Will there be a quick weapon switch ('W' in D2) implemented in Diablo 3?

Like already mentioned, they haven't said, but I haven't seen anything in screenshots that would indicate that it is in (there'd probably be a graphical representation for it like in D2 if it was in the game). Who knows, though.

Irrelevant? Not at all sir, just look at anyone with a bo sword\stick\w/e, they hit w bo, then hit w again to use their main weapons. In D2 its gotten much love lol. Hell even barbs with bo javs use it all the time. Its original intent isn't exactly being used(switching between weapons during combat to change tactics) as much but its still very useful. Thou you will see the occasional zon that can go bow or jav and they use it. I personaly hope they carry it over, I'm sure we can find a use for it in the new game :-D.

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Q u o t e:
Irrelevant? Not at all sir, just look at anyone with a bo sword\stick\w/e, they hit w bo, then hit w again to use their main weapons. In D2 its gotten much love lol. Hell even barbs with bo javs use it all the time. Its original intent isn't exactly being used(switching between weapons during combat to change tactics) as much but its still very useful. Thou you will see the occasional zon that can go bow or jav and they use it. I personaly hope they carry it over, I'm sure we can find a use for it in the new game :-D.

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I always carried two wands on my necro in the switch-spot, both having different +skills for summons. I'd cast them to get the benefit, then switch to the other and cast them. It was cheap and cheesy.

I've used alternate gear quite a bit, but on certain classes.
Paladin, Necromancer, and Amazon in particular.

I found that I used it a lot before the synergy patch 1.10.

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Q u o t e:
Just like Diablo II we're saving secondary weapon/shield slot and hot key for the expansion.

Kidding! ... probably. We don't have it now, but that doesn't mean there won't be one. I don't think it's an irrelevant question, maybe just not the most pressing one.

I don't think it NEEDS to be there. It's not really an iconic part of the game. The gameplay dictates its necessity, and if there's no reason to hot swap weapons mid-fight, then having it there just clutters the UI.

Personally I just used it in Diablo II for extra item storage.

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I found it pretty useful. As a sorc, for I would use +static weapons so I didn't have to spend any points, or +3 X skill when running into immune types. For other classes it was useful for raising buff stats, like bo sticks, or using hoto etc....

It was good for dueling as well swapping between Asborb/Resist/DR%/Shields. Weapon swapping had many uses all around.

I hope that weapon swapping is still available, i find it provides more diversity and opens up several strategies.

All of the posts above show the need for the weapon switch function using examples from Diablo II gameplay. As Bashiok said, that type of feature is entirely gameplay driven. If gameplay doesn't require the switch, then it's just useless clutter. Diablo III will play entirely different from Diablo II, in terms of even basic mechanics like elemental immunities/resistances, dueling, +skill items, buffing, etc..

Many of the benefits of weapon switching seen in Diablo II probably don't make sense in Diablo III since it is not a part of the game right now.

the only purpose it served was for buffing (bowzon is an exception), id personally rather not see a weapon switch feature.

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Q u o t e:
the only purpose it served was for buffing

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That's not true. It did have its tactical uses...it just usually wasn't used for that function.

And yes I do consider my +stat cast switching kind of an exploit. I don't generally do it anymore because it's more work than it's worth.

1.08 and 1.09: Every zon worth its salt had both a bow and a jav/shield switch. This applied to bow zons, javelin zons and hybrids. It also applied to PvE and PvP - especially PvP.

Whoah.... I used it *All* *The* *Time*.

Often I had a power-weapon/shield as primary and an MF-weapon/shield or buff weapon/shield.

My Sorcs often had an alternate weapon that gave me a couple of levels of Energy shield or Frost Armor until I bought the skills.

My paladins would often have a low-resistance and high-resistance gear setup. I might have a sword-shield combo as my primary and a big two-handed smashy weapon as my secondary (for Charging Heirophants and other obnoxious monsters).

My WW-IK-Barb definitely had some +Warcry javs on his alternate.

My Frenzier had physical damage axes as his primary and Gimmershreds as his secondary.

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Sheesh. Bashiok. You just used it for storage? A little something in me died when you said that. :'-(

I figure a preparation button would be cool, say there comes a fire enchanted enemy, then you just push the button with a flame on, to prepare for it, change skills, shield etc.