Diablo Wiki - User contributions [en]

Gloves

2011-11-07T18:45:39Z

Asteria:

Looking for Gloves in general? Try [[Hands]].

{{Gloves}}

{{ArmorAppearance|gloves_001_barbarian_male.png|gloves_001_demonhunter_male.png|gloves_001_monk_male.png|gloves_001_witchdoctor_male.png|gloves_001_wizard_male.png}}

[[Category:Items]]
[[Category:Armor]]
[[Category:Gloves]]

Shrine

2011-11-07T17:37:31Z

Asteria:

'''Shrines''' were a feature in Diablo I and Diablo II, and return in Diablo III in a very slightly modified form. Shrines are altars of sorts that exist within the game that, when interacted with by the player, will grant short-term bonuses or [[buff]]s to the player and any party members within a few screens of distance.

For information on shrines in previous Diablo games, please visit the links below.
* '''{{iw|D1_Shrines Diablo I Shrines}}'''
* '''{{iw|Shrines Diablo II Shrines}}'''

==The Sanctity of This Place Has Been Fouled==

In Diablo I, shrines appeared as black wooden constructions with white crosses on them, candles burning on both sides. When the player clicked on them, the shrine would become disfigured and slightly demonic with a sword appearing near the base.

In Diablo II, shrines came in a large variety but were a bit more primal and not as tied to the real-life imagery of religion. In the early game, the player would stumble upon a shrine that consisted of skulls and bones sitting upon the top of a pike, with stones gathered around the base on the ground. When the player clicked on it, they effectively "desecrated" the shrine, destroyed it, giving the bonus.

However, in Diablo III, shrines are natively "desecrated" and the player purifies them by interacting with them. Apparently the character [[class]]es of Diablo III are attempting to undo the damage done by the carelessness of the Diablo II characters?

==Shrines and Wells in Diablo III==

[[Image:Mfshrinerestored.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Purified shrine.]]
In Diablo III, a player clicks on a shrine or a well to gain its effect, just like in the previous games. However, a new buff icon will appear (with a clockface-like animation that is displaying how much longer is left of the buff), and the icon also has a tooltip to inform the player as to what, precisely, the buff is.

In addition, text is splashed across the middle of the screen, also informing the player of what the shrine effect is after the shrine has been purified. This splash text does not occur with wells, as wells simply heal the player.
[[Image:Shrinebuff.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A [[Demon Hunter]] with a shrine buff.]]
Shrine buffs generally last 300 seconds. Each player that is affected by a shrine will have a shrine buff animation that plays over their head; the animation will represent the type of effect the shrine gives.

===Confirmed Shrines and Wells===

[[Image:Healingwell.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Healing well from the beta test.]]
The following shrines and wells were spotted in the Diablo III [[Beta]] and are assumed to be in the final release of the game:

* Desecrated Enlightened Shrine - +25% Experience.
* Desecrated Shrine of Fortune - Raises chance to find magical items by 25%.
* Blessed Desecrated Shrine - Reduces damage taken by 25%.
* Frenzied Desecrated Shrine - Increases attack speed and [[crit]]ical damage bonus by 25%.
* Healing Well - Heals the player and presumably the party. Like the wells in Diablo II, these will refill over a period of time.

===Unconfirmed Shrines and Wells===

The following shrines and wells have been observed previously but are either unconfirmed or are unlikely to make it to the release of the game:

* Skilled Desecrated Shrine - Skill levels are increased. (Presumably won't make it to the release of the game as there are no longer skill levels)
* Ice Armor Shrine - Basically gave the player an [[Ice Armor]] buff, similar to what the [[Wizard]] has in her arsenal.

==Previous Development==

* '''The following section is retained for historical purposes, and is not current information.'''
Shrines were last seen in the [[BlizzCon 2009|BlizzCon]] demo. (That same demo build was shown at Gamescom 2009 and 2010, as well as PAX 2009.) In that demo, shrines were spotted around the surface desert area, and provided various bonuses reminiscent of their Diablo II counterparts.

In Diablo III all shrines were called a "Desecrated Shrine," which was "restored" by the player's click. This seems to suggest an unknown plot relation or implication.

===Known Shrines===

Below is a list of known shrines, all seen in the Blizzcon 2009 gameplay demo.

* '''Fortune'''
** Your chance to find magic items and gold is greatly increased.
** Lasts for 60 seconds from activation.

* '''Ice Armor'''
** Slows movement and attack of enemies that attack you.
** Lasts for 60 seconds from activation.

* '''Unknown Shrine'''
** ''Shrine Restored. You feel Blessed.''

* '''Unknown Shrine'''
** ''Shrine Restored. You Feel Ready For Battle.''

===Development===
[[Image:Shrine.jpg|thumb|right|300px|First ever seen Shrine.]]
The [[D3 Team]] previously mentioned shrines and said they're tossing around ideas about how to implement them, but nothing was set yet.

[[Jay Wilson]] has addressed the issue of shrines in a couple of interviews. And given essentially the same answer both times.

===Blizzcon 2008===
Jay Wilson addressed the issue of Shrines at a press conference at Blizzcon, in October 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzcon-press-conference-with-jay-wilson/]

<blue>Will there be shrines in Diablo 3? 
Jay Wilson: We have not decided about it. We have ideas for shrines. The things is that only two shrines were actually interesting to the player: Experience Shrines and Monster Shrines. Other shrines where like “nah”. We want to bring some system in with this functionality. This is where the combo exp bonus comes from. It’s not replacing shrines, but it’s playing in to it.</blue>

===Blizzcast #8===
The question came up again six months later, in April 2009. Jay's answer indicates that the team hasn't done any work on the issue since last October. The questions were submitted by fans, and relayed to Jay by Blizzard Community Manager, Bornakk.

Will shrines be making a return to the world of Sanctuary in Diablo 3? 
Jay Wilson: Well there are some aspects of shrines that we liked, experience shrines I think are probably the prime example everyone uses. They're fun because they drive the player forward. Monster shrines are sometimes fun because they bring out a rare that you didn’t know or weren't expecting that could come from any direction and that's cool.

But for the most part, the pure mechanic of shrines, a random powerup that just appears in the world for no reason, we don't really want to literally bring that back. What we are going to try to do is integrate a lot of the best things of shrines into our quest and event systems so that when you encounter a random quest or random event that has a story context within the game it either rewards you like a shrine would reward you or something that is actually built into the gameplay of the quest. So while technically no shrines are not coming back verbatim, we are trying to bring back kind of the best things of them in a different form.

So you'll still have the randomness and spontaneity of it. 
Jay Wilson: Exactly, and really they are kind of there to change up the gameplay and add a little factor of randomness, but we felt that very few of the shrines actually did that – accomplish that goal...

Stamina shrine? 
Jay Wilson: Yeah, stamina shrine lets you run a long time. Skill shrine made you a little bit more powerful. We feel like we can take the best and put them within actual events that are a lot more fun and have a lot more gameplay to them.

==References==
* [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/gamescom-wizard-gameplay-footage/ Gamescom Wizard Gameplay Footage]
* [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzcast-8-live-with-diablo-iii-goodies/P10/ BlizzCast 8]
* [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzcon-press-conference-with-jay-wilson/ BlizzCon 2008 press conference with Jay Wilson]

{{Location navbox|struc}}

[[category:shrines]]
[[Category:Gameplay]]
[[Category:Basics]]

Shrine

2011-11-07T17:36:40Z

Asteria: /* Confirmed Shrines and Wells */

Enchant

2010-10-11T16:33:55Z

Asteria: added quote from Gamescom 2010

The [[Mystic]] can enchant [[items]], improving or modifying their stats in some unknown fashion. The Diablo 3 team hasn't given any specifics about what enchanting actually does, but they've said that players will probably want to enchant every item they can, so it's evidently a highly desirable bonus.

==Caravan FAQ==

The first mention of "enchanting" came from the [[Caravan FAQ]], released in August 2010 at the Gamescom expo. There was just a single line about the Mystic:

::The mystic creates scrolls, potions, magical weapons, spell runes, and charms, and can also enchant items.

We know what [[scrolls]], [[potions]], magical [[weapons]], and [[spell runes]] are. [[Charms]] remain something of a mystery, as does enchanting.

A quote from an interview with [http://www.indiablo.de indiablo.de] at the same event confirms that the bonuses are not random:

::"There’s a fixed number of added bonuses. Enchants work like [[Gem]]s. We wanted the enchant to do what it does each time, rather than force players to use the enchant over and over again (on the same item)."

[[category:artisans]]
[[category:mystic]]

Enchant

2010-10-11T16:06:14Z

Asteria: Typo

Diablo 3 Basics

2010-10-11T03:03:59Z

Asteria:

[[Image:Diablo III Logo.jpg|left|200px]]
This is the '''Diablo 3 Basics''' page, which is the main '''Fact Sheet''' of known '''Diablo III''' information. This much anticipated sequel to Diablo and Diablo II was announced at [[Blizzard]]'s [[WWI 2008]] in Paris, during 27-28 June 2008. Regardless if you just heard that Diablo III is announced, or if you have been following some of the {{wl|[http://diablo.incgamers.com Diablo 3 news]}}, this page will get you up to speed!

If you are looking for the '''Basics Section''' of the wiki, you can find that in the '''[[:Category:Basics|Basics Category]]'''.

==Introduction==
Diablo III, while featured completely in '''3D''' with a 3D environment, will follow closely in Diablo II's track by using the classic isometric view, fast gameplay and randomised content for high replayability. Some changes have been made in order to make the game faster and more flexible as well as making players choose and employ tactics rather than mindless mouseclicking. Besides taking well learned lessons from WoW, the developers have been inspired by games such as ''Zelda'' and ''God of War''. Regardless, the game will be possible to play with a mouse alone, if a player so wishes (but you would be a lot less efficient).

Remember that if you're a newcomer to Diablo you can find more related articles in the '''[[:Category:Basics|Basics Category]]'''
 
 

== Character Classes ==

Blizzard have confirmed that the game will ship with '''five''' character [[class]]es. '''Four''' classes have been revealed:

New with Diablo III is the '''choice of gender''' for each class. It's not as customizable as the characters in popular MMO [[World of WarCraft]], but the developers have made it possible to choose a '''male or female''' character of the class they prefer.

The new maximum character level will be '''100''' instead of 99.

{|
! colspan="3" | Barbarian
|-
| [[File:Barbfemale.jpg|85px]]
| [[File:Barbmale.jpg|85px]]
| '''The [[Barbarian]]''' - The same character you played in [[Diablo II]], but with some [[Barbarian skills|new skills]], and backed with power of the [[ancient]]s.
* Skills - [[Berserker Skill Tree]] | [[Juggernaut Skill Tree]] | [[Battlemaster Skill Tree]] | All [[Barbarian skills]].
* Resource - [[Fury]]
|-
! colspan="3" | Monk
|-
| [[File:Monkfemale.jpg|85px]]
| [[File:Monkmale.jpg|85px]]
| '''The [[Monk]]''' - A new fellow from [[Ivgorod]]. Combining martial arts of our eastern cultures with a holy strike from the western disciplines he takes names and kicks in faces.
* Skills - [[Skill Tree A]] | [[Skill Tree B]] | [[Skill Tree C]] | All [[Monk skills]]
* Resource - [[Spirit]]
|-
! colspan="3" | Witch Doctor
|-
| [[File:Witchfemale.jpg|85px]]
| [[File:Witchmale.jpg|85px]]
| '''The [[Witch Doctor]]''' - A new class that comes from the jungle region of [[Teganze]], and uses [[Witch Doctor skills|voodoo magic]] to do his bidding. One of his highlights is the [[Wall of Zombies]] spell.
* Skills - [[Zombie Skill Tree]] | [[Spirit Skill Tree]] | [[Voodoo Skill Tree]] | All [[Witch Doctor skills]]
* Resource - [[Mana]]
|-
! colspan="3" | Wizard
|-
| [[File:Wizardfemale.jpg|85px]]
| [[File:Wizardmale.jpg|85px]]
| '''The [[Wizard]]''' - A new class that is a pure spell caster harnessing arcane and elemental magic to do her bidding. Very similar to the [[Sorcerer]] and [[Sorceress]] of previously Diablo games. One of the highlights is the [[Wizard_skills#Slow_Time|Slow Time]] spell which warps space and time, slowing nearby monsters and projectiles.
* Skills - [[Conjuring Skill Tree]] | [[Arcane Skill Tree]] | [[Storm Skill Tree]] | All [[Wizard skills]]
* Resource - [[Arcane Power]]
|-
! colspan="3" | Unknown
|-
|
|
| '''The [[Other classes]]''' - All known information about the one missing class.
|-
|}

=== Skills ===
You can look at the above known class [[skills]] for detailed information about what will be available, but one big general change for character abilities is that you now have a skill bar instead of a potion bar. It works similar to WoW, and more skills can now be accessed easily. Read more about the [[potion]] changes below.

* A '''[[:Category:Skills|Full List of Skills]]''' of the class skills.
 
 

==== Skill Tree Respecs/Resets ====
In Diablo II, a character always had all their skills and stats as they were allocated. If you made any mistake, the only solution was to start over. There has not been a definite word on talent/skill respecs, but [[Jay Wilson]] has said that he didn't like that you were limited in the old system, and that regardless of how the skill system will look, respecs are probably going to be available.
 
 

====Stats/Attributes====
'''It's no longer possible to choose where to enter your own stat points.''' They will be automatically assigned every time you level up. The customization that this brought in Diablo II is now going to be moved to itemization among other ways. Have a look what kind of secondary attributes are influenced by the initial stats/attributes '''[[Attributes#Strength|Strength]]''', '''[[Attributes#Dexterity|Dexterity]]''', '''[[Attributes#Vitality|Vitality]]''' and '''[[Attributes#Willpower|Willpower]]'''.
*The '''[[Attributes|full list of attributes]]''' shows how attributes and secondary attributes interact.
 
 

==== Skill Runes ====
[[Rune]]s will work very different in Diablo III compared to {{iw|Rune Diablo II Runes}}, and is now part of the character customization. You will enter skill runes for your skills/spells, which will affect how the these work in the game. A multiplying rune might make your spell fire additional fireballs, another rune might make the blast radius bigger etc.
 
 

==Monsters==
[[Image:Goatmen surround a Siegebreaker.jpg|thumb|right|150px|[[Goatmen]] & [[Siegebreaker]].]]Diablo III will have a great array of '''[[monster]]s''', and they will employ more intelligent behaviour, and effects as well. There will be more 'mini-boss' encounters that make for more epic gameplay, an example is the [[Thousand Pounder]], who isn't really a [[boss]], but a unit type. Other 'effects' include skeletons with large shields that can block and protects archers, [[ghoul]]s that climb up sheer walls to attack you, or [[Grotesque]]s that explode into a hundred [[Lamprey]] monsters. We can expect many unique attack patterns and behaviours from the Diablo III monsters.

* '''The [[Monster|Monsters Article]]''' has much more information on the 35 known monsters.
* '''The [[:Category:Monsters|Full List of Monsters]]''' show what can currently be killed.
 
 

==Spectacular Deaths==
Diablo III promises to bring many different '''[[death|death animations]]''' for each killed enemy, as well as special death animations for [[critical hit]]s, and special fatalities by [[boss]] monsters when their hit would kill a player.

The '''[[death penalty]]''' will be a lot more lenient. People will no longer lose [[experience]] when dying. Naturally, if the [[Hardcore]] mode makes a return, a death will be permanent, but potentially possible for friends to loot the corpse. There will also be [[checkpoint]]s that automatically save the progress of a player, and when a character dies, he's transported to the nearest checkpoint.

