I just wanted to chime in and say that I also feel that the environmental effects could be toned down, or be more predictable/intuitive, I've just been avoiding magic because I can't even wand someone because sometimes it'll explode, others it won't.
I also feel that the Physical/Magic Armour system is amazing! In DOS:1, I basically just would run out of the gate, crowd-control as many as possible, and clean up (Earthquake style). But I love the fact that if you're going to CC in this game, you have to earn it! No RNG involved. None of that minuscule chance to miss throwing off your plans. You guys definitely get big kudos for this system in my books. That, and the way that the armor is distributed on the gear and spells for 'healing' it. It also gives me the freedom to do things like walk across environmental effects, or throw out some friendly fire if it's against the armour that they don't have to worry about as much. With this system, I really feel like you're earning your chance to crowd control someone. Now I look at other systems, where it's like you see someone walking out of the gates, totally fresh and ready for the battle, hit them with a piddly ass shock, and brrrrrrzttt, they're stunned, even though they're a BAMF. That doesn't seem right anymore, you'd only be able to stun them after you've chipped away at their magical protection until they're essentially done. To me, getting to Vitality is almost like the 'Finish Him!' in Mortal Kombat.
