Don't Monk Spirit Generators attack at the same speed regardless of 2h or dw? And since they are all % dmg based, wouldn't that make 2h's the obvious choice for Monks? Not to mention because our biggest hittest skill is % dmg, and on a cd so speed doesn't affect it (Seven Sided Strike)
Though while leveling a Monk in beta I strictly used dw, since i couldn't find any good 2handers that a Monk could wield, and because they had amazing affixes...
I have never understood this "efficiency (sustained damage to a mob) versus inefficiency ("overkill")" problem.
The only place that has an argument is at LOWER difficulty levels or areas which you are going back to farm to prepare for higher level content. Can you honestly believe just because you're using a 2H weapon that you will one-shot mobs in Hell or Inferno? I highly doubt that.
The real point that it comes down to is the ability to either generate resources or damage/cost per resource used. In any case, if it becomes extremely good to generate a certain amount of resources, then you can supplement that with more +AS items if you're using a 2H. If it becomes about the cost per resource used, then it will become about how much damage you can pack into your cooldown skills or resource using skills, again we can alter how this happens regardless of the items we choose.
It is most likely, much like D2 was, that itemisation will play a dramatically huge part in how much damage you deal, rather than the types of items (note: TYPES being the important part of that sentence) you choose to use. On top of all of this, we still have yet to take into consideration how some legendaries/set items will alter how you play your character, again, much like what D2 did.
However, 2H has one MAJOR advantage over DW for melee characters, and that's superior reach. The reason that Cleaving with a big sword is so much more effective than cleaving with two 1hs is that the Cleave area of effect is much larger. Even with non-AoE melee abilities, the 2h's longer melee reach can be a significant advantage for fighting other melee creatures.
I don't think there's been any evidence of this so far in beta. At least there's been no discussion about it, which I take as a proof of inexistence. I would really like this mechanic myself, but it probably to fell into Blizzard's category of "not a fun thing to manage".
I mean, obviously a Flamberge apparently (graphically) reaches "longer" than a pair of Hand Axes, but the actual skill range feels pretty much the same.
Any videos/screenshots or links to a discussion on this?
Equip Cleave with a 1her versus a 2her and it is pretty obvious - even with equal DPS, the 2her feels significantly more effective. That's because it has a longer reach so you are cleaving more enemies at once.
Though while leveling a Monk in beta I strictly used dw, since i couldn't find any good 2handers that a Monk could wield, and because they had amazing affixes...
The only place that has an argument is at LOWER difficulty levels or areas which you are going back to farm to prepare for higher level content. Can you honestly believe just because you're using a 2H weapon that you will one-shot mobs in Hell or Inferno? I highly doubt that.
The real point that it comes down to is the ability to either generate resources or damage/cost per resource used. In any case, if it becomes extremely good to generate a certain amount of resources, then you can supplement that with more +AS items if you're using a 2H. If it becomes about the cost per resource used, then it will become about how much damage you can pack into your cooldown skills or resource using skills, again we can alter how this happens regardless of the items we choose.
It is most likely, much like D2 was, that itemisation will play a dramatically huge part in how much damage you deal, rather than the types of items (note: TYPES being the important part of that sentence) you choose to use. On top of all of this, we still have yet to take into consideration how some legendaries/set items will alter how you play your character, again, much like what D2 did.
Equip Cleave with a 1her versus a 2her and it is pretty obvious - even with equal DPS, the 2her feels significantly more effective. That's because it has a longer reach so you are cleaving more enemies at once.
Every melee weapon in Diablo 2 had a Range statistic. For example, a spear has a dramatically longer reach than a sword. There is no reason to believe that they would remove the Range statistic from Diablo 3.
http://diablo.wikia....%28Diablo_II%29
http://diablo.wikia.com/wiki/Scythe
http://diablo.wikia....wiki/War_Scythe