==Difficulty Levels==

There are going to be three [[difficulty]] levels in Diablo 3, most likely called "normal," "nightmare," and "hell" as has become standard in the Diablo series. How much more difficult and what sort of variety the higher difficulty levels will add remains to be determined. Jay Wilson addressed this issue in a November 2009 interview. [http://diablofans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23550]
::''What are the differences in the difficulty levels in Diablo III other than just monsters doing more damage? ie: What reason will people have to play through these modes after having already beaten the main story of the game on an easier difficulty setting?
::'''Jay Wilson:''' We haven't really gotten into the difficulty settings a lot; we're still just working on the core content for the game at this point. The primary reason as to why a player would want to progress through the game, through the several difficulties, would be for more of a challenge.

::There will be also better item customization, for example a Level 100 character in a higher difficulty would see and wear [[items]] that a Level 30 character would not have a chance at seeing in the lower difficulty. Said items will also look and feel completely different whereas in Diablo II a lot of times you just had a remodel of the same old items with different names.

==Items==
[[Image:Barbarian swing.jpg|thumb|right|[[Barbarian]] swinging two magical axes.]]While the [[Category:Items|item]] system won't be identical to that of Diablo II, it will be very similar. '''[[Items]]''' will drop randomly and have random attributes. Some of the things that definitely changed:
* [[Runes]] no longer attach to weapons, and 'rune words' are '''completely removed'''. They are instead used to enhance your skills/spells.
* The [[inventory]] is now 'WoW-style' with '''one slot per item'''. No more 'inventory-tetris'.
* The [[stash]] is in the game, bigger this time, and will be possible to expand further.
** The dev team is discussing potentially making it a shared stash between your characters, or adding a mail system.
* Items will now drop '''per character''', and be invisible to other characters. They are still [[trade]]able, but you will never go a run without loot again.
* [[Known Items Listing|The Full List of Items]] contain all known items.
* [[Potion]]s are drastically changed, with some sort of limits. If it's less gained health/mana, or if it has a [[cooldown]] is unknown, but the old potion system is replaced by [[Health Globe]]s and the belt is replaced by a [[skill]] bar.
* There will be some new trading system ''in addition to'' the old one, possibly like the WoW [[Auction House]].
 
 

==NPCs==
[[Image:Cain-concept1.jpg|thumb|right|75px|[[Cain]]]]There is a small number of [[NPCs]] that are confirmed for Diablo III:
* [[Deckard Cain]] - Back to ask us to listen.
* [[Leah]] - Girl from the [[cinematic]]. Apparently located close to Deckard Cain, likely in [[Tristram]].
* [[Pablo DeSoto]] - Father of Leah. Close to his daughter, likely in [[Tristram]].
* [[Captain Rumford]] - This NPC was found in the small town area where new characters began the [[BlizzCon 2008]] demo.
* [[Mr. Meat Wagon]] - Unnamed NPC that dumped corpses unto a fire.
* [[Crying Ghost]] - First ever Quest NPC.
* [[Little Girl Ghost]] - Second ever Quest NPC.
* Speculated characters to appear in the game can be found on the [[NPC]] article.
 
 

==Locations==
[[Image:Sanctuary World Map.jpg|thumb|225px|[[world map|Sanctuary world map]], with locations noted.]]The [[world map]] of [[Sanctuary]] was actually released with the second Diablo game's manual, but a new and improved map has been made by Blizzard, outlining the continents and the major [[settlement]]s. Many of these locations will be re-visited in [[Diablo III]] including [[Tristram]]. Areas close by that were never visited in the previous games will also have a chance, like the [[Leoric Highlands]] and [[Westmarch]].

We have been shown detailed pictures of [[Skovos]] (the land of the [[Amazon]]s), as well as [[Caldeum]] and Tristram. Skovos is confirmed to be excluded from the game, but the level of detail they are putting in to the universe suggests either a big expansion pack, MMOs or a film.

Outdoor areas will be less randomised than dungeons, and the terrain will for the most part be static. Instead a lot of random scripted events will take place, some will even be really advanced. It can vary from an escort [[quest]], to a mouldy tome, or a big bad [[boss]] monster. You will also find interactive environments with dangerous traps and obstacles, and [[destructible]] elements. There will be "numerous" outdoor locations.
 
 

==Dungeons==
The only known dungeon of the game so far is the [[Forgotten Tombs]], which is seen on the [[gameplay video]]. It seems to be located adjacent to the [[Leoric Highlands]], and probably close to [[Tristram]] as well. Dungeons will be almost completely randomized, increasing replayability in the game. As a dungeon is a lot easier to randomize, these will be made different each time, and outdoor locations slightly more static. You will also find interactive environments with dangerous traps and obstacles, and [[destructible]] elements. There will be "numerous" dungeons.

<center>
<gallery>
Image:Screenshot 20.jpg|[[Dark Berserker]]s and a [[Grotesque]] in the [[Forgotten Tombs]].
Image:Screenshot 19.jpg|Several [[Walking Corpse]]s. [[Follower]]s can be seen as well.
Image:Screenshot 16.jpg|[[Witch Doctor]] who's [[Skull of Flame|flameskulling]] some [[Walking Corpse]]s.
</gallery>
</center>
 
 

==Transportation==
Most transportation in Diablo III will be on foot, as there will be '''no mounts''' in the game. On the other hand, we've heard the [[D3 team]] talk about [[Waypoint]], so they will likely return, and there is also less running after a [[death]] due to [[checkpoint]]s.
 
 

==Easter Eggs==
While no [[Easter Eggs]] have been confirmed, we can most likely expect some sort of surprise content in Diablo 3. However, it's not certain exactly what this will be. One thing is known and that is that all previous somewhat modern Blizzard games have had Easter eggs to some degree.
* Diablo II had its own [[Cow Level]].
* Blizzard have hinted at Easter eggs and secret levels.
 
 

===Cow Level===
The [[Cow Level]] is a very distinct piece of content in Diablo 2, but is as of yet unconfirmed for Diablo 3. Cows and Diablo have been closely linked in fan's minds since Diablo 1, and it's not unlikely that we'll get a secret Cow Level in Diablo 3 as well, even if it likely will be very different from the Diablo 2 version.
 
 

===Rainbow Level===
This is a rumour started by the [[art controversy]] (see below), and all the hub-hub about the colour in Diablo 3 that came after the announcement might inspire the dev team to make a rainbow level with unicorns and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carebear Carebears].
* [http://forums.diii.net/showthread.php?t=708777 Rainbow Level forum thread]
 
 

==Art Changes==
Some fans were very upset that [[Diablo III]] is seemingly full of much more colour than the predecessor [[Diablo II]]. While the settings in general now include a lot more colour, Blizzard argues that Diablo II was more colourful than people remember. Some fans have also expressed fears that Diablo III will become too much like [[World of WarCraft]]. You can read more about concerns and responses here:
* '''[[Art controversy|Diablo III Art Controversy]]'''
 
 

==Story Line==
[[Image:Cinematic 10.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Mystical comet overlooking a settlement in the western part of [[Sanctuary]].]]The [[story line]] of the game takes place twenty years after a few powerful heroes saved [[Sanctuary]] from the demonic onslaught in [[Diablo II]]. This has gone by largely unnoticed by the general population as most of those warriors who directly faced [[Hell]]'s armies (and were fortunate enough to survive) went mad from their experiences. Some people know that some sort of conflict took place, but for the most part the war against [[Diablo]] is a myth.

The [[Barbarian]]s gained their identity and cultural pride from protecting the Worldstone within [[Mount Arreat]]. To see it defiled by Baal and his minions, and then destroyed, tore out the heart of these proud people. They abandoned their homeland and became nomadic, wandering the lands of [[Sanctuary]] and pitching themselves into battle after battle in an effort to forget the pain of their shattered homeland.

What happened to [[Tyrael]] after he destroyed the [[Worldstone]] is unknown to everyone. Scholars like [[Deckard Cain]] anticipated a huge invasion of demonic forces as the protection from the [[High Heaven]]s and the [[Burning Hell]]s, but no invasion ever materialized. Cain has spent the last years trying to figure out what happened, and trying to prepare us for the inevitable onslaught.

We know from the [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=600 Diablo III cinematic] that a great comet of some importance is falling down on to the [[Tristram Cathedral]], and that some unlucky soul (if it's [[Leah]] or [[Cain]] isn't sure) is hit by it. [[Hell]]'s armies are amassing, and it isn't safe any more.
 
 

==Quests==
Not that much information is yet available in regards to [[quest]]s, but what is known is that the quest system will help players interact more with the '''[[lore]]''' of the game, but still be '''optional''', and not something you need to experience unless you so choose. [[Blizzard]] claim the quest system itself will be '''new'''. There will be the standard story-line quests, as well as optional random quests related to the game you are currently in and [[class]]-quests. The random quests will vary from game to game. The same [[location]] in the game might spawn a caravan needing protection, or a mouldy tome which contains a quest, or perhaps just a big bad [[monster]].
 
 

==Single Player and Multiplayer==
[[Image:Battle.net 2.0.jpg|right]]You will be able to play Diablo III both offline on your PC/Mac as well as online with friends. [[Jay Wilson]] has said on numerous occasions that the primary focus will be co-op multiplayer, but not excluding single player game. They want all the fans to meet up together as one community, and will make huge changes to the current setup. The preferred multiplayer system for [[Diablo III]] will be [[Battle.net 2.0]] and there will be '''NO LAN'''.

Besides the co-op, it will also be possible to fight versus other players.
 
 

===Battle.net 2.0===
Blizzard have promised very big changes in [[Battle.net 2.0]], and besides removing the [[LAN]] functionality, the idea is to encourage people to play online with [[Achievement]]s, handy friends/foes lists and community support. You can read more about confirmed Battle.net features here:
* [http://www.diii.net/articles/689867/definite-battlenet-20-features Definite Battle.net 2.0 Features]
 
 

===Player Killing===
[[PvP]] will be possible in [[Diablo III]], but not as it works in Diablo II. Players will no longer be victim of "unwanted PvP action".
 
 

==Other Changes==
Among the things that are not listed under their own headline, there are a few other things to highlight about Diablo III:
* The old {{iw|Mercenaries Diablo II Mercenaries}} are now called '''[[follower]]s''', and it's now possible to have more than one with you on your travels.
* Blizzard have not given a final decision if there will be a '''[[Hardcore]]''' mode in Diablo III or not, but [[Jay Wilson]] has said that he likes the idea and can't see any reasons why it should not be included.
* '''Corpses''' will no longer be left permanently. In the opening [[gameplay video]], the corpses stayed for just a few seconds before fading away, but was later increased to 20 seconds, and in the latest builds, there is no upper limit, but instead an upper limit of corpses (so older corpses fade out). The reason is that when the number of corpses amount, they will weigh down the PC running it significantly, since it retains physics from [[Havok]] while in the game.
* '''[[Chest]]s''' will no longer be locked.
 
 

==Release Information==
This is a collection of all information available pertaining to the release of Diablo. Including [[release date]], [[system requirements]], [[Beta Test|beta testing]], price/payment methods and age [[rating]].
 
 

=== Release Date ===
As usual, the [[Release Date|release date]] for any Blizzard production is kept under wraps for as long as possible. What is known is that [[Diablo III]] is ''behind'' [[StarCraft II]] in the development cycle. A StarCraft release for 2010 first half and a Diablo III release in '''2010/2011''' seems probable, and the [[BlizzCon 2009]] information also seems to indicate this.

Still, the level of polish makes it harder to estimate development time left. Any other dates or rumours are that -- rumours.

More information on the '''[[Diablo III release date]]''' article.
 
 

=== System Requirements ===
* Windows XP compatible
* Windows Vista compatible
* Mac OSX compatible
Read more on the [[Diablo III System Requirements]] page. Diablo III is made completely in 3D, using [[Havok]] physics engine, with a custom game engine made by [[Blizzard]]. The game is currently native to DirectX 9, and will not require DirectX 10 to run. The game will probably use a slightly higher level of system requirements than [[StarCraft II]], which also uses Havok & DirectX 9, and is the closest thing we can compare the game to. You can read more on StarCraft II's requirements and DirectX compatibilities as well as shader info here:
* [http://www.starcraftwire.net/articles/954/starcraft-2-graphics-requirements-confirmed Graphics Requirements Confirmed] - The most prominent part of the system requirements, the graphics requirements released from Blizzard document.
* [http://www.starcraftwire.net/articles/675/starcraft-2-system-requirements StarCraft II System Requirements] - System requirements analyse from available information.
* [http://www.starcraftwire.net/articles/735/kalos-chronicles Kalos' Chronicles] - Technical articles for StarCraft II.

Here is a Blizzard quote on the system specs: [http://ablegamers.com/Disabled-Gamers-News/AbleGamers-Interviews-the-Diablo-III-Team.html]
::'''''[[Jay Wilson]]:''' Currently we have no plans for specific DirectX 10 support. Right now are running a DirectX 9, and we run on a pretty broad range of systems, really fast. Overall, across-the-board Blizzard's goal is that all of our games support a broad range of systems. We don't jump up the system specs in any grand way. We have no intentions of being a high-end game, and certainly no intentions of being an exclusive DirectX 10 game at this time...''

::''We don't exactly know what the system specs are yet, but we'll try to keep them pretty low. We make a lot of decisions about what we do and do not put into our graphics, in order to keep the game running fast. One of the reasons why we talk a lot about art style, and how we focus a lot on art style, stylization of art over... when we do that it allows us to have a good looking game about falling back on technology, our technology does not have to carry us when we have such great art in the game.''

 
 

===Diablo Alpha Beta Testing===
As with the release date, a time for beta is currently unknown. General information on Blizzard beta tests can be seen on the '''[[Beta Test]]''' page.
 
 

===Retail Price===
The retail price for Diablo III is unknown and will be stated closer to release. It's likely that the game will be "boxed" (no monthly fees, just a one-off price) and priced similar to other AAA titles.
 
 

===Game Age Rating===
The '''[[rating]]''' of [[Diablo III]] is estimated to be aimed for gamers above the age of 15, while still trying to avoid USK 18+ in Germany, or other similar ratings that would severely hamper the sales of the game in that country. [[Blizzard]] are more likely to censor the game in affected countries than to avoid releasing it if the censorship is too harsh.
* '''America ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entertainment_Software_Rating_Board ERSB])''' - "M" Mature Rating (player should be at least 17 years old). No law enforcement.
* '''Europe ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PEGI PEGI])''' - 16+ (player should be at least 16 years old). No law enforcement (for most countries).
* '''Germany ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unterhaltungssoftware_Selbstkontrolle USK])''' - USK 16+ (player should be at least 16 years old). Law enforcement of USK.
* '''Read more''' in the '''[[rating]]s''' article.
 
 

===Copy Protection and DRM===
It's unknown what type of copy protection (DRM) will be used on Diablo III, but with the new Battle.net changes and new Battle.net accounts, the game will likely only use a very light form of copy protection since the license is associated with the account. Online play will most likely not require a DVD in the drive, and offline play is unknown.
 
 
 

==Who's in Charge?==
Naturally, [[Blizzard]] are the guys making Diablo III, but that isn't a surprise. The important people for this production is the relatively new Blizzard employee Diablo III Lead Designer [[Jay Wilson]], besides the regular team. For fans, you might want to keep a look out for [[Bashiok]], the new Diablo Community Manager and [[Leonard Boyarsky]] who is the Lead World Designer for Diablo III, and head of [[quest]]s & [[lore]] as well as designing the world of [[Sanctuary]].
 
