearly, this experience has caused you to grow as a person.

_J_ said...

"Clearly, this experience has caused you to grow as a person."

If by "grow" you mean "level", and by "as a person" you mean "your character"...then, yes.

Mah numbers. They be so high.

Unknown said...

If I read correctly the next patch will reduce damage of enemies in group games. If that is the case, I will be able to switch to my mf set full time, looking only for ups to it. Oh joyous day.

_J_ said...

Yeah, I'm really happy about this nerf.

Currently, it's incredibly inefficient for me to MF with other people. When you consider the way MF shares in groups (total MF / # players), and the dmg/life buff mobs gets, the result is that when someone else joins my group, who has lower MF, they're increasing the difficulty with which I attain shittier gear.

With this nerf, I'll still take the MF cut, but the mob difficulty won't be as high. So, I'll probably be able to farm faster, with a lower MF %.

Which I'm happy to do.

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