i personally don't think the basic abilities are that flashy, or really flashy at all. they are distinct in their animations, but I welcome that, especially in a MP environment where it helps people stay aware of what abilities people are using. i'm sure we'll have a combat log of sorts, too, but I prefer to see the stuff in action and easily be able to identify what's happening to combing over a combat log.
Which would be more evidence that the game is being made specifically for MP, even if it means a "lesser" experience in SP.
Larian has said they plan on making games that are both great in single player and multiplayer,, and that it will be a focus on their titles moving forward. so you're partially right, it's being made with MP in mind but not specifically. Even for a SP game, this is something I would want, which is why I mentioned the combat log stuff.
Well I play only in SP, and this is something that takes away from my positive SP experience. I hate the idea of using flashy animations as a way of providing information to me as the player. I'd much rather be able to look for that information in a traditional dialog box in the corner of my screen. I hate info being forced upon me, and would rather have it be under my control as to what info I choose to access and when I access it. This is also true of those die rolling animations in the middle of the screen every time a die-based check of some sort happens. I imagine many people think it is "cool." For me it is horrible trash and destroys my immersion. Just tell me what the die roll was in the dialog box.