So what is up?
I will start by saying that I'm not an optimizer*. Of course I like to take better item over the worse one and I'm trying to find one with higher stats but to a degree. I will look at guides to know what works or what the current meta-game [information about the way to play based on outside knowledge] is because of the state of the game mechanics. Sometimes I will even sit with a calculator or will hit dummies and look at time to kill. But as I have said I'm not an optimizer.
What I do like is to play in the way that is fun for me. If some power is interesting or feels better it will be the one I will use even if it's weaker. I use team up that have better dialog or interactions with my hero not the one who is optimal. And if I think something might be fun to try I pursue the build and see what it can do. The problem starts when this nonoptimal builds [that are supose to be fun] are not weaker [because that is obvious] but they are much weaker or even unplayable.
In social chat and on the forum I regularly see similiar thing. Strong implication that there are items that are the best and that it is majority opinion. Sometimes there are 2-3 close contenders but not always. Rest is crap. Trend that I see now is: Cirt dmg. All costume affixes, Insignia, Relics have to be for crit dmg. Second thing - 4 Hela blessings. I didn't see any other blessing. Invulnurability core is also a must. That is the start. Then there are few items for each dmg type that are used on almost every hero. And that is that.
For me this is weird. And wrong. Leaves no place to search for build that is interesting for you or is more unique, or does something besides damage.
Questions
So that was the introduction part and the moaning about it part.
Now there are two questions.
Is there any information what Devs think about this situation and what they plan to do with it in the future?
What do you think about this situation and what do you think should be done to change it?
I have read/heard somewhere that Blessing of Hela did mess with their beautifuly planed curves of diminishing returns that were done for all the different stats. When this curves where in balance there were similar benefit of stacking all damage no crit or more hit chance than dmg and crit etc. And that they want to change the hella blessing somehow.
I would love for this game to have as many build possibilites as possible. All stealthy and unseen builds. Builds with high dmg that relly on specific set of conditions. Builds that are more CC heavy in a way that inpact bosses for the sake of their dmg. Ridiciculous combinations of triggered abiliteis, attack speed and hp lose etc. Path of Exile gave tools in game to their players and they did crazy builds that work. Teleporting totems, 1hp characters with high dmg on low life, almost constant freeze stun of enemies etc.
But before that can happen I would just like to see more viable options. I know that it's hard to not make another item to become BiS while we just tried to make BiS non-existent.
In build section on the forum there are two attempts of mine to explore idea of nonstandard builds one is Petrification build for Rogue that can't work but was cool to search for. The second one is Taunt build that could work for The Thing but because Taunt doesn't work on raid bosses and normal bosses get immune quickly it lack that full viability [But I will try it].
*Now edited but at first I have spelled it "optimalisator" trying to translate it from the top of my head instead of looking into the dictionary. My bad.