Differences between normal and hard difficulty

[englvlsix]

Hi,
first of all I want to congratulate with the developers for this great game. Without dubt VV is the best and modern arpg, I think that any developer that want to make a great arpg must follow VV ideas and combat system (yes, Blizzard also you).

What are the differences between nprmal and hard? If I activate all hexes in normal mode it is the same experience of hard mode?
The loot is the same or it is better in hard?

Thx

[xylt]

in the hard the monsters also get a low epic buff that gives them more hitpoints and damage

[englvlsix]

Normal players can join Hard players on online games? Or are they separate?

[xylt]

they can join, but all the monsters have the epic buff and all the hexes are active and can't be deactivated

[englvlsix]

Ok. So, excluding hardcore mode, there are no reasons to create a new character on hard difficult.

[xylt]

Originally posted by englvlsix:

Ok. So, excluding hardcore mode, there are no reasons to create a new character on hard difficult.

you actually can play on casual difficulty and hardcore mode at the same time.

there's a secret achievement for completing the game on hard difficulty

[g.Leitao]

They get buffs and armor

[Psojed]

The only reason to play Hard mode is to not suck at this game, no offense was intended.

At Normal mode, the game will simply let you make mistakes over and over and it won't matter that much, you'll get hit and you can continue. Hard mode will make you die for those mistakes, so in time you will learn how to avoid them.

[englvlsix]

So build that works on normal with all hexes activated may not work on hexes and it is good. The next question is: is it the game balanced on hard or is it unbeatable?

[Gorwe]

afaik, it only activates the 5 hexes. And auto enforces them. Which GRINDS my GEARS if you play this GAME(ok no more bad puns :D) with Hex of Resilience. Hex of Resilience just slows the game down to a crawl...the other 4 are fine-Hex of Pain perhaps should be made more dangerous. I don't fear it at all. Hex of Time and (the damage Hex) are where it's at ;)

[Pretentieux]

IDK What my deal is because I'm something of an ARPG veteran and this game seems to get too difficult towards the end. An issue I have with it is that dying has literally zero consequence, though since I guess I suck at it I should be happy for this fact.

[Huillam]

Originally posted by englvlsix:

So build that works on normal with all hexes activated may not work on hexes and it is good. The next question is: is it the game balanced on hard or is it unbeatable?

Beatable? Yes.
Well designed? Probably not when trying to do the challenges.

[HiImTye]

I think you also get a treasure boost on hard mode above the regular bonus for five hexes, unless I'm misremembering

hex of tenacity (if that's what you meant by hex of resilience) just forces you to spend into armor penetration and put some thought into kill orders, instead of just clicking at everything you see

@pretentieux, those are two seemingly conflicting statements, re: too difficult/zero consequence of dying. if the game is too difficult, then enforcing consequences of dying would make it even more difficult. also, this is only true of regular spawns, named spawns have their health and sub-spawns reset when you wipe