 

==Expansions, MMO or Diablo Movie==
Whatever will come after [[Diablo III]] is unknown, but it seems apparent that Blizzard are confident [http://www.incgamers.com/Games/1935/features/90/Diablo-III-Inforview] that there '''WILL''' be expansions. They have mentioned that the story line will have a more "final" ending than in Diablo II, which possibly means to make it better for an expansion, or perhaps a future MMO or a [[Diablo movie]]. Regardless, [[Jay Wilson]] has said that there are lots of potential for expanding the universe. What types of media this will come in is unknown: books, comics, manga, expansions, games or a movie...

[[Mike Morhaime]] said that they would like to make '''Diablo III expansions annually'''[http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-3-will-have-several-expansions], and confirming plans for multiple expansions for the game.
 
 

==Further Information==
You can follow the links to each specific section for further details on Diablo III development and information. You can also use one of the following links for further information:
* {{wl|[http://www.diii.net/news Diablo III news]}} - The most coherent news listing for Diablo III.
* [[Media Coverage]] - All Interviews, Previews, Pictures, Videos and Articles from around the web.
* [[:Category:Basics|Diablo III Basics]] - A listing of articles with good information if you are new to Diablo III.
* [[Diablo III FAQ]] - Frequently Asked Questions
* [[Diablo 3 History]] - The history of Diablo III up until the announcement.

==References==
* [http://www.blizzard.com/us/press/080628.html Blizzard Press Release]

[[Category:Diablo III]]
[[Category:Basics]]
[[Category:Featured articles]]

Diablo 3 Basics

2010-10-11T03:00:59Z

Asteria: /* Character Classes */

[[Image:Diablo III Logo.jpg|left|200px]]
This is the '''Diablo 3 Basics''' page, which is the main '''Fact Sheet''' of known '''Diablo III''' information. This much anticipated sequel to Diablo and Diablo II was announced at [[Blizzard]]'s [[WWI 2008]] in Paris, during 27-28 June 2008. Regardless if you just heard that Diablo III is announced, or if you have been following some of the {{wl|[http://diablo.incgamers.com Diablo 3 news]}}, this page will get you up to speed!

If you are looking for the '''Basics Section''' of the wiki, you can find that in the '''[[:Category:Basics|Basics Category]]'''.

==Introduction==
Diablo III, while featured completely in '''3D''' with a 3D environment, will follow closely in Diablo II's track by using the classic isometric view, fast gameplay and randomised content for high replayability. Some changes have been made in order to make the game faster and more flexible as well as making players choose and employ tactics rather than mindless mouseclicking. Besides taking well learned lessons from WoW, the developers have been inspired by games such as ''Zelda'' and ''God of War''. Regardless, the game will be possible to play with a mouse alone, if a player so wishes (but you would be a lot less efficient).

Remember that if you're a newcomer to Diablo you can find more related articles in the '''[[:Category:Basics|Basics Category]]'''
 
 

== Character Classes ==

{|
! colspan="3" | Barbarian
|-
| [[File:Barbfemale.jpg|85px]]
| [[File:Barbmale.jpg|85px]]
| '''The [[Barbarian]]''' - The same character you played in [[Diablo II]], but with some [[Barbarian skills|new skills]], and backed with power of the [[ancient]]s.
* Skills - [[Berserker Skill Tree]] | [[Juggernaut Skill Tree]] | [[Battlemaster Skill Tree]] | All [[Barbarian skills]].
* Resource - [[Fury]]
|-
! colspan="3" | Monk
|-
| [[File:Monkfemale.jpg|85px]]
| [[File:Monkmale.jpg|85px]]
| '''The [[Monk]]''' - A new fellow from [[Ivgorod]]. Combining martial arts of our eastern cultures with a holy strike from the western disciplines he takes names and kicks in faces.
* Skills - [[Skill Tree A]] | [[Skill Tree B]] | [[Skill Tree C]] | All [[Monk skills]]
* Resource - [[Spirit]]
|-
! colspan="3" | Witch Doctor
|-
| [[File:Witchfemale.jpg|85px]]
| [[File:Witchmale.jpg|85px]]
| '''The [[Witch Doctor]]''' - A new class that comes from the jungle region of [[Teganze]], and uses [[Witch Doctor skills|voodoo magic]] to do his bidding. One of his highlights is the [[Wall of Zombies]] spell.
* Skills - [[Zombie Skill Tree]] | [[Spirit Skill Tree]] | [[Voodoo Skill Tree]] | All [[Witch Doctor skills]]
* Resource - [[Mana]]
|-
! colspan="3" | Wizard
|-
| [[File:Wizardfemale.jpg|85px]]
| [[File:Wizardmale.jpg|85px]]
| '''The [[Wizard]]''' - A new class that is a pure spell caster harnessing arcane and elemental magic to do her bidding. Very similar to the [[Sorcerer]] and [[Sorceress]] of previously Diablo games. One of the highlights is the [[Wizard_skills#Slow_Time|Slow Time]] spell which warps space and time, slowing nearby monsters and projectiles.
* Skills - [[Conjuring Skill Tree]] | [[Arcane Skill Tree]] | [[Storm Skill Tree]] | All [[Wizard skills]]
* Resource - [[Arcane Power]]
|-
! colspan="3" | Unknown
|-
|
|
| '''The [[Other classes]]''' - All known information about the one missing class.
|-
|}

Blizzard have confirmed that the game will ship with '''five''' character [[class]]es. '''Four''' classes have been revealed:
* '''The [[Barbarian]]''' - The same character you played in [[Diablo II]], but with some [[Barbarian skills|new skills]], and backed with power of the [[ancient]]s.
** [[Barbarian skills]] - All known skills.
** Resource - [[Fury]]
* '''The [[Monk]]''' - A new fellow from [[Ivgorod]]. Combining martial arts of our eastern cultures with a holy strike from the western disciplines he takes names and kicks in faces.
** [[Monk skills]] - All known skills.
** Resource - [[Spirit]]
* '''The [[Witch Doctor]]''' - A new class that comes from the jungle region of [[Teganze]], and uses [[Witch Doctor skills|voodoo magic]] to do his bidding. One of his highlights is the [[Wall of Zombies]] spell.
** [[Witch Doctor skills]] - All known Skills.
** Resource - [[Mana]]
* '''The [[Wizard]]''' - A new class that is a pure spell caster harnessing arcane and elemental magic to do her bidding. Very similar to the [[Sorcerer]] and [[Sorceress]] of previously Diablo games. One of the highlights is the [[Wizard_skills#Slow_Time|Slow Time]] spell which warps space and time, slowing nearby monsters and projectiles.
** [[Wizard skills]] - All known Skills.
** Resource - [[Arcane Power]]

* '''The [[Other classes]]''' - All known information about the one missing class.

New with Diablo III is the '''choice of gender''' for each class. It's not as customizable as the characters in popular MMO [[World of WarCraft]], but the developers have made it possible to choose a '''male or female''' character of the class they prefer.

The new maximum character level will be '''100''' instead of 99.
 
 

=== Skills ===
You can look at the above known class [[skills]] for detailed information about what will be available, but one big general change for character abilities is that you now have a skill bar instead of a potion bar. It works similar to WoW, and more skills can now be accessed easily. Read more about the [[potion]] changes below.

* A '''[[:Category:Skills|Full List of Skills]]''' of the class skills.
 
 

==== Skill Tree Respecs/Resets ====
In Diablo II, a character always had all their skills and stats as they were allocated. If you made any mistake, the only solution was to start over. There has not been a definite word on talent/skill respecs, but [[Jay Wilson]] has said that he didn't like that you were limited in the old system, and that regardless of how the skill system will look, respecs are probably going to be available.
 
 

====Stats/Attributes====
'''It's no longer possible to choose where to enter your own stat points.''' They will be automatically assigned every time you level up. The customization that this brought in Diablo II is now going to be moved to itemization among other ways. Have a look what kind of secondary attributes are influenced by the initial stats/attributes '''[[Attributes#Strength|Strength]]''', '''[[Attributes#Dexterity|Dexterity]]''', '''[[Attributes#Vitality|Vitality]]''' and '''[[Attributes#Willpower|Willpower]]'''.
*The '''[[Attributes|full list of attributes]]''' shows how attributes and secondary attributes interact.
 
 

==== Skill Runes ====
[[Rune]]s will work very different in Diablo III compared to {{iw|Rune Diablo II Runes}}, and is now part of the character customization. You will enter skill runes for your skills/spells, which will affect how the these work in the game. A multiplying rune might make your spell fire additional fireballs, another rune might make the blast radius bigger etc.
 
 

==Monsters==
[[Image:Goatmen surround a Siegebreaker.jpg|thumb|right|150px|[[Goatmen]] & [[Siegebreaker]].]]Diablo III will have a great array of '''[[monster]]s''', and they will employ more intelligent behaviour, and effects as well. There will be more 'mini-boss' encounters that make for more epic gameplay, an example is the [[Thousand Pounder]], who isn't really a [[boss]], but a unit type. Other 'effects' include skeletons with large shields that can block and protects archers, [[ghoul]]s that climb up sheer walls to attack you, or [[Grotesque]]s that explode into a hundred [[Lamprey]] monsters. We can expect many unique attack patterns and behaviours from the Diablo III monsters.

* '''The [[Monster|Monsters Article]]''' has much more information on the 35 known monsters.
* '''The [[:Category:Monsters|Full List of Monsters]]''' show what can currently be killed.
 
 

==Spectacular Deaths==
Diablo III promises to bring many different '''[[death|death animations]]''' for each killed enemy, as well as special death animations for [[critical hit]]s, and special fatalities by [[boss]] monsters when their hit would kill a player.

The '''[[death penalty]]''' will be a lot more lenient. People will no longer lose [[experience]] when dying. Naturally, if the [[Hardcore]] mode makes a return, a death will be permanent, but potentially possible for friends to loot the corpse. There will also be [[checkpoint]]s that automatically save the progress of a player, and when a character dies, he's transported to the nearest checkpoint.

==Difficulty Levels==

There are going to be three [[difficulty]] levels in Diablo 3, most likely called "normal," "nightmare," and "hell" as has become standard in the Diablo series. How much more difficult and what sort of variety the higher difficulty levels will add remains to be determined. Jay Wilson addressed this issue in a November 2009 interview. [http://diablofans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23550]
::''What are the differences in the difficulty levels in Diablo III other than just monsters doing more damage? ie: What reason will people have to play through these modes after having already beaten the main story of the game on an easier difficulty setting?
::'''Jay Wilson:''' We haven't really gotten into the difficulty settings a lot; we're still just working on the core content for the game at this point. The primary reason as to why a player would want to progress through the game, through the several difficulties, would be for more of a challenge.

::There will be also better item customization, for example a Level 100 character in a higher difficulty would see and wear [[items]] that a Level 30 character would not have a chance at seeing in the lower difficulty. Said items will also look and feel completely different whereas in Diablo II a lot of times you just had a remodel of the same old items with different names.

==Items==
[[Image:Barbarian swing.jpg|thumb|right|[[Barbarian]] swinging two magical axes.]]While the [[Category:Items|item]] system won't be identical to that of Diablo II, it will be very similar. '''[[Items]]''' will drop randomly and have random attributes. Some of the things that definitely changed:
* [[Runes]] no longer attach to weapons, and 'rune words' are '''completely removed'''. They are instead used to enhance your skills/spells.
* The [[inventory]] is now 'WoW-style' with '''one slot per item'''. No more 'inventory-tetris'.
* The [[stash]] is in the game, bigger this time, and will be possible to expand further.
** The dev team is discussing potentially making it a shared stash between your characters, or adding a mail system.
* Items will now drop '''per character''', and be invisible to other characters. They are still [[trade]]able, but you will never go a run without loot again.
* [[Known Items Listing|The Full List of Items]] contain all known items.
* [[Potion]]s are drastically changed, with some sort of limits. If it's less gained health/mana, or if it has a [[cooldown]] is unknown, but the old potion system is replaced by [[Health Globe]]s and the belt is replaced by a [[skill]] bar.
* There will be some new trading system ''in addition to'' the old one, possibly like the WoW [[Auction House]].
 
 

==NPCs==
[[Image:Cain-concept1.jpg|thumb|right|75px|[[Cain]]]]There is a small number of [[NPCs]] that are confirmed for Diablo III:
* [[Deckard Cain]] - Back to ask us to listen.
* [[Leah]] - Girl from the [[cinematic]]. Apparently located close to Deckard Cain, likely in [[Tristram]].
* [[Pablo DeSoto]] - Father of Leah. Close to his daughter, likely in [[Tristram]].
* [[Captain Rumford]] - This NPC was found in the small town area where new characters began the [[BlizzCon 2008]] demo.
* [[Mr. Meat Wagon]] - Unnamed NPC that dumped corpses unto a fire.
* [[Crying Ghost]] - First ever Quest NPC.
* [[Little Girl Ghost]] - Second ever Quest NPC.
* Speculated characters to appear in the game can be found on the [[NPC]] article.
 
 

==Locations==
[[Image:Sanctuary World Map.jpg|thumb|225px|[[world map|Sanctuary world map]], with locations noted.]]The [[world map]] of [[Sanctuary]] was actually released with the second Diablo game's manual, but a new and improved map has been made by Blizzard, outlining the continents and the major [[settlement]]s. Many of these locations will be re-visited in [[Diablo III]] including [[Tristram]]. Areas close by that were never visited in the previous games will also have a chance, like the [[Leoric Highlands]] and [[Westmarch]].

We have been shown detailed pictures of [[Skovos]] (the land of the [[Amazon]]s), as well as [[Caldeum]] and Tristram. Skovos is confirmed to be excluded from the game, but the level of detail they are putting in to the universe suggests either a big expansion pack, MMOs or a film.

Outdoor areas will be less randomised than dungeons, and the terrain will for the most part be static. Instead a lot of random scripted events will take place, some will even be really advanced. It can vary from an escort [[quest]], to a mouldy tome, or a big bad [[boss]] monster. You will also find interactive environments with dangerous traps and obstacles, and [[destructible]] elements. There will be "numerous" outdoor locations.
 
 

==Dungeons==
The only known dungeon of the game so far is the [[Forgotten Tombs]], which is seen on the [[gameplay video]]. It seems to be located adjacent to the [[Leoric Highlands]], and probably close to [[Tristram]] as well. Dungeons will be almost completely randomized, increasing replayability in the game. As a dungeon is a lot easier to randomize, these will be made different each time, and outdoor locations slightly more static. You will also find interactive environments with dangerous traps and obstacles, and [[destructible]] elements. There will be "numerous" dungeons.

<center>
<gallery>
Image:Screenshot 20.jpg|[[Dark Berserker]]s and a [[Grotesque]] in the [[Forgotten Tombs]].
Image:Screenshot 19.jpg|Several [[Walking Corpse]]s. [[Follower]]s can be seen as well.
Image:Screenshot 16.jpg|[[Witch Doctor]] who's [[Skull of Flame|flameskulling]] some [[Walking Corpse]]s.
</gallery>
</center>
 
 

==Transportation==
Most transportation in Diablo III will be on foot, as there will be '''no mounts''' in the game. On the other hand, we've heard the [[D3 team]] talk about [[Waypoint]], so they will likely return, and there is also less running after a [[death]] due to [[checkpoint]]s.
 
 

==Easter Eggs==
While no [[Easter Eggs]] have been confirmed, we can most likely expect some sort of surprise content in Diablo 3. However, it's not certain exactly what this will be. One thing is known and that is that all previous somewhat modern Blizzard games have had Easter eggs to some degree.
* Diablo II had its own [[Cow Level]].
* Blizzard have hinted at Easter eggs and secret levels.
 
 

===Cow Level===
The [[Cow Level]] is a very distinct piece of content in Diablo 2, but is as of yet unconfirmed for Diablo 3. Cows and Diablo have been closely linked in fan's minds since Diablo 1, and it's not unlikely that we'll get a secret Cow Level in Diablo 3 as well, even if it likely will be very different from the Diablo 2 version.
 
