==What is the Next Revealed Class?The 4th Character: The Monk==After the [[Blizzard Entertainment|BlizzardWizard]] has given very few hints about the fifth and final characterwas revealed at Blizzcon 2008, which fan speculation was widespread for what we'll see d seen in the initial release remaining classes. Most fans were sure that some sort of archer/ranged attacker would be added, but it was by no means clear that character would ''only'' use ranged attacks. The character types in Diablo III3 are being designed with a lot of variety, so there was much speculation about ranged hybrid characters; possibly able to engage in melee combat, or using a variety of magical traps, stealth forms, pets, etc.
Fan consensus was that there would surely be a The [[caster|mage-typeMonk]] characterwas revealed at Blizzcon 2009, surprising most fans, with various sorts even those who had expected some sort of magic for offenselight fighter to complement the heavy-tanking [[Barbarian]]. The Monk was certainly a better-kept secret than the Wizard filled , since before revealing the third character, Blizzard had made numerous remarks that pedigree nicelythe third character would fill a common RPG combat role, but also removed the only widely-agreed upon and was quite similar to a character type from previous games in the debateseries.
[[Jay Wilson]] made a commend about a possible reappearance from a [[Diablo I]]/[[Diablo II]] class in an interview[http://pc.ign.com/articles/101/1017305p2.html] more or less hinting of a return of the [[Rogue]].::'''''IGN: You did mention that [the fifth class is] being revealed next yearLooking back, and that it's someone from clear that Blizzard was careful not to give any meaningful hints about the Monk before the previous gamesreveal...'''''In contrast to the Monk
::''Jay Wilson: I did say that. I probably shouldn't have said that, because we're not sure that's going to be the case. It's just logical, that's what we tend to do. But it may or may not. I'm not gonna answer it, anyway... [laughs]''
==The Fifth Character==
===Speculation===It's widely-expected that the fifth character will be a [[ranged|archer]]-type character, one who specializes in the bow and perhaps other ranged weapons. This speculation comes chiefly from looking at the roles the known characters occupy, and noting that there is no ranged attacker other than the Wizard, and no character with any special skill with bows or other ranged weapons. (No bows were seen in terms of what roles are "missing"the game at Blizzcon 2008 or 2009, but one was seen to drop in the initial WWI Paris 2008 gameplay movie. What lore or sort of skills this character would No throwing weapons have to compliment his/her bow is open to wild speculationbeen seen at all. )
Numerous articles [http://diablo.incgamers.com/forums/blog.php?b=59 speculating] on what the fifth character might be have been posted. The main points include the following:
* The fifth class was one of the first the D3 Team sketched out. (Likely meaning its a traditional RPG class.)
* There's no character in the game who specializes in bows or ranged weapons.
** The fifth character will fit a niche not occupied by any other character. [http://www.giantbomb.com/news/hands-on-with-diablo-iiis-street-fighter-inspired-monk-class/1658/]
* The fifth class is said to be very similar to/inspired by a class from an earlier game in the series. [http://pc.ign.com/articles/101/1017305p2.html]
** The return of any other Diablo 2 chars has been ruled out. (For D3; some might return in expansion packs.)
** The Diablo 1 Warrior is too simple and his combat role is filled by the Barbarian and Monk.
** The Diablo 1 Sorcerer would be redundant with the [[Wizard]].
** The Monk, added in {{iw|Hellfire Hellfire}} is already in the game, though the D3 Monk traces no official lineage to the Hellfire version. (Blizzard has disowned, de-canon'ing Hellfire entirely.)
*** This leaves the Diablo 1 Rogue as the only realistic returning character option.
===Why No Necromancer?Blizzard Comments on the Fifth Character===
Though many fans hoped to see the Necromancer return in Diablo 3, the team has repeatedly stated that he will not. Fans have also asked why the [[Witch DoctorJay Wilson]] was added instead, since the WD seems superficially similar to the Necro. Jay Wilson addressed this issue made a comment about a possible reappearance of a character from Diablo 1 or 2 in an interview with Mtv in August 2008. IGN at Blizzcon 2009: [http://multiplayerblogpc.mtvign.com/2008articles/08/05/diablo-iii-necromancer101/1017305p2.html]::'''''IGN:''' You did mention that [the fifth class is] being revealed next year, and that it's someone from the previous games...::''Jay Wilson: I did say that. I probably shouldn't have said that, because we're not sure that's going to be the case. It's just logical, that's what we tend to do. But it may or may not. I'm not gonna answer it, anyway... [laughs]''
::"Our approach for classes in 'Diablo III' is that we don't have a strong desire to bring back classes from the previous game," Wilson told me. "The goal is to try and give people new gameplay and not just re-hash old gameplay. We're not just making a 'Diablo II' with updated 3D graphics."
