Diablo "clone" vs. Diablo-like

[Impaler]

Hi folks,

I've been reading a lot of forums lately about aRPGs and I think perhaps a lot of people (I don't mean only in this forum and I include myself) is focusing too much on a Diablo *clone* game as in "I want a game like D2 but better" which could end up resulting in a D2/TQ/TL "mod-sortofthingy" (with better graphics and more content perhaps)

How about start focusing more on a Diablo *like* game?
There are tons of aRPGs that provide an at least decent skill system and item farming, but how many do deliver a good "WOW" effect more than 2 times? or even make you laugh? or cry?(?)

Simple (and stupid) ideas from my rotten brain
DISCLAIMER: Some of them may NOT be safe to implement

-Enemy grabbing

• Grab small enemies and toss them around (NOT a skill, no real/considerable damage, more like a crowd control ability, the "grabbability" of an enemy could be dependent on mob lvl+size)...what better than throwing an enemy to open the way when surrounded?...or just when you're angry and need to throw something around (visual effect being very important, "AARRRGGGHH *crack* *splat*" <- important)

-Boss/enemies random/triggered events or the "Ok 20th time I do the same boring boss that does that earthquake attack and...WOAH what the hell is he doing to that tree???" effect

• Boss has a 0.01% chance to trigger a "weird" event, not part of it's default attacks (ie, grabs a minion and starts bashing you with it, pee on you...whatever is that enraged bosses do besides "oh look...he released a poisonous cloud...like 30 other bosses in other games") - in any case, this should be a "surprise" to the gamer to lower the monotony of replay
• Low level monster mob comes rushing at you and suddenly realizes you're too damn strong...stops halfway, drop their weapons (low level crap but lootables!) and starts fleeing screaming
• Moving bosses...why are they always on the same freaking spot in almost all games...why?? it lacks thrill
  You can restrict it to an "area" (medium sized preferably). Visualize: you turn a corner and find a big bad ugly boss you weren't expecting. I mean if I were a big nasty boss, I would like to do some field trips once in a while (at least to the market to get a beer or something)
• Boss that [doesn't care about you]/[is busy fighting "guards"] or whatever, first couple of times you hit it, it just slaps you a couple of steps away until you manage to enrage it (show him you're "The Chosen One")or something...
• "Hulk" effect, a small pretty creature becomes a juggernaut when disturbed

-Hero respawn

• It's been now too many times that you respawn because "a wizard did it"...what if the hero is actually "the spirit of a legendary hero" and you possess the body of someone?...ok perhaps that's too complicated to implement (N° of available npcs to posses, how to keep your looks, delay in doing so, etc), but some legit excuse by which you actually come back to life...even "You're a cursed vengeful spirit" would do it...or spirit rising from "pools of mystic flesh" hidden all over the world or something

-Socketting

• "Ok people, at the last blacksmith syndicate reunion we've decided to put holes in 1/5th of the weapons we produce as a protest on low salaries"
  How about weapons/armors need to be reforged using runes/gems to enhance the items instead of sockets?

Anyways, consider this just a brain dump, hope you didn't puke