In an attempt to open up a lot of potentially interesting builds, I'd like to suggest the following feature;
Create a way to remove the class exclusivity from an item through some sort of consumable or otherwise.
This could be done through various ways each with their own pros & cons:
1. Add it as an option to the corruption crystal.
- This would decrease the overall chance of bricking an item which as it stands is quite high given the somewhat minimal not-so-build-defining benefits of corruptions.
- This can contribute to the item sink that corruption crystals can be.
2. Create a consumable that can be target farmed/is exclusive to a boss(or bosses) or area(s). This consumable can be split in fragments or be a recipe.
- Good to motivate people to farm maybe underappreciated areas.
- Good justification for a new boss or for farming bosses that have no trophies.
3. A class-specific item can on rare occasions drop classless.
- Gives new life to certain items. Including simple SUs.
- Could help boost the economy as a result if items with a regular value have rare instances where versions of that item are more valuable.
- Creates a new, much needed layer of excitement when any class-specific item drops as it could roll classless.
I'm personally a fan of option 3. I think it's important in ARPGs to not always gravitate towards convoluted systems and instead focus on providing the all-too-important "what if" factor when playing, farming and finding loot.
Here are VERY FEW potential things that could be done if this feature were introduced (this opens up the door to so much that trying to list everything would be futile):
1. A hammerfall 1-hand whirlwind barb (could be paired with other procs)
2. Arrowswarm zon with Eagle Eye.
3. Unholy melee paladin with Soul Reaver Scythe (stat scaling build with essentially a holy fire aura + fire damage on attack + bloodthorns scaling from vitality)
4. Deathlord morph from Defiler available to other attack classes.
5. Mark of the Que-Hegan enabling ranged bloodthorns to be used on other classes.
6. Askarbydd allowing for a rapid wyrmshot druid or necro (or even barb!).
Potential complications:
1. Unique art assets for class specific items are likely (I don't work with the D2 engine so I might be wrong here) only made to fit that class' character model. As such, if an item rolls classless, its model on the character when equipped would need to default to a regular classless item. For example a druid pelt would have to default to a cap.
2. Some builds could turn out to be fairly strong. It's possible that these classless items could use some form of NOT EXAGGERATED downside. For example, a chance to roll a variable +req mod. A chance for one of the mods on the item to not roll at all. A chance to roll a variable -all res mod. A chance to roll fewer than maximum sockets. Etc.
Ultimately, this feels like a high impact feature that could heavily shake things up in the economy, bring value to items that may not have had much of it in the first place, create new excitement when farming and above all open up the door for new, creative builds to be made.