yeah i guess my eyes just skipped over that red highlighted part :P
That connects to my other posts, where I said the player should be able to start new games with a developed char, without going up in difficulty, like in Diablo.
is it like this in diablo1?, ..i cant remember, but in d2 its not like that anyways :)
EDIT: when you say 'start new games' w/o going up in difficulty, you simply mean when you restart the game and enemies are back everywhere?
well, then to clarify my own personal view on how to handle the death issue :P:
if the game turns out a quickie, permadeath would be fine in all diffuclties BUT, if its gonna be a long grinder like i hope:
basicly exactly the way it is in diablo2:
*normal difficulty: basicly a walk in the park, something you go through fast, fairly small dungeon levels, not very spectacular items. no resistance penalties
*nightmare difficulty: here's where the challenge gradually builds, larger levels and better equipment. resistance penalties.
*hell difficulty: should be ..hell. real hard, major resistance penalties, faster deadlier mobs, very large levels, and also chance for extremely good items
*hardcore mode: same as above but with permadeath, and a slightly raised chance for getting yet better items
EDIT: ok, i just re-read your initial post tfon :). i can agree with most thing you say. tho i dont think you should be able so start on any difficulty at once, i like stuff to be 'unlockable'. maybe free to start on nightmare, but hell should be locked until nightmare is finished