 

===Rainbow Level===
This is a rumour started by the [[art controversy]] (see below), and all the hub-hub about the colour in Diablo 3 that came after the announcement might inspire the dev team to make a rainbow level with unicorns and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carebear Carebears].
* [http://forums.diii.net/showthread.php?t=708777 Rainbow Level forum thread]
 
 

==Art Changes==
Some fans were very upset that [[Diablo III]] is seemingly full of much more colour than the predecessor [[Diablo II]]. While the settings in general now include a lot more colour, Blizzard argues that Diablo II was more colourful than people remember. Some fans have also expressed fears that Diablo III will become too much like [[World of WarCraft]]. You can read more about concerns and responses here:
* '''[[Art controversy|Diablo III Art Controversy]]'''
 
 

==Story Line==
[[Image:Cinematic 10.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Mystical comet overlooking a settlement in the western part of [[Sanctuary]].]]The [[story line]] of the game takes place twenty years after a few powerful heroes saved [[Sanctuary]] from the demonic onslaught in [[Diablo II]]. This has gone by largely unnoticed by the general population as most of those warriors who directly faced [[Hell]]'s armies (and were fortunate enough to survive) went mad from their experiences. Some people know that some sort of conflict took place, but for the most part the war against [[Diablo]] is a myth.

The [[Barbarian]]s gained their identity and cultural pride from protecting the Worldstone within [[Mount Arreat]]. To see it defiled by Baal and his minions, and then destroyed, tore out the heart of these proud people. They abandoned their homeland and became nomadic, wandering the lands of [[Sanctuary]] and pitching themselves into battle after battle in an effort to forget the pain of their shattered homeland.

What happened to [[Tyrael]] after he destroyed the [[Worldstone]] is unknown to everyone. Scholars like [[Deckard Cain]] anticipated a huge invasion of demonic forces as the protection from the [[High Heaven]]s and the [[Burning Hell]]s, but no invasion ever materialized. Cain has spent the last years trying to figure out what happened, and trying to prepare us for the inevitable onslaught.

We know from the [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=600 Diablo III cinematic] that a great comet of some importance is falling down on to the [[Tristram Cathedral]], and that some unlucky soul (if it's [[Leah]] or [[Cain]] isn't sure) is hit by it. [[Hell]]'s armies are amassing, and it isn't safe any more.
 
 

==Quests==
Not that much information is yet available in regards to [[quest]]s, but what is known is that the quest system will help players interact more with the '''[[lore]]''' of the game, but still be '''optional''', and not something you need to experience unless you so choose. [[Blizzard]] claim the quest system itself will be '''new'''. There will be the standard story-line quests, as well as optional random quests related to the game you are currently in and [[class]]-quests. The random quests will vary from game to game. The same [[location]] in the game might spawn a caravan needing protection, or a mouldy tome which contains a quest, or perhaps just a big bad [[monster]].
 
 

==Single Player and Multiplayer==
[[Image:Battle.net 2.0.jpg|right]]You will be able to play Diablo III both offline on your PC/Mac as well as online with friends. [[Jay Wilson]] has said on numerous occasions that the primary focus will be co-op multiplayer, but not excluding single player game. They want all the fans to meet up together as one community, and will make huge changes to the current setup. The preferred multiplayer system for [[Diablo III]] will be [[Battle.net 2.0]] and there will be '''NO LAN'''.

Besides the co-op, it will also be possible to fight versus other players.
 
 

===Battle.net 2.0===
Blizzard have promised very big changes in [[Battle.net 2.0]], and besides removing the [[LAN]] functionality, the idea is to encourage people to play online with [[Achievement]]s, handy friends/foes lists and community support. You can read more about confirmed Battle.net features here:
* [http://www.diii.net/articles/689867/definite-battlenet-20-features Definite Battle.net 2.0 Features]
 
 

===Player Killing===
[[PvP]] will be possible in [[Diablo III]], but not as it works in Diablo II. Players will no longer be victim of "unwanted PvP action".
 
 

==Other Changes==
Among the things that are not listed under their own headline, there are a few other things to highlight about Diablo III:
* The old {{iw|Mercenaries Diablo II Mercenaries}} are now called '''[[follower]]s''', and it's now possible to have more than one with you on your travels.
* Blizzard have not given a final decision if there will be a '''[[Hardcore]]''' mode in Diablo III or not, but [[Jay Wilson]] has said that he likes the idea and can't see any reasons why it should not be included.
* '''Corpses''' will no longer be left permanently. In the opening [[gameplay video]], the corpses stayed for just a few seconds before fading away, but was later increased to 20 seconds, and in the latest builds, there is no upper limit, but instead an upper limit of corpses (so older corpses fade out). The reason is that when the number of corpses amount, they will weigh down the PC running it significantly, since it retains physics from [[Havok]] while in the game.
* '''[[Chest]]s''' will no longer be locked.
 
 

==Release Information==
This is a collection of all information available pertaining to the release of Diablo. Including [[release date]], [[system requirements]], [[Beta Test|beta testing]], price/payment methods and age [[rating]].
 
 

=== Release Date ===
As usual, the [[Release Date|release date]] for any Blizzard production is kept under wraps for as long as possible. What is known is that [[Diablo III]] is ''behind'' [[StarCraft II]] in the development cycle. A StarCraft release for 2010 first half and a Diablo III release in '''2010/2011''' seems probable, and the [[BlizzCon 2009]] information also seems to indicate this.

Still, the level of polish makes it harder to estimate development time left. Any other dates or rumours are that -- rumours.

More information on the '''[[Diablo III release date]]''' article.
 
 

=== System Requirements ===
* Windows XP compatible
* Windows Vista compatible
* Mac OSX compatible
Read more on the [[Diablo III System Requirements]] page. Diablo III is made completely in 3D, using [[Havok]] physics engine, with a custom game engine made by [[Blizzard]]. The game is currently native to DirectX 9, and will not require DirectX 10 to run. The game will probably use a slightly higher level of system requirements than [[StarCraft II]], which also uses Havok & DirectX 9, and is the closest thing we can compare the game to. You can read more on StarCraft II's requirements and DirectX compatibilities as well as shader info here:
* [http://www.starcraftwire.net/articles/954/starcraft-2-graphics-requirements-confirmed Graphics Requirements Confirmed] - The most prominent part of the system requirements, the graphics requirements released from Blizzard document.
* [http://www.starcraftwire.net/articles/675/starcraft-2-system-requirements StarCraft II System Requirements] - System requirements analyse from available information.
* [http://www.starcraftwire.net/articles/735/kalos-chronicles Kalos' Chronicles] - Technical articles for StarCraft II.

Here is a Blizzard quote on the system specs: [http://ablegamers.com/Disabled-Gamers-News/AbleGamers-Interviews-the-Diablo-III-Team.html]
::'''''[[Jay Wilson]]:''' Currently we have no plans for specific DirectX 10 support. Right now are running a DirectX 9, and we run on a pretty broad range of systems, really fast. Overall, across-the-board Blizzard's goal is that all of our games support a broad range of systems. We don't jump up the system specs in any grand way. We have no intentions of being a high-end game, and certainly no intentions of being an exclusive DirectX 10 game at this time...''

::''We don't exactly know what the system specs are yet, but we'll try to keep them pretty low. We make a lot of decisions about what we do and do not put into our graphics, in order to keep the game running fast. One of the reasons why we talk a lot about art style, and how we focus a lot on art style, stylization of art over... when we do that it allows us to have a good looking game about falling back on technology, our technology does not have to carry us when we have such great art in the game.''

 
 

===Diablo Alpha Beta Testing===
As with the release date, a time for beta is currently unknown. General information on Blizzard beta tests can be seen on the '''[[Beta Test]]''' page.
 
 

===Retail Price===
The retail price for Diablo III is unknown and will be stated closer to release. It's likely that the game will be "boxed" (no monthly fees, just a one-off price) and priced similar to other AAA titles.
 
 

===Game Age Rating===
The '''[[rating]]''' of [[Diablo III]] is estimated to be aimed for gamers above the age of 15, while still trying to avoid USK 18+ in Germany, or other similar ratings that would severely hamper the sales of the game in that country. [[Blizzard]] are more likely to censor the game in affected countries than to avoid releasing it if the censorship is too harsh.
* '''America ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entertainment_Software_Rating_Board ERSB])''' - "M" Mature Rating (player should be at least 17 years old). No law enforcement.
* '''Europe ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PEGI PEGI])''' - 16+ (player should be at least 16 years old). No law enforcement (for most countries).
* '''Germany ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unterhaltungssoftware_Selbstkontrolle USK])''' - USK 16+ (player should be at least 16 years old). Law enforcement of USK.
* '''Read more''' in the '''[[rating]]s''' article.
 
 

===Copy Protection and DRM===
It's unknown what type of copy protection (DRM) will be used on Diablo III, but with the new Battle.net changes and new Battle.net accounts, the game will likely only use a very light form of copy protection since the license is associated with the account. Online play will most likely not require a DVD in the drive, and offline play is unknown.
 
 
 

==Who's in Charge?==
Naturally, [[Blizzard]] are the guys making Diablo III, but that isn't a surprise. The important people for this production is the relatively new Blizzard employee Diablo III Lead Designer [[Jay Wilson]], besides the regular team. For fans, you might want to keep a look out for [[Bashiok]], the new Diablo Community Manager and [[Leonard Boyarsky]] who is the Lead World Designer for Diablo III, and head of [[quest]]s & [[lore]] as well as designing the world of [[Sanctuary]].
 
 

==Expansions, MMO or Diablo Movie==
Whatever will come after [[Diablo III]] is unknown, but it seems apparent that Blizzard are confident [http://www.incgamers.com/Games/1935/features/90/Diablo-III-Inforview] that there '''WILL''' be expansions. They have mentioned that the story line will have a more "final" ending than in Diablo II, which possibly means to make it better for an expansion, or perhaps a future MMO or a [[Diablo movie]]. Regardless, [[Jay Wilson]] has said that there are lots of potential for expanding the universe. What types of media this will come in is unknown: books, comics, manga, expansions, games or a movie...

[[Mike Morhaime]] said that they would like to make '''Diablo III expansions annually'''[http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-3-will-have-several-expansions], and confirming plans for multiple expansions for the game.
 
 

==Further Information==
You can follow the links to each specific section for further details on Diablo III development and information. You can also use one of the following links for further information:
* {{wl|[http://www.diii.net/news Diablo III news]}} - The most coherent news listing for Diablo III.
* [[Media Coverage]] - All Interviews, Previews, Pictures, Videos and Articles from around the web.
* [[:Category:Basics|Diablo III Basics]] - A listing of articles with good information if you are new to Diablo III.
* [[Diablo III FAQ]] - Frequently Asked Questions
* [[Diablo 3 History]] - The history of Diablo III up until the announcement.

==References==
* [http://www.blizzard.com/us/press/080628.html Blizzard Press Release]

[[Category:Diablo III]]
[[Category:Basics]]
[[Category:Featured articles]]

File:Wizardmale.jpg

2010-10-11T02:55:49Z

Asteria: Diablo 3 Male Wizard

Diablo 3 Male Wizard

File:Wizardfemale.jpg

2010-10-11T02:55:26Z

Asteria: Diablo 3 Female Wizard

Diablo 3 Female Wizard

File:Witchmale.jpg

2010-10-11T02:51:12Z

Asteria: Diablo 3 Male Witch Doctor

Diablo 3 Male Witch Doctor

File:Witchfemale.jpg

2010-10-11T02:50:40Z

Asteria: Diablo 3 Female Witch Doctor

Diablo 3 Female Witch Doctor

File:Monkmale.jpg

2010-10-11T02:46:13Z

Asteria: Diablo 3 Male Monk

Diablo 3 Male Monk

File:Monkfemale.jpg

2010-10-11T02:45:48Z

Asteria: Diablo 3 Female Monk

Diablo 3 Female Monk

File:Barbmale.jpg

2010-10-11T02:17:38Z

Asteria: Diablo 3 Male Barbarian

Diablo 3 Male Barbarian

File:Barbfemale.jpg

2010-10-10T00:46:41Z

Asteria: Diablo 3 Barbarian female

Diablo 3 Barbarian female

Diablo 3 Basics

2010-10-09T01:18:53Z

Asteria: class resources added

[[Image:Diablo III Logo.jpg|left|200px]]
This is the '''Diablo 3 Basics''' page, which is the main '''Fact Sheet''' of known '''Diablo III''' information. This much anticipated sequel to Diablo and Diablo II was announced at [[Blizzard]]'s [[WWI 2008]] in Paris, during 27-28 June 2008. Regardless if you just heard that Diablo III is announced, or if you have been following some of the {{wl|[http://diablo.incgamers.com Diablo 3 news]}}, this page will get you up to speed!

If you are looking for the '''Basics Section''' of the wiki, you can find that in the '''[[:Category:Basics|Basics Category]]'''.

==Introduction==
Diablo III, while featured completely in '''3D''' with a 3D environment, will follow closely in Diablo II's track by using the classic isometric view, fast gameplay and randomised content for high replayability. Some changes have been made in order to make the game faster and more flexible as well as making players choose and employ tactics rather than mindless mouseclicking. Besides taking well learned lessons from WoW, the developers have been inspired by games such as ''Zelda'' and ''God of War''. Regardless, the game will be possible to play with a mouse alone, if a player so wishes (but you would be a lot less efficient).

Remember that if you're a newcomer to Diablo you can find more related articles in the '''[[:Category:Basics|Basics Category]]'''
 
 

== Character Classes ==
[[Image:Screenshot 8.jpg|300px|right|thumb|[[Barbarian]] hammering.]]
[[Image:Screenshot 16.jpg|300px|right|thumb|[[Witch Doctor]] is [[Skull of Flame|flameskulling]].]]Blizzard have confirmed that the game will ship with '''five''' character [[class]]es. '''Four''' classes have been revealed:
* '''The [[Barbarian]]''' - The same character you played in [[Diablo II]], but with some [[Barbarian skills|new skills]], and backed with power of the [[ancient]]s.
** [[Barbarian skills]] - All known skills.
** Resource - [[Fury]]
* '''The [[Monk]]''' - A new fellow from [[Ivgorod]]. Combining martial arts of our eastern cultures with a holy strike from the western disciplines he takes names and kicks in faces.
** [[Monk skills]] - All known skills.
** Resource - [[Spirit]]
* '''The [[Witch Doctor]]''' - A new class that comes from the jungle region of [[Teganze]], and uses [[Witch Doctor skills|voodoo magic]] to do his bidding. One of his highlights is the [[Wall of Zombies]] spell.
** [[Witch Doctor skills]] - All known Skills.
** Resource - [[Mana]]
* '''The [[Wizard]]''' - A new class that is a pure spell caster harnessing arcane and elemental magic to do her bidding. Very similar to the [[Sorcerer]] and [[Sorceress]] of previously Diablo games. One of the highlights is the [[Wizard_skills#Slow_Time|Slow Time]] spell which warps space and time, slowing nearby monsters and projectiles.
** [[Wizard skills]] - All known Skills.
** Resource - [[Arcane Power]]

* '''The [[Other classes]]''' - All known information about the one missing class.

New with Diablo III is the '''choice of gender''' for each class. It's not as customizable as the characters in popular MMO [[World of WarCraft]], but the developers have made it possible to choose a '''male or female''' character of the class they prefer.

The new maximum character level will be '''100''' instead of 99.
 
 

=== Skills ===
You can look at the above known class [[skills]] for detailed information about what will be available, but one big general change for character abilities is that you now have a skill bar instead of a potion bar. It works similar to WoW, and more skills can now be accessed easily. Read more about the [[potion]] changes below.

