Q u o t e: What would be his reaction to the game when he finds out he can't wear it?
I don't know. Depends on the player, I suppose. Personally, my reaction would probably be...
"Hmm, I can save that shield for my other character.
OR trade it to someone else to get an item my character can use to help me in this situation.
OR I can play to the strengths of the class I chose and the build I made and find a way through this obstacle."
And you know what I would likely think after I figured out the solution? "Man, Diablo 3 is awesome! I have to play the game with the Monk in an entirely different way than the Barbarian!"
Please note that I indirectly answered your first question as well.
That is what the developers are going for and thank god for it.
Side note: At this point we can take for granted that the Monk will be balanced to survive and play well without a shield. Any speculation of imbalance, oversimplification, and subsequent frustration originating from something so specific as to the lack of a shield is useless.
I remember when I was a little kid playing Diablo. Hearing about Diablo 2, talking to people who just came back from playing the beta, etc. Many of us were pissed about how spells were now class specific! We were used to a single class-specific "talent" and an open pool of spells. I mean, more skills available at all times gotta be better, right??
In hindsight, I'd now be inclined to argue that the "newly" implemented limitation was the largest improvement of Diablo 2 over Diablo.
I guess I'll say in this particular case, that even if you don't understand it, don't knock it until you try it.
Trust the people who are playing the game right now over yourself.
[ Post edited by G1370 ]
Dr. Andonuts finally made me Dungeon Man.
My guide to "Realism in Diablo 3":
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr255/garrett1370/D3GuidetoRealism.jpg