::"The problem wasIn another interview from Blizzcon 2009, we looked at [[Kevin Martens]] said the fifth character will fit an unfilled niche. [Necromancer] class and didn't think that we could really make him a lot better," Jay explainedhttp://www.giantbomb. "We could add some new stuff to him but for the most part com/news/hands-on-with-diablo-iiis-street-fighter- curses, corpse explosion, skeleton pets inspired-monk- done. Thatclass/1658/]::'''Kevin Martens:''' It's the class. We wanted going to create new gameplay, so we chose to do the Witch Doctor as fit a different kind of classniche than the existing classes, and it will still be awesome."
When asked why they revealed the Monk 4th, Blizzard gave an interesting answer. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/exclusive-blizzcon-interview-julian-love-and-kevin-martens/]
::'''''Diii.net:''' Why did you choose to reveal the Monk this year? Was there some debate re: the Monk vs. the other unannounced class? ''
::'''Kevin Martens:''' It was largely chance that we developed and revealed them in the order we did. We did the Wizard last year and that was a ranged, magical class. So this year we thought the Monk, as the game’s second melee class, would be a nice change. The Monk is a good contrast from the Barbarian, our real tank class. The Barbarian can’t move as fast as the Monk, and he’s much tougher. The Monk does as much damage as the Barbarian, but he’s not as tough or durable. He has to keep moving to keep from being dominated, but if he moves right he can dominate. This was the right time to reveal the second melee class.
While Kevin doesn't exactly say so, his reply contains a strong element of, "we didn't want to reveal 2 ranged attackers in a row." Since they had the unknown 5th character, and the melee fighter Monk to choose from for the 4th reveal, that strongly hints at a ranged attacker remaining for the last slot.
http://www.giantbomb.com/news/hands-on-with-diablo-iiis-street-fighter-inspired-monk-class/1658/Fifth class.Kevin Martens: It's going to fit a different niche than the existing classes, and it will still be awesome.===Why No Necromancer?===
Though many fans hoped to see the Necromancer return in Diablo 3, the team has repeatedly stated that he will not. Fans have also asked why the [[Witch Doctor]] was added instead, since the WD seems superficially similar to the Necro. Jay Wilson addressed this issue in an interview with Mtv in August 2008. [http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/08/05/diablo-iii-necromancer/]
http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/exclusive-blizzcon-interview-julian-love-and-kevin-martens/why the Monk this year?Diii.net: Why did you choose to reveal the Monk this year? Was there some debate re: the Monk vs. the other unannounced class? Kevin: It was largely chance that we developed and revealed them "Our approach for classes in the order we did. We did the Wizard last year and 'Diablo III' is that was a ranged, magical class. So this year we thought the Monk, as the game’s second melee class, would be don't have a nice change. The Monk is a good contrast strong desire to bring back classes from the Barbarianprevious game, our real tank class" Wilson told me. "The Barbarian can’t move as fast as the Monk, goal is to try and give people new gameplay and he’s much tougher. The Monk does as much damage as the Barbarian, but he’s not as tough or durablejust re-hash old gameplay. He has to keep moving to keep from being dominated, but if he moves right he can dominate. This was the right time to reveal the second melee class. http://pc.ign.com/articles/101/1017305p1.html5th characterIGN: You did mention that it's being revealed next year, and that it's someone from the previous games… Jay Wilson: I did say that. I probably shouldn't have said that, because weWe're not sure that's going to be the case. Itjust making a 's just logical, thatDiablo II's what we tend to do. But it may or may notwith updated 3D graphics. I'm not gonna answer it, anyway… [laughs] "
::"The problem was, we looked at the [Necromancer] class and didn't think that we could really make him a lot better," Jay explained. "We could add some new stuff to him but for the most part -- curses, corpse explosion, skeleton pets -- done. That's the class. We wanted to create new gameplay, so we chose to do the Witch Doctor as a different kind of class."