* A '''[[:Category:Skills|Full List of Skills]]''' of the class skills.
 
 

==== Skill Tree Respecs/Resets ====
In Diablo II, a character always had all their skills and stats as they were allocated. If you made any mistake, the only solution was to start over. There has not been a definite word on talent/skill respecs, but [[Jay Wilson]] has said that he didn't like that you were limited in the old system, and that regardless of how the skill system will look, respecs are probably going to be available.
 
 

====Stats/Attributes====
'''It's no longer possible to choose where to enter your own stat points.''' They will be automatically assigned every time you level up. The customization that this brought in Diablo II is now going to be moved to itemization among other ways. Have a look what kind of secondary attributes are influenced by the initial stats/attributes '''[[Attributes#Strength|Strength]]''', '''[[Attributes#Dexterity|Dexterity]]''', '''[[Attributes#Vitality|Vitality]]''' and '''[[Attributes#Willpower|Willpower]]'''.
*The '''[[Attributes|full list of attributes]]''' shows how attributes and secondary attributes interact.
 
 

==== Skill Runes ====
[[Rune]]s will work very different in Diablo III compared to {{iw|Rune Diablo II Runes}}, and is now part of the character customization. You will enter skill runes for your skills/spells, which will affect how the these work in the game. A multiplying rune might make your spell fire additional fireballs, another rune might make the blast radius bigger etc.
 
 

==Monsters==
[[Image:Goatmen surround a Siegebreaker.jpg|thumb|right|150px|[[Goatmen]] & [[Siegebreaker]].]]Diablo III will have a great array of '''[[monster]]s''', and they will employ more intelligent behaviour, and effects as well. There will be more 'mini-boss' encounters that make for more epic gameplay, an example is the [[Thousand Pounder]], who isn't really a [[boss]], but a unit type. Other 'effects' include skeletons with large shields that can block and protects archers, [[ghoul]]s that climb up sheer walls to attack you, or [[Grotesque]]s that explode into a hundred [[Lamprey]] monsters. We can expect many unique attack patterns and behaviours from the Diablo III monsters.

* '''The [[Monster|Monsters Article]]''' has much more information on the 35 known monsters.
* '''The [[:Category:Monsters|Full List of Monsters]]''' show what can currently be killed.
 
 

==Spectacular Deaths==
Diablo III promises to bring many different '''[[death|death animations]]''' for each killed enemy, as well as special death animations for [[critical hit]]s, and special fatalities by [[boss]] monsters when their hit would kill a player.

The '''[[death penalty]]''' will be a lot more lenient. People will no longer lose [[experience]] when dying. Naturally, if the [[Hardcore]] mode makes a return, a death will be permanent, but potentially possible for friends to loot the corpse. There will also be [[checkpoint]]s that automatically save the progress of a player, and when a character dies, he's transported to the nearest checkpoint.

==Difficulty Levels==

There are going to be three [[difficulty]] levels in Diablo 3, most likely called "normal," "nightmare," and "hell" as has become standard in the Diablo series. How much more difficult and what sort of variety the higher difficulty levels will add remains to be determined. Jay Wilson addressed this issue in a November 2009 interview. [http://diablofans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23550]
::''What are the differences in the difficulty levels in Diablo III other than just monsters doing more damage? ie: What reason will people have to play through these modes after having already beaten the main story of the game on an easier difficulty setting?
::'''Jay Wilson:''' We haven't really gotten into the difficulty settings a lot; we're still just working on the core content for the game at this point. The primary reason as to why a player would want to progress through the game, through the several difficulties, would be for more of a challenge.

::There will be also better item customization, for example a Level 100 character in a higher difficulty would see and wear [[items]] that a Level 30 character would not have a chance at seeing in the lower difficulty. Said items will also look and feel completely different whereas in Diablo II a lot of times you just had a remodel of the same old items with different names.

==Items==
[[Image:Barbarian swing.jpg|thumb|right|[[Barbarian]] swinging two magical axes.]]While the [[Category:Items|item]] system won't be identical to that of Diablo II, it will be very similar. '''[[Items]]''' will drop randomly and have random attributes. Some of the things that definitely changed:
* [[Runes]] no longer attach to weapons, and 'rune words' are '''completely removed'''. They are instead used to enhance your skills/spells.
* The [[inventory]] is now 'WoW-style' with '''one slot per item'''. No more 'inventory-tetris'.
* The [[stash]] is in the game, bigger this time, and will be possible to expand further.
** The dev team is discussing potentially making it a shared stash between your characters, or adding a mail system.
* Items will now drop '''per character''', and be invisible to other characters. They are still [[trade]]able, but you will never go a run without loot again.
* [[Known Items Listing|The Full List of Items]] contain all known items.
* [[Potion]]s are drastically changed, with some sort of limits. If it's less gained health/mana, or if it has a [[cooldown]] is unknown, but the old potion system is replaced by [[Health Globe]]s and the belt is replaced by a [[skill]] bar.
* There will be some new trading system ''in addition to'' the old one, possibly like the WoW [[Auction House]].
 
 

==NPCs==
[[Image:Cain-concept1.jpg|thumb|right|75px|[[Cain]]]]There is a small number of [[NPCs]] that are confirmed for Diablo III:
* [[Deckard Cain]] - Back to ask us to listen.
* [[Leah]] - Girl from the [[cinematic]]. Apparently located close to Deckard Cain, likely in [[Tristram]].
* [[Pablo DeSoto]] - Father of Leah. Close to his daughter, likely in [[Tristram]].
* [[Captain Rumford]] - This NPC was found in the small town area where new characters began the [[BlizzCon 2008]] demo.
* [[Mr. Meat Wagon]] - Unnamed NPC that dumped corpses unto a fire.
* [[Crying Ghost]] - First ever Quest NPC.
* [[Little Girl Ghost]] - Second ever Quest NPC.
* Speculated characters to appear in the game can be found on the [[NPC]] article.
 
 

==Locations==
[[Image:Sanctuary World Map.jpg|thumb|225px|[[world map|Sanctuary world map]], with locations noted.]]The [[world map]] of [[Sanctuary]] was actually released with the second Diablo game's manual, but a new and improved map has been made by Blizzard, outlining the continents and the major [[settlement]]s. Many of these locations will be re-visited in [[Diablo III]] including [[Tristram]]. Areas close by that were never visited in the previous games will also have a chance, like the [[Leoric Highlands]] and [[Westmarch]].

We have been shown detailed pictures of [[Skovos]] (the land of the [[Amazon]]s), as well as [[Caldeum]] and Tristram. Skovos is confirmed to be excluded from the game, but the level of detail they are putting in to the universe suggests either a big expansion pack, MMOs or a film.

Outdoor areas will be less randomised than dungeons, and the terrain will for the most part be static. Instead a lot of random scripted events will take place, some will even be really advanced. It can vary from an escort [[quest]], to a mouldy tome, or a big bad [[boss]] monster. You will also find interactive environments with dangerous traps and obstacles, and [[destructible]] elements. There will be "numerous" outdoor locations.
 
 

==Dungeons==
The only known dungeon of the game so far is the [[Forgotten Tombs]], which is seen on the [[gameplay video]]. It seems to be located adjacent to the [[Leoric Highlands]], and probably close to [[Tristram]] as well. Dungeons will be almost completely randomized, increasing replayability in the game. As a dungeon is a lot easier to randomize, these will be made different each time, and outdoor locations slightly more static. You will also find interactive environments with dangerous traps and obstacles, and [[destructible]] elements. There will be "numerous" dungeons.

<center>
<gallery>
Image:Screenshot 20.jpg|[[Dark Berserker]]s and a [[Grotesque]] in the [[Forgotten Tombs]].
Image:Screenshot 19.jpg|Several [[Walking Corpse]]s. [[Follower]]s can be seen as well.
Image:Screenshot 16.jpg|[[Witch Doctor]] who's [[Skull of Flame|flameskulling]] some [[Walking Corpse]]s.
</gallery>
</center>
 
 

==Transportation==
Most transportation in Diablo III will be on foot, as there will be '''no mounts''' in the game. On the other hand, we've heard the [[D3 team]] talk about [[Waypoint]], so they will likely return, and there is also less running after a [[death]] due to [[checkpoint]]s.
 
 

==Easter Eggs==
While no [[Easter Eggs]] have been confirmed, we can most likely expect some sort of surprise content in Diablo 3. However, it's not certain exactly what this will be. One thing is known and that is that all previous somewhat modern Blizzard games have had Easter eggs to some degree.
* Diablo II had its own [[Cow Level]].
* Blizzard have hinted at Easter eggs and secret levels.
 
 

===Cow Level===
The [[Cow Level]] is a very distinct piece of content in Diablo 2, but is as of yet unconfirmed for Diablo 3. Cows and Diablo have been closely linked in fan's minds since Diablo 1, and it's not unlikely that we'll get a secret Cow Level in Diablo 3 as well, even if it likely will be very different from the Diablo 2 version.
 
 

===Rainbow Level===
This is a rumour started by the [[art controversy]] (see below), and all the hub-hub about the colour in Diablo 3 that came after the announcement might inspire the dev team to make a rainbow level with unicorns and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carebear Carebears].
* [http://forums.diii.net/showthread.php?t=708777 Rainbow Level forum thread]
 
 

==Art Changes==
Some fans were very upset that [[Diablo III]] is seemingly full of much more colour than the predecessor [[Diablo II]]. While the settings in general now include a lot more colour, Blizzard argues that Diablo II was more colourful than people remember. Some fans have also expressed fears that Diablo III will become too much like [[World of WarCraft]]. You can read more about concerns and responses here:
* '''[[Art controversy|Diablo III Art Controversy]]'''
 
 

==Story Line==
[[Image:Cinematic 10.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Mystical comet overlooking a settlement in the western part of [[Sanctuary]].]]The [[story line]] of the game takes place twenty years after a few powerful heroes saved [[Sanctuary]] from the demonic onslaught in [[Diablo II]]. This has gone by largely unnoticed by the general population as most of those warriors who directly faced [[Hell]]'s armies (and were fortunate enough to survive) went mad from their experiences. Some people know that some sort of conflict took place, but for the most part the war against [[Diablo]] is a myth.

The [[Barbarian]]s gained their identity and cultural pride from protecting the Worldstone within [[Mount Arreat]]. To see it defiled by Baal and his minions, and then destroyed, tore out the heart of these proud people. They abandoned their homeland and became nomadic, wandering the lands of [[Sanctuary]] and pitching themselves into battle after battle in an effort to forget the pain of their shattered homeland.

What happened to [[Tyrael]] after he destroyed the [[Worldstone]] is unknown to everyone. Scholars like [[Deckard Cain]] anticipated a huge invasion of demonic forces as the protection from the [[High Heaven]]s and the [[Burning Hell]]s, but no invasion ever materialized. Cain has spent the last years trying to figure out what happened, and trying to prepare us for the inevitable onslaught.

We know from the [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=600 Diablo III cinematic] that a great comet of some importance is falling down on to the [[Tristram Cathedral]], and that some unlucky soul (if it's [[Leah]] or [[Cain]] isn't sure) is hit by it. [[Hell]]'s armies are amassing, and it isn't safe any more.
 
 

==Quests==
Not that much information is yet available in regards to [[quest]]s, but what is known is that the quest system will help players interact more with the '''[[lore]]''' of the game, but still be '''optional''', and not something you need to experience unless you so choose. [[Blizzard]] claim the quest system itself will be '''new'''. There will be the standard story-line quests, as well as optional random quests related to the game you are currently in and [[class]]-quests. The random quests will vary from game to game. The same [[location]] in the game might spawn a caravan needing protection, or a mouldy tome which contains a quest, or perhaps just a big bad [[monster]].
 
 

==Single Player and Multiplayer==
[[Image:Battle.net 2.0.jpg|right]]You will be able to play Diablo III both offline on your PC/Mac as well as online with friends. [[Jay Wilson]] has said on numerous occasions that the primary focus will be co-op multiplayer, but not excluding single player game. They want all the fans to meet up together as one community, and will make huge changes to the current setup. The preferred multiplayer system for [[Diablo III]] will be [[Battle.net 2.0]] and there will be '''NO LAN'''.

Besides the co-op, it will also be possible to fight versus other players.
 
 

===Battle.net 2.0===
Blizzard have promised very big changes in [[Battle.net 2.0]], and besides removing the [[LAN]] functionality, the idea is to encourage people to play online with [[Achievement]]s, handy friends/foes lists and community support. You can read more about confirmed Battle.net features here:
* [http://www.diii.net/articles/689867/definite-battlenet-20-features Definite Battle.net 2.0 Features]
 
 

===Player Killing===
[[PvP]] will be possible in [[Diablo III]], but not as it works in Diablo II. Players will no longer be victim of "unwanted PvP action".
 
 

==Other Changes==
Among the things that are not listed under their own headline, there are a few other things to highlight about Diablo III:
* The old {{iw|Mercenaries Diablo II Mercenaries}} are now called '''[[follower]]s''', and it's now possible to have more than one with you on your travels.
* Blizzard have not given a final decision if there will be a '''[[Hardcore]]''' mode in Diablo III or not, but [[Jay Wilson]] has said that he likes the idea and can't see any reasons why it should not be included.
* '''Corpses''' will no longer be left permanently. In the opening [[gameplay video]], the corpses stayed for just a few seconds before fading away, but was later increased to 20 seconds, and in the latest builds, there is no upper limit, but instead an upper limit of corpses (so older corpses fade out). The reason is that when the number of corpses amount, they will weigh down the PC running it significantly, since it retains physics from [[Havok]] while in the game.
* '''[[Chest]]s''' will no longer be locked.
 
 

==Release Information==
This is a collection of all information available pertaining to the release of Diablo. Including [[release date]], [[system requirements]], [[Beta Test|beta testing]], price/payment methods and age [[rating]].
 
 

=== Release Date ===
As usual, the [[Release Date|release date]] for any Blizzard production is kept under wraps for as long as possible. What is known is that [[Diablo III]] is ''behind'' [[StarCraft II]] in the development cycle. A StarCraft release for 2010 first half and a Diablo III release in '''2010/2011''' seems probable, and the [[BlizzCon 2009]] information also seems to indicate this.

Still, the level of polish makes it harder to estimate development time left. Any other dates or rumours are that -- rumours.

More information on the '''[[Diablo III release date]]''' article.
 
 

=== System Requirements ===
* Windows XP compatible
* Windows Vista compatible
* Mac OSX compatible
Read more on the [[Diablo III System Requirements]] page. Diablo III is made completely in 3D, using [[Havok]] physics engine, with a custom game engine made by [[Blizzard]]. The game is currently native to DirectX 9, and will not require DirectX 10 to run. The game will probably use a slightly higher level of system requirements than [[StarCraft II]], which also uses Havok & DirectX 9, and is the closest thing we can compare the game to. You can read more on StarCraft II's requirements and DirectX compatibilities as well as shader info here:
* [http://www.starcraftwire.net/articles/954/starcraft-2-graphics-requirements-confirmed Graphics Requirements Confirmed] - The most prominent part of the system requirements, the graphics requirements released from Blizzard document.
* [http://www.starcraftwire.net/articles/675/starcraft-2-system-requirements StarCraft II System Requirements] - System requirements analyse from available information.
* [http://www.starcraftwire.net/articles/735/kalos-chronicles Kalos' Chronicles] - Technical articles for StarCraft II.

Here is a Blizzard quote on the system specs: [http://ablegamers.com/Disabled-Gamers-News/AbleGamers-Interviews-the-Diablo-III-Team.html]
::'''''[[Jay Wilson]]:''' Currently we have no plans for specific DirectX 10 support. Right now are running a DirectX 9, and we run on a pretty broad range of systems, really fast. Overall, across-the-board Blizzard's goal is that all of our games support a broad range of systems. We don't jump up the system specs in any grand way. We have no intentions of being a high-end game, and certainly no intentions of being an exclusive DirectX 10 game at this time...''

