Diablo 3 patch 1.0.4 preview details co-op and larger systems changes

A preview of Diablo 3 patch 1.0.4 has been posted by Blizzard, and this time, it's more than a preview of a preview.

Over on Battle.net (have you changed your password yet?), senior technical game designer Wyatt Cheng mentions a myriad of things, but most notable are the changes in co-op in order to make more players use the mode.

“While many people are playing co-op, it’s still a minority of games. Ideally we would like players who want to play solo to be able to solo, and players who want to play co-op to play co-op. At the moment though playing solo is the clear choice, even for those who would prefer co-op with some of their friends,: Cheng wrote.

“The first change we’re making in 1.0.4 for co-op is to remove averaging in multiplayer games of Magic Find and Gold Find. You’ll benefit from your full Magic Find stat, independent of other players in the game…. Along the same lines as the change in 1.0.3, we’re going to be lowering the health multiplier for monsters per additional player in co-op games.

"This makes enemies far more manageable in co-op games, and rewards a co-ordinated group with a higher farming efficiency than playing alone.”

For those who don't do co-op, it won't matter, but for those who like to delve into the depths with a pal by their side, it will.

Elite monsters are also being changed in order to "shrink the gap between normal monsters and Elite packs." In 1.0.4, Blizzard is increasing the health of normal monsters by 5%-10% in Inferno, and increasing the likelihood of the drops "by a factor of four" on magic or rare items .

The health of Champions and Rares will also be lowered by 10-25%, and normal monsters with "massive spikes in difficulty" will be given polish adjustments such as a reduction of damage applied by two-handed skeletons.

Cheng also said a "metric-ton of changes to classes," will be applied, and separate blog posts for each will be available soon. The gist of the changes are to do with unpopular skills

Also, the Invulnerable Minions monster affix will be removed.

Thanks, RPS.