::''We don't exactly know what the system specs are yet, but we'll try to keep them pretty low. We make a lot of decisions about what we do and do not put into our graphics, in order to keep the game running fast. One of the reasons why we talk a lot about art style, and how we focus a lot on art style, stylization of art over... when we do that it allows us to have a good looking game about falling back on technology, our technology does not have to carry us when we have such great art in the game.''

 
 

===Diablo Alpha Beta Testing===
As with the release date, a time for beta is currently unknown. General information on Blizzard beta tests can be seen on the '''[[Beta Test]]''' page.
 
 

===Retail Price===
The retail price for Diablo III is unknown and will be stated closer to release. It's likely that the game will be "boxed" (no monthly fees, just a one-off price) and priced similar to other AAA titles.
 
 

===Game Age Rating===
The '''[[rating]]''' of [[Diablo III]] is estimated to be aimed for gamers above the age of 15, while still trying to avoid USK 18+ in Germany, or other similar ratings that would severely hamper the sales of the game in that country. [[Blizzard]] are more likely to censor the game in affected countries than to avoid releasing it if the censorship is too harsh.
* '''America ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entertainment_Software_Rating_Board ERSB])''' - "M" Mature Rating (player should be at least 17 years old). No law enforcement.
* '''Europe ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PEGI PEGI])''' - 16+ (player should be at least 16 years old). No law enforcement (for most countries).
* '''Germany ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unterhaltungssoftware_Selbstkontrolle USK])''' - USK 16+ (player should be at least 16 years old). Law enforcement of USK.
* '''Read more''' in the '''[[rating]]s''' article.
 
 

===Copy Protection and DRM===
It's unknown what type of copy protection (DRM) will be used on Diablo III, but with the new Battle.net changes and new Battle.net accounts, the game will likely only use a very light form of copy protection since the license is associated with the account. Online play will most likely not require a DVD in the drive, and offline play is unknown.
 
 
 

==Who's in Charge?==
Naturally, [[Blizzard]] are the guys making Diablo III, but that isn't a surprise. The important people for this production is the relatively new Blizzard employee Diablo III Lead Designer [[Jay Wilson]], besides the regular team. For fans, you might want to keep a look out for [[Bashiok]], the new Diablo Community Manager and [[Leonard Boyarsky]] who is the Lead World Designer for Diablo III, and head of [[quest]]s & [[lore]] as well as designing the world of [[Sanctuary]].
 
 

==Expansions, MMO or Diablo Movie==
Whatever will come after [[Diablo III]] is unknown, but it seems apparent that Blizzard are confident [http://www.incgamers.com/Games/1935/features/90/Diablo-III-Inforview] that there '''WILL''' be expansions. They have mentioned that the story line will have a more "final" ending than in Diablo II, which possibly means to make it better for an expansion, or perhaps a future MMO or a [[Diablo movie]]. Regardless, [[Jay Wilson]] has said that there are lots of potential for expanding the universe. What types of media this will come in is unknown: books, comics, manga, expansions, games or a movie...

[[Mike Morhaime]] said that they would like to make '''Diablo III expansions annually'''[http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-3-will-have-several-expansions], and confirming plans for multiple expansions for the game.
 
 

==Further Information==
You can follow the links to each specific section for further details on Diablo III development and information. You can also use one of the following links for further information:
* {{wl|[http://www.diii.net/news Diablo III news]}} - The most coherent news listing for Diablo III.
* [[Media Coverage]] - All Interviews, Previews, Pictures, Videos and Articles from around the web.
* [[:Category:Basics|Diablo III Basics]] - A listing of articles with good information if you are new to Diablo III.
* [[Diablo III FAQ]] - Frequently Asked Questions
* [[Diablo 3 History]] - The history of Diablo III up until the announcement.

==References==
* [http://www.blizzard.com/us/press/080628.html Blizzard Press Release]

[[Category:Diablo III]]
[[Category:Basics]]
[[Category:Featured articles]]

Monster

2010-10-07T16:24:01Z

Asteria: /* Special Death Animations */

'''Monsters''' are one of the main attractions in [[Diablo III]], or at least the opportunity to kill them is. See the [[:Category:Monsters|Monsters Category]] for a listing of all the known monsters in ''Diablo III''. There is also a brief list below. In addition to monsters, there is more of the basic Diablo III information available in the [[Diablo 3 Basics]] article.

[[Boss]]es and [[champion]]s are found in Diablo 3 as they were in the previous games in the series, and are the real focus of most reward/difficulty to be found during combat.

<div style="float:right; clear:right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;"> 
__TOC__
</div>
==Development==
[[Image:Mon-siegebreaker1.jpg|thumb|150px|The [[Siegebreaker Assault Beast|Siegebreaker]] eyes his next victim.]]
The D3 team has created a huge variety of monsters for our slaughtering pleasure, and the denizens of the underworld are customized, personalized, and quite versatile. Bosses have been greatly upgraded in appearance and size, and the AI has been improved as well.

As the [[D3 Team]] describes it, the monsters and characters evolve at the same time, feeding off of each other. Jay Wilson described this process in a December 2008 interview.[http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?pager.offset=2&cId=3172030&p=]

{{clear-left}}::"...the monster design. As we get further and further into the game, our goal is to make monsters that we can't figure out how the player can defeat [with the existing skills] and give the player the tools they need to defeat them. So the design of the monsters has a direct relationship to the design of the classes. That's kind of an ongoing thing; we [decide] "Let's create a monster that has really debilitating rooting attacks that just get you stuck when you encounter them." Then we see that this really screws with the Barbarian, so we give him a skill that lets him break out of roots so that he can counter that. Those things are interesting and allow for the player to have a broader, deeper character. On the other hand, we don't want to go too far -- a lot of mechanics of ''World of WarCraft'' are based heavily on control, and we want to make sure that Diablo 3 stays mostly a combat game based mostly on attacks.

In an interview from October 2009, Leonard Boyarsky described the monster design process in more detail. [http://hellforge.gameriot.com/blogs/Hellforge/Diablo-III-The-Lore-of-the-World-An-Interview-with-Leonard-Boyarsky/page1]
::'''Leonard Boyarsky: '''A lot of the monster design stems from what is needed from a gameplay perspective. So different guys from our team from different disciplines like art, design, effects… will get together and will call a strike team and will really kind of brainstorm what would be cool to fit this niche in the game that we know we need. In the broadest sense we’ll know we’ll need let’s say a ranged monster, we’ll know we’ll need a monster that casts buffs on other monsters, and how can we bring something original to that. How can we make that an interesting character, or interesting monster. And then, a lot of the times the artists will give a personality or a kind of feel to those monsters and then we’ll come in and work with them on the lore.

::What we wanna do for a lot of the stuff is decide whether it’s from the lore side of the demons – whether it’s naturally occurring, and then we’ll try to come up with backgrounds for those different things. And sometimes, we’ll have the idea for, well, you’re in this area so this is the kind of... from a lore standpoint this is the kind of monsters or the kind of animals that you’d encounter, but we really don’t put any kind of requirements in terms of the gameplay of them. We could say, “Oh, you’re gonna run into a goatman here, or whatever” and then they will be able to run with that, because it’s pretty wide open, you know you can do a lot of different stuff with the characters.

==Classifications==

We're grouping monsters as they were sorted in Diablo II, as [[Animals]], [[Demons]], or [[Undead]]. At this point, this is purely for ease of organization. It's not known how monsters will be grouped in the final game, and/or if the familiar aspects of their types, such as undead taking extra damage from blunt weapons, will be retained in Diablo III. This information will be added to the wiki as soon as Blizzard makes it available. Consider all these classifications as tentative, for now.

===Classification by Function===

The Diablo design team classifies monsters by their function, with all monsters grouped into a few types, depending on their AI. The design goal is to group different types by how they best cooperate with each other, and you'll see the same types of monsters together in different areas throughout the game.

* '''Swarmer:''' Weak. Typically melee. 
It's a lot of fun to fight tons of little monsters at once. These function basically as "health walls," giving the players something to kill and gather health orbs from. They're not really meant to be dangerous.

* '''Ranged:''' Projectile speed. Arc. Direct. 
Most dangerous type other than bosses, since they can all attack you at once. Unlike melee enemies. Ranged may employ some evasive movement AI as well, rather than just running in to die like swarmers.

* '''Lieutenant:''' Resurrecting. Buff. Spawners. 
These are higher level monsters that can cast spells or share abilities with the swarmers and ranged lesser monsters. They can resurrect, buff, spawn, etc. They're not in large numbers, but are high priority targets.

* '''Elite:''' Tough. Stronger attacks. Or both. 
Designed to make the player pause and think. High damage attack, high hit points, etc. Something different. Scary and dangerous, more so than the lieutenant.

* '''AOE:''' (Area of Effect). Point blank, line, radial, cone. 
Area of Denial characters. Change the "game space." Set the ground on fire, make player move. Mix up the gameplay. The description terms refer to the types of shapes their spells can create, thus forcing the player to avoid or play differently than normal.

*''' Weakener:''' Debuff. Slow. Drainer. 
Kind of like Lieutenants, but they make swarmers and ranged guys more threatening.

* '''One offs:''' Sleeper, Alarm, Bee Hive, Linked, Sapper, Thief 
Various monsters that have cool abilities. Jay Wilson purposely didn't explain what they were, saying he wanted fans to have fun debating them.

==Monster Types==
It's not yet known how monsters are classified in ''Diablo III''. There are monsters seen in the early screenshots and gameplay movie that look to be animals, and quite a few undead, and others that might be demons, but there's no telling if that ''Diablo II'' classification system will be reused in ''Diablo III''. We're tentatively referring to the monsters by their apparent demon/undead/animal genus, for the sake of easier organization, but do not take that as evidence that they'll be sorted by those types in the game.

==Resistances and Immunities==

The D3 Team is not planning to grant many immunities to monsters in Diablo 3. They want enough resistances to require characters to use more than one type of attack all the time, but they don't want to make some monsters too hard for particular characters to deal with. Jay Wilson elaborated on this in a November 2009 interview. [http://diablofans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23550]
::'''Jay Wilson:''' We aren't looking to have full immunities or anything of the sort; however we are considering keeping one-element immunities on enemies. Because of the way our skill system works it's almost impossible to build a character that won't have some alternate skill to attack an enemy. So then it becomes an interesting use of a skill or skills that you may not be using all the time. We think that's interesting and fun gameplay, to have to adapt to situations. The adaptation just shouldn't be realizing your character or class is broken and you have to run away or you need to get in a multiplayer game. Those are things we intend to avoid forcing the player into.

==Bosses==
[[Image:Mon-thousand-pounder1.jpg|thumb|300px|Thousand Pounder. A boss!]]
From what players saw during the Blizzcon 2008 and 2009 demos, bosses in Diablo 3 are much as they were in Diablo 2. SuperUniques in a few set, scripted locations, with lots of champions and random bosses (with random modifiers) scattered around the rest of the game world.

No players have yet seen any Act Bosses, with even the mighty [[Siegebreaker Assault Beast]] from the WWI 2008 gameplay movie (who was 10x larger than any monster in Diablo 2) said to be a not especially impressive enemy, taking the game as a whole.

* See the [[boss]]es page for many more details and comments from the development team on this issue.

===Champions===

There are several types of champions in Diablo 3, much as there were in Diablo 2. These are monsters that spawn alone or in small groups, and are less powerful than bosses, but much stronger than normal monsters. See the [[champion]]s page for more details.

Known types of Diablo 3 Champions:

* Champions
* Fanatics
* Possessed
* Frenzied

==Behavior/AI==
Monsters are going to be smarter and more varied in their behaviours in ''Diablo III''. The [[D3 Team]] wants to force players to play smarter, and use tactics other than simply rushing to kill the monsters as soon as they are sighted. So some creatures have very powerful attacks that need to be avoided, others work very well in groups, others run away if threatened or only attack in packs, and so forth.

==Deaths==

The [[D3 Team]] has repeatedly talked about the fact that monsters in the Diablo series are chiefly defined by their entrances and their exits. Creatures don't live for very long, so what they do in life is less memorable than how they appear, and how they die. This issue came up in Blizzcast #8. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzcast-8-live-with-diablo-iii-goodies]

::'''Bashiok:''' Julian back to you, one of the major effects systems is the death system which kind of goes over how monsters die. Which is one of the cooler parts of the game, and we’ve seen a little bit of that before at WWI and BlizzCon, but what is the system and can you explain it to those listening and what does it do in the game?

[[Image:Critical-hit1.jpg|frame|A Dark Cultist gets splatted by a critical death.]]
::'''Julian:''' Yeah, something pretty close to my own heart there. We recognized that monsters really live to die in Diablo. We developers don’t have a lot of time to express their personality, or much time to make the character's experience with monsters meaningful. Most of what players are doing is killing them. So one of the things we were interested in doing during development was making as many different ways for monsters to die as possible. So that was kind of the goal, and think we’re up to something like 35 ways for any given monster to “bite it” at this point.

::The basic theory is to really extend on the idea that Diablo II started with, which was that you would hit monsters and you would see the damage you did to them reflected on them. And we said, well let’s take that further, monsters could burn to death when you hit them with a fiery sword, and then we added the idea of [[crits]] and monsters could explode across the screen, and it just kind of went from there. But that’s essentially the idea.

===Special Death Animations===
Monsters that die to a [[critical hit]] get a special "critical death" animation, which is extra gory. The monsters literally explode, leaving chunks of themselves scattered across the ground. These animations are customized for whatever type of damage killed them; the chunks have flames licking across them from fire damage, sparks and arcs from lightning, etc. Physical damage critical deaths tend to leave huge slicks of blood, and give a battlefield a lovely post-massacre patina.

These special deaths are even extended to individual skills, with acid spells causing them to dissolve, [[Locust Swarm]] bugs eating them down to their bones, [[Disintegrate]] turning them to ash, and many others. Lots of these effects were demonstrated during a panel at [[BlizzCon 2008]], an lovely excerpt from which you can view below:

<youtube>bdxzTV2qhLs</youtube>

==Component System==
This term referred to the way monsters of the same type in ''Diablo II'' could appear different. Skeletons spawned with different types of weapons, armor, shields, and so forth, just to give the demonic legions some variety in their appearance. The different equipment wasn't purely superficial either; it went along with logical changes to the monster's damage or defense.

This technique is being used in ''Diablo III'', and while details haven't yet been revealed, the team has mentioned their plans to use graphical tweaks and palette shifts to give the monsters some variety.

==List of Known Monsters==
Here is a list of all the monsters in brief. Click on their names for further information about them.

===SuperUniques===
In lack of a name of "boss type" units, we are calling them [[SuperUnique]]s for now.

====[[Siegebreaker Assault Beast]]====
[[Image:Mon-siegebreaker1.jpg|100px|left]]''"Living siege Engine of Hell"''. The [[Siegebreaker Assault Beast|Siege Breaker]] is an absolutely massive "miniboss" shown in the [[WWI 2008]] gameplay video. It's apparent that Blizzard is taking the gameplay with even the minor bosses to a whole new level in Diablo III! We don't know if he's a random encounter or not, but this big bad-ass is found in [[Leoric Highlands]].<div style="clear:both;"></div>

====[[Thousand Pounder]]====
[[Image:Mon-thousand-pounder1.jpg|100px|left]]Inside the [[forgotten Tombs]] of the [[WWI 2008]] gameplay video, we got familiar with the [[Thousand Pounder]] as he was summoned in to the scene. He's also seen in concept art work, and looks more like an overly powerful monster than an actual type of boss, like a SuperUnique.<div style="clear:both;"></div>

====[[Leoric]]====
[[Image:Mon-skeleton-king1.jpg|100px|left]]
[[Image:Mon-leoric1.jpg|100px|right]]
The Skeleton King returns in Diablo III, and he's up to his old skeleton-summoning tricks. He's found sitting on his throne, must be awakened by the use of a quest item, and does not return in a good mood. Leoric wields a gigantic hammer and commands a vast army of the undead. He is a quest boss and was the final creature to defeat in the Blizzcon demo build (October 2008.) See [[The Skeleton King]] quest article for more details.
<div style="clear:both;"></div>

===Standard Monsters===
Even the "standard" monsters of Diablo III comes in many different shapes and forms, and employs different types of obstacles for the player.

====[[Activated Vessel]]====
[[Image:Mon-activated-vessel2.jpg|left|100px]]Scary looking humanoid demonic creation made from willing [[Dark Vessel]]s. Activated Vessels are mutated, half-demonic things who fight furiously and move very quickly. It's a good idea to kill off the Dark Vessels before they can activate, if at all possible.<div style="clear:both;"></div>

====[[Beast]]====
[[Image:Mon-beast2.jpg|left|100px]][[Beast]]s are large, buffalo-like herd beasts seen in the plains areas of Diablo III. They have a very fast charging attack, and gore with their huge tusks up close, though the few seen in the WWI 2008 gameplay movie died pretty easily. They're not just animals either; they've been mutated by [[Diablo]] (or someone?) to become monstrous.<div style="clear:both;"></div>

====[[Berserker]]====
[[Image:Mon-berserker1.jpg|left|100px]][[Berserker]]s are the muscle of their evil, demon-worshiping cult. They are massive, powerful men who wear hoods and loincloths and carry huge mauls, with which they are happy to bash your brains in.

Berserkers have a special overhead smashing attack, which they telegraph by powering up their mauls with a reddish glow. Their overhead attack is highly damaging, but if you dodge it the Berserker will hit the floor so hard their maul breaks through the stone and gets stuck there.<div style="clear:both;"></div>

====[[Crawling Torso]]====
[[Image:Mon-crawling-torso.jpg|left|100px]][[Crawling Torso]]s are one of the more disturbing monsters we've yet seen. They are the upper half of a [[Walking Corpse]], a type of [[zombie]]. If the walking corpse is killed with a powerful hit, it will die completely. If it's only hit with a glancing blow though, it will break in half, and the upper body will become... A crawling torso.<div style="clear:both;"></div>

====[[Cultist]]====
[[Image:Mon-dark-cultist1.jpg|left|100px]][[Cultist]]s are human mages who spawn with [[Berserker]]s. Cultists are very weak, but they can shoot fireball projectiles and summon powerful [[Dark Demon]]s, so it's wise to bypass the hulking Berserkers to kill the Cultists as quickly as possible.

Cultists can be recognized from [[Dark Vessel]]s by their lack of a staff. Vessels have a long staff which curls at the end, on which they lean while summoning up the demons by which they are possessed.<div style="clear:both;"></div>

====[[Dark Demon]]====
[[Image:Mon-dark-demon1.jpg|left|125px]]These odd, half-skeletal creatures are summoned from raw, red manhole-like openings in the ground by [[Dark Cultist]]s. They are quadrupedal, and look a bit like a dog crossed with a crocodile, then turned inside out. They are quick of foot, but appear to possess only melee attacks.<div style="clear:both;"></div>

====[[Dark Vessel]]====
[[Image:Mon-dark-vessel4.jpg|left|100px]]These human mages are commonly found standing motionless, amidst various other types of Dark enemies. Vessels are harmless in their human form, but become very dangerous [[melee]] fighters if they manage to pull a demonic entity into themselves. In that form they are known as [[Activated Vessel]]s, and are ferocious fighters.

Dark Vessels look a bit like [[Dark Cultists]], but Vessels lean on tall crooks, and remain motionless until they transform, while Cultists are mage-like enemies who cast a variety of spells and summon demons.<div style="clear:both;"></div>

====[[Dune Thresher]]====
[[Image:Mon-dunethresher1.jpg|left|100px]][[Dune Thresher]]s are apparently mostly located north of [[Caldeum]], which would imply that the game will take us to the surrounding desert areas. They are the croco-sharks of the sand, and is a great threat to anyone wandering in the desert. Well, besides heroes like the average player in [[Diablo III]]. Above two primary front legs these beasts are equipped with a second pair of appendage in the form of gigantic talons that supplement its leap-and-bite attack. The beasts are very fast and most dangerous.<div style="clear:both;"></div>

====[[Fallen Shaman]]====
[[Image:Mon-fallen-shaman-bashiok.gif|left|100px]][[Fallen Shaman]]s return in Diablo III, but none have yet been seen in screenshots. We only know of them thanks to this animated gif, which [[Blizzard]]'s D3 Community Manager, [[Bashiok]], had as his forum avatar. [[Fallen]] were in D1 and took on an expanded role with new AI, shamans, and grouping habits in D2 ({{iw|Fallen Diablo 2 Fallen}}). How they'll progress in D3 remains to be seen, but everyone seems to like this monster type, so their return is a popular one.<div style="clear:both;"></div>

====[[Ghostly Orb]]====
[[Image:Mon-ghostly-orb.jpg|left|100px]][[Ghostly Orb]]s are a sort of monster generator, creating a wraith every few seconds until they are destroyed. They've only been seen in the [[WWI 2008]] gameplay movie, when four of them emerge from the floor in a trapped room and begin producing wraiths as soon as they are active. <div style="clear:both;"></div>

====[[Ghoul]]====
[[Image:Mon-ghouls3.jpg|left|100px]]These swarming monsters appear to be the zombie cannon fodder of [[Diablo III]]. They are blue-skinned [[undead]] who spawn in great numbers, are quite fleet of foot and quick of movement, but are fairly weak and easy to kill. [[Ghoul]]s can be seen climbing up the walls and swarming the [[Barbarian]] in the beginning of the [[WWI 2008]] gameplay movie. They die almost as fast as they race to battle (which is quite quickly).<div style="clear:both;"></div>

====[[Gnarled Walker]]====
[[Image:Mon-wood-wraith1.jpg|left|100px]]The only type of this monster yet seen is called the [[Wood Wraith]], but they are called Gnarled Walkers in the concept art, and that seems a more likely name for the entire monster type.

Gnarled Walkers are not just living, Ent-like trees, but are demonic, possessed um... trees. From the concept art they look to be things, mad plants, rather than individual entities. They do not have faces, and they are not bipedal bodies formed from wood. They are literally demonic trees, soulless and mindless and deformed by the dark magics that have animated them.<div style="clear:both;"></div>

====[[Goatman]]====
[[Image:Mon-goatman1.jpg|left|100px]]The [[goatmen]] foot soldiers seen thus far are much as they were in [[Diablo II]]. They mill around in medium-sized packs, wielding huge two-handed polearms, and attack quickly, but not very effectively. The D3 goatmen have quick footspeed and a fast swing, but they pause for a long time between attacks. Their death sounds seem to be improved over how they were in D2, though they're not quite as delightfully bleaty and goaty as they were in D1, when their enticing noises put them amongst everyone's favourite monsters to kill. In Diablo III they finally received a proper [[goatman|backstory]] though...<div style="clear:both;"></div>

====[[Goatman Shaman]]====
[[Image:Mon-goatman-shaman4.jpg|left|100px]]Though [[goatmen]] were a popular monster in D1 and D2, the Goatman Shaman is a new unit, and nothing is yet known about its abilities. Presumably it will be able to buff goatmen in various ways, and perhaps heal or even resurrect them as well. It is known that the shaman have intelligent AI; one in the [[WWI 2008]] gameplay movie runs when its herd is wiped out by a [[Witch Doctor]]'s [[Wall of Zombies]], finds a new pack of goatmen, and takes up a position behind them.<div style="clear:both;"></div>

====[[Grotesque]]====
[[Image:Mon-grotesque.jpg|left|100px]]One of the more interesting monsters seen in the [[WWI 2008]] movie, the [[Grotesque]] are basically living pinatas. They are fat, white, humanoid monsters, who either don't have an attack or a very weak one. What they do instead is run up to a player who comes into range, take a few hits, bend over backwards, and rupture into a massive fountain of wriggling silver eels called [[Lamprey]]. There seem to be far more eels within a grotesque than their volume would permit, but such is the nature of magic.<div style="clear:both;"></div>

====[[Lamprey]]====
[[Image:Mon-lamprey2.jpg|left|100px]]Lamprey are squirming eels that emerge in a flood from a ruptured [[Grotesque]]. They are not powerful monsters, but are disgusting in their fecundity and must be stomped out, like giant maggots.<div style="clear:both;"></div>

====[[Scavenger]]====
[[Image:Mon-scavenger1.jpg|left|100px]]The [[scavenger]] returns from [[Diablo I]], and it's taken on some properties of the {{iw|Leapers Leapers}} from [[Diablo II]]. They look more like animals than demons, and are somewhat badger-like in their furry, striped appearance. But they leap and dart around wildly, and seem quite capable of swarming an unwary hero by sheer numbers.<div style="clear:both;"></div>

====[[Skeleton]]====
[[Image:Mon-skeleton3.jpg|left|100px]]As iconic as [[zombies]], animated human [[skeleton]]s have been featured in all of the Diablo games, and just about every other fantasy RPG ever made. In D3, plain skeleton warriors are joined [[Skeletal Summoner]]s, [[Skeletal Archer]]s, and [[Skeletal Shieldman]], and (perhaps) other types not yet revealed.<div style="clear:both;"></div>

====[[Skeletal Archer]]====
[[Image:Mon-skeletal-archer1.jpg|left|100px]]The basic bones with a bow, [[Skeletal Archer]]s return for their third go 'round in the Diablo series, and they are much as they've ever been. A humanoid skeleton with a bow and a relatively slow firing rate. They are not dangerous one on one, but a pack of them can be pretty nasty, especially against low armor or stationary targets.<div style="clear:both;"></div>

====[[Skeletal Executioner]]====
[[Image:Mon-skeletal-executioner2.jpg|left|100px]]
Skeletal Executioners are a larger, more powerful version of skeletons, instantly recognizable by their red hoods, huge shoulder pads, and the massive headsmen axes. They only pick up the axes when they are about to use them, and they use both arms to deliver vicious overhead chops with their weapons. Skeletal executioners have a short range charge attack that they finish with a devastating chop of their axes. Being hit by one won't actually kill a character in a single blow, but it's quite painful.
<div style="clear:both;"></div>

====[[Skeletal Shieldman]]====
[[Image:Mon-skeletal-shieldman4.jpg|left|100px]][[Skeletal Shieldman|Skeletal Shieldmen]] spawn with large, round, glowing blue shields from which they derive their names. They carry a sword as well, but use it only sporadically, and not with very great effect. Their chief purpose is as a defensive unit, and a phalanx of these skeletons can usually be found in front of [[Skeletal Archer]]s or a [[Skeletal Summoner]]s. They block very effectively, thwarting most attacks launched straight at them, but are very slow to turn and can be flanked or simply run past without much difficulty.<div style="clear:both;"></div>

====[[Skeletal Summoner]]====
[[Image:Mon-skeletal-summoner5.jpg|left|100px]]
These skeleton shaman spawn with packs of [[Skeletal Archer]]s and [[Skeletal Shieldman]] for protection. The Summoners are larger than regular skeletons, and have glowing purple/pink orbs around their upper bodies. These may be shields, decoration, or an indication what type of elemental damage they deal. During battle the summoners stay to the rear of their foot soldiers, where they keep busy summoning fresh skeletons, or hurling purple projectiles at any players who stray into range.<div style="clear:both;"></div>

====[[The Unburied]]====
[[Image:Mon-unburied1.jpg|left|100px]]
These huge, hulking, spike-covered monsters are undead; the largest type of undead ever seen in any of the Diablo titles. They are slow of foot and hard-hitting, much like the club-wielding {{iw|Blunderbore Blunderbores}} seen in Diablo II. The only Unburied yet seen were early in the game, during the demo levels available at Blizzcon 2008, and were not too nasty. It's expected that we'll find more dangerous varieties of them later in the game, since that's how the monsters in Diablo III roll.
<div style="clear:both;"></div>

====[[Walking Corpse]]====
[[Image:Mon-walking-corpse3.jpg|left|100px]]These slow moving [[zombie]]s are a bit larger than the base model, and can presumably take a bit more punishment. They are a very similar creature though, shambling around aimlessly, too stupid to use weapons or spells, only dangerous in large groups.

Walking corpses have a unique talent, in that upon death they sometimes break in half, but continue the battle as their upper bodies snap off and become a [[Crawling Torso]].<div style="clear:both;"></div>

====[[Wraith]]====
[[Image:Mon-wraith3.jpg|left|100px]][[Wraith]]s return in [[Diablo III]], and while their function looks about the same, their graphics have been substantially improved. They were seen emerging from [[Ghostly Orb]]s in the [[WWI 2008]] movie, and it's not known if they can only come from those odd monster generators, or if they'll be found roaming (floating) freely in the dungeons as well.

Wraiths have a [[melee]] slashing attack, and a ranged life drain attack as well. That one has a lovely graphic, with a swirling stream of blueish vapour flowing from the character to the Wraith.<div style="clear:both;"></div>

====[[Wretched Dead]]====
[[Image:Mon-walking-corpse-f2.jpg|left|50px]][[Image:Mon-zombie-unknown.jpg|left|50px]]These [[zombie]]s come in male and female varieties, and appear to be a slight upgrade from the generic, brains-loving shamblers. They look somewhat gothic, the females in ripped gowns, the males like they've just spent their allowance at [http://www.hottopic.com/hottopic/index.jsp Hot Topic].

<div style="clear:both;"></div>

====[[Zombie]]====
[[Image:Mon-zombie3.jpg|left|100px]][[Zombie]]s return to [[Diablo III]] in much the same form as they occupied in [[Diablo I]] and [[Diablo II]]. Humanoid, slow, shambling, and just generally unpleasant. Their slow speed and negligible intelligence makes them perfect targets for new characters to warm up and level up against.

{{Monster navbox|info}}

[[category:basics]]
[[category:monsters]]

Socket

2010-10-04T00:19:38Z

Asteria:

[[File:Artisan-icon-socket.jpg|right|thumb|65px]]
Various items in Diablo III will often appear with sockets. Sockets are holes in an item that can be fitted with [[gems]] (and only gems), which add a wide-variety of bonuses to the item. There are 14 levels of gems, allowing the bonuses to grow quite large.

Sockets can be added to items by the [[Blacksmith]], and gems placed into sockets can be removed, undamaged, by the [[Jeweler]].

==Item Sockets==
[[Image:Socketing.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Sockets for gold]]
There are item sockets in Diablo III. [[Runewords]] are not returning, but gem sockets can be added to a variety of items regardless of quality of item so a rare or legendary weapon could have sockets added to it. Items types such as Helm, Bracers, Belts and Pants have been confirmed.

No {{iw|jewels jewels}} have been seen, and [[runes]] in Diablo III are for socketing into [[skill]]s, not items. Jay Wilson referred to sockets and "gem sockets" in the Gamescom [[Artisan Presentation]] video in August 2010 so perhaps that signals a definitive decision made as to what can be put into sockets.

A gem provides different stats based into which item it is socketed, for example, an emerald socketed into a shield will provide some Dexterity, whilst an emerald socketed to a helm will provide Damage Return.

===Items with Sockets===

Nothing is yet known about the scarcity of sockets; items may spawn with sockets commonly, or not. It depends on how the [[D3 Team]] balances them out. It is possible to spend gold to have the [[blacksmith]] add sockets to any of the item types that will allow them, so most of a character's gear will likely have sockets, as soon as a player is high enough level to afford it.

The full list of items that can have sockets isn't yet known, but Jay Wilson has said there will be about half a dozen, and we know six right now. (Which might be all of them.)

* Melee [[Weapons]] (ranged weapons are not yet confirmed to be in Diablo III)
* [[Shields]]
* [[Body Armor]]
* [[Helms]]
* [[Shields]]
* [[Belts]]
* [[Boots]]

Other item types may be added, but these are all the Diablo 3 team has yet confirmed.

==Socketing==

Sockets spawn naturally in items; magical, rare, set, and even unique items can drop with one (or more) sockets in them. The property is said to be much more common in Diablo III than it was in Diablo II; the team has said sockets are treated much like another [[affix]], rather than being something preset into items by the developers [http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/jay-wilson-interview-indiablo.de-part-two/]

::'''''in.Diablo.d3: '''Can we socket everything in D3?
::'''Jay Wilson: '''Not every single slot, but any item the [[blacksmith]] can add sockets to, about 6 different ones, he can do. It doesn’t matter the quality of the item. If you have legendary boots without a socket, he can add one.

::Also, sockets can appear on any type of items. On Diablo 2 they only appeared on white items. In Diablo 3 a legendary, rare, anything, can have them. Sockets are treated like another affix.

Adding sockets to items without them is a fairly simple process, one that merely requires gold. The [[blacksmith]] offers socketing on his NPC interface, and for a price he'll add a socket to any valid item.

The only demonstration of this yet seen was in the Gamescom 2010 Artistan movie, when he punched a socket into a pain [[buckler]] for an exorbitant (according to Jay Wilson) price of 24424 gold pieces. Presumably, based on Jay's comment, the prices are way higher, during this testing period, than they will be in the final game.

==Socketing Bonuses==

[[File:Gem-emerald-l3.jpg|frame|L3 Emerald bonuses.]]
The only confirmed socketing bonuses are from an "emerald" as seen in the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNP8QiNbFmU Gamescom 2010 Artisan video]. The gem hover, as seen to the right, granted:
* Weapon: +4% Casting Speed.
* Helms: Attackers take 7 damage.
* Belt/Boots/Body Armor/Shields: +7 dexterity

It's thought that this was a low level Emerald, probably level 2 or 3, though that's not confirmed. If so, it's tempting to imagine how high the bonuses might rise on their way to the maximum gem level of 14. As long as it would take to create such a high level gem (more than 19,600 L5 gems are required to upgrade to a single L14), players expect to be impressed by the end result.

==Further Reading==

* [[Item]]s - The main article.
* [[Gem]]s - To be socketed.
* [[Artisans]] -- All NPC item functions are handled by these guys.
** [[Blacksmith]] -- The socketeer.
** [[Jeweler]] -- Removes gems from sockets. For a fee.
* [[Rune]]s - No longer used with item sockets.
* [[Known Items Listing]] - Known items.

[[Category:Items]]
[[category:sockets]]

Adria

2010-10-03T18:14:47Z

Asteria:

[[Image:adria.jpg|left|thumb|Adria the Witch returns from Diablo 1]]

'''Adria''' is the Witch merchant from [http://diablo2.diablowiki.net/Adria Diablo 1]. She sold and bought potions, scrolls and staves. She also recharged staves with their magical charges. She was not in Diablo 2, having fled [[New Tristram| Tristram]] in anticipation of the attack on the village.

She will be featured in Diablo 3 although it is not known in what capacity.

Jay Wilson mentioned Adria in an interview at Gamescom, August 2010.[http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/jay-wilson-interview-indiablo.de-part-one/]

::'''Jay Wilson:''' We’ve not come up with one yet. But we’ve brought chars back from previous games. Adria is the witch from original Diablo. She’s coming back as a fairly significant character.

==The Mystic?==

With the announcement of the [[Artisan]]s, fans immediately began to wonder if Adria might be the [[Mystic]]. [http://diablo.incgamers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=777520&highlight=adria]

She may be; one German interview called the yet-unnamed Mystic a "he," but that might just have been a transcription or hearing error. Besides, the [[Blacksmith]] and [[Jeweler]] are confirmed as males, so it would be odd if the Mystic was also; there's usually more variety/diversity in gender than that, in the Diablo games.

We won't know for certain until Blizzard reveals the truth.

{{Character navbox|minor}}

[[Category:NPCs]]
[[Category:Characters]]

Template:Character navbox

2010-10-03T18:11:08Z

Asteria: removed adria from rumoured

<noinclude>

==Guideline for Tab Choice==
The guideline for this navbox when deciding which tab to display on individual articles is that if the character is a Main Character, show that. If it's an Important character or a Minor one, but of a special [[race]] (like an [[Angel]]) then show Angel tab. Otherwise, show imp/min tab. Think of which attribute is the more prominent one: race or importance.

==Legend==
!Use only ONE of these variables!
<nowiki>{{Character_navbox</nowiki>
|d3 Confirmed Diablo III NPC
|poss Rumoured/possible Diablo III NPC
|d2 Diablo II NPC
|d2_dia Diablo II dialogues
|d1 Diablo I NPC
|d1_dia Diablo I dialogues
|Races Different races
|Angels
|Demons
|Humans
|Nephalem
|main Main Character
|imp Important Character
|minor Minor Character
|minor2 Minor Character 2nd tab
<nowiki>}}</nowiki>

==Appearance==

</noinclude><table align="center" class="navbox NavTabContainer"> <tr> <th colspan="5">[[Character]]s & [[NPC]]s<div style="float:right; margin-left: -10px;">{{editlink|Template:Character_navbox|e|www|A|A}}</div>  {{#switch: {{{1|}}} |d3=X |conf=d3 }} | SelectedNavTabHeader}}" title="D3" >'''D3 NPCs''' {{#switch: {{{1|}}} |poss=X |Rumoured=X }} | SelectedNavTabHeader}}" title="Rumoured">'''Rumoured''' {{#switch: {{{1|}}} |d2=X }} | SelectedNavTabHeader}}" title="D2" >'''D2 NPCs''' {{#switch: {{{1|}}} |d1=d1 }} | SelectedNavTabHeader}}" title="D1" >'''D1 NPCs''' {{#switch: {{{1|}}} |Races=X |races=X }} | SelectedNavTabHeader}}" title="Races" >'''Races''' {{#switch: {{{1|}}} |main=main }} | SelectedNavTabHeader}}" title="Main" >'''Main Chars''' {{#switch: {{{1|}}} |imp=X |Imp=X |Important=X }} | SelectedNavTabHeader}}" title="Imp" >'''Import. Chars''' {{#switch: {{{1|}}} |minor=minor }} | SelectedNavTabHeader}}" title="Minor" >'''Minor A-K''' {{#switch: {{{1|}}} |minor2=minor2 }} | SelectedNavTabHeader}}" title="Minor2" >'''Minor L-Z''' {{#switch: {{{1|}}} |fan_char=fan_char }} | SelectedNavTabHeader}}" title="Fan_Character" >'''Fanmade'''  </th> </tr> <tr class="NavTabContent" title="D3"> <th width="15%" style="font-size:10px;"> [[Diablo III]]'s [[NPCs|Confirmed NPCs]] </th> <td colspan="4"> <center>'''The Three [[Artisans]]:''' [[Blacksmith|The Blacksmith]] - [[Jeweler|The Jeweler]] - [[Mystic|The Mystic]] [[Alesar]] - [[Asheara]] - [[Captain Rumford]] - [[Captain Dagved]] - [[Crazed Miner]] - [[Crying Ghost]] - [[Deckard Cain]] - [[Dying Driver]] - [[Escort_Mission|Escort Soldier]] - [[Husam]] - [[Injured Villager]] - [[Lachdanan]] - [[Leah]] - [[Little Girl Ghost]] - [[Mercenaries]] - [[Mr. Meat Wagon]] - [[Poltarh]] - [[Varna]] - [[Zakarwa]] </center> </td> </tr> <tr class="NavTabContent" title="Rumoured"> <th width="15%" style="font-size:10px;"> [[Diablo III]]'s [[NPC|Possible NPCs]] </th> <td colspan="4"> <center>[[Abd al-Hazir]] - [[Franklin Burroughs]] - [[Hakan II]] - [[Humbart Wessel]] - [[Pablo DeSoto]] - [[Quov Tsin]] - [[Tyrael]] - [[Kentril Dumon]] - [[Zayl]] -  </center> </td> </tr> <tr class="NavTabContent" title="D2"> <th width="15%" style="font-size:10px;"> [[NPC]]s of [[Diablo II]] </th> <td colspan="4"> '''{{iw|Act_I Act I}}:''' {{iw|Akara Akara}} -  {{iw|Charsi Charsi}} -  {{iw|Chickens Chickens}} -  {{iw|Deckard_Cain Deckard Cain}} -  {{iw|Flavie Flavie}} -  {{iw|Gheed Gheed}} -  {{iw|Kashya Kashya}} -  {{iw|Rogue_NPCs Rogue NPCs}} -  {{iw|Warriv Warriv}}  '''{{iw|Act_II Act II}}:''' {{iw|Atma Atma}} -  {{iw|Deckard_Cain Cain}}-  {{iw|Drognan Drognan}} -  {{iw|Elzix Elzix}} -  {{iw|Fara Fara}} -  {{iw|Geglash Geglash}} -  {{iw|Greiz Greiz}} -  {{iw|Jerhyn Jerhyn}} -  {{iw|Kaelan Kaelan}} -  {{iw|Lysander Lysander}} -  {{iw|Meshif Meshif}} -  {{iw|Tyrael Tyrael}} -  {{iw|Warriv Warriv}}  '''{{iw|Act_III Act III}}:''' {{iw|Alkor Alkor}} -  {{iw|Asheara Asheara}} -  {{iw|Deckard_Cain Cain}} -  {{iw|Hratli Hratli}} -  {{iw|Meshif Meshif}} -  {{iw|Natalya Natalya}} -  {{iw|Ormus Ormus}} -  {{iw|The_Iron_Wolves Iron Wolves}} -  {{iw|Dark_Wanderer Dark Wanderer}}  '''{{iw|Act_IV Act IV}}:''' {{iw|Deckard_Cain Cain}} -  {{iw|Halbu Halbu}} -  {{iw|Hadriel Hadriel}} -  {{iw|Izual_NPC Izual NPC}} -  {{iw|Jamella Jamella}} -  {{iw|Tyrael Tyrael}}  '''{{iw|Act_V Act V}}:''' {{iw|Anya Anya}} -  {{iw|Deckard_Cain Cain}} -  {{iw|Larzuk Larzuk}} -  {{iw|Malah Malah}} -  {{iw|Nihlathak Nihlathak}} -  {{iw|Qual-Kehk Qual-Kehk}} -  {{iw|The_Ancients Ancients}} -  {{iw|Tyrael Tyrael}} -  {{iw|Barbarian_NPCs Barbarian}} -  {{iw|Bunnies Bunnies}} -  {{iw|The_Bunny_Roaster Bunny Roast}}   {{#switch: {{{1|}}} |d2_dia=d2_dia }} | SelectedNavTabHeader}}" title="D2_Dialogues" >'''Switch to Dialogues'''  </td> </tr> <tr class="NavTabContent" title="D2_Dialogues"> <th width="15%" style="font-size:10px;"> [[Dialogue|NPC Dialogues]] of [[Diablo II]] </th> <td colspan="4"> '''{{iw|Act_I Act I}}:''' {{iw|Akara Akara}} -  {{iw|Charsi Charsi}} -  {{iw|Chickens Chickens}} -  [[Deckard_Cain_dialogue|Deckard Cain]] -  {{iw|Flavie Flavie}} -  [[Gheed_dialogue|Gheed]] -  {{iw|Kashya Kashya}} -  {{iw|Rogue_NPCs Rogue NPCs}} -  {{iw|Warriv Warriv}}  '''{{iw|Act_II Act II}}:''' {{iw|Atma Atma}} -  [[Deckard_Cain_dialogue|Cain]]-  {{iw|Drognan Drognan}} -  {{iw|Elzix Elzix}} -  {{iw|Fara Fara}} -  {{iw|Geglash Geglash}} -  {{iw|Greiz Greiz}} -  {{iw|Jerhyn Jerhyn}} -  {{iw|Kaelan Kaelan}} -  [[Lysander dialogue|Lysander]] -  {{iw|Meshif Meshif}} -  [[Tyrael dialogue|Tyrael]] -  {{iw|Warriv Warriv}}  '''{{iw|Act_III Act III}}:''' {{iw|Alkor Alkor}} -  {{iw|Asheara Asheara}} -  [[Deckard_Cain_dialogue|Cain]] -  {{iw|Hratli Hratli}} -  {{iw|Meshif Meshif}} -  [[Natalya dialogue|Natalya]] -  [[Ormus dialogue|Ormus]] -  {{iw|The_Iron_Wolves Iron Wolves}} -  {{iw|Dark_Wanderer Dark Wanderer}}  '''{{iw|Act_IV Act IV}}:''' [[Deckard_Cain_dialogue|Cain]] -  {{iw|Halbu Halbu}} -  {{iw|Hadriel Hadriel}} -  {{iw|Izual_NPC Izual NPC}} -  {{iw|Jamella Jamella}} -  [[Tyrael dialogue|Tyrael]]  '''{{iw|Act_V Act V}}:''' {{iw|Anya Anya}} -  [[Deckard_Cain_dialogue|Cain]] -  {{iw|Larzuk Larzuk}} -  {{iw|Malah Malah}} -  {{iw|Nihlathak Nihlathak}} -  {{iw|Qual-Kehk Qual-Kehk}} -  {{iw|The_Ancients Ancients}} -  [[Tyrael dialogue|Tyrael]] -  {{iw|Barbarian_NPCs Barbarian}}   '''Switch to NPCs'''  ''(Orange links are placeholders, yellow links are live)'' </td> </tr> <tr class="NavTabContent" title="D1"> <th width="15%" style="font-size:10px;"> [[NPC]]s of [[Diablo I]] </th> <td colspan="4"> '''NPCs:''' {{iw|1_NPCs Adria}} -  {{iw|1_NPCs Deckard Cain}} -  {{iw|1_NPCs Farnham}} -  {{iw|1_NPCs Griswold}} -  {{iw|1_NPCs Gillian}} -  {{iw|1_NPCs Ogden}} -  {{iw|1_NPCs Pepin}} -  {{iw|1_NPCs Wirt}} -  {{iw|1_NPCs Lester}} -  {{iw|1_NPCs The Complete Nut}} -  {{iw|1_NPCs Celia}}  '''Monster NPCs:''' {{iw|1_NPCs Defiler}} -  {{iw|Gharbad_the_Weak Gharbad}} -  {{iw|Lachdanan Lachdanan}} -  {{iw|1_NPCs Lazarus}} -  {{iw|1_NPCs Na-Krul}} -  {{iw|1_NPCs Snotspill}} -  {{iw|Zhar_the_Mad Zhar}}   {{#switch: {{{1|}}} |d1_dia=X }} | SelectedNavTabHeader}}" title="D1_Dialogues" >'''Switch to Dialogues'''  </td> </tr> <tr class="NavTabContent" title="D1_Dialogues"> <th width="15%" style="font-size:10px;"> [[Dialogue|NPC Dialogues]] of [[Diablo I]] </th> <td colspan="4"> '''NPCs:''' {{iw|1_NPCs Adria}} -  [[Deckard_Cain_dialogue|Deckard Cain]] -  {{iw|1_NPCs Farnham}} -  {{iw|1_NPCs Griswold}} -  {{iw|1_NPCs Gillian}} -  {{iw|1_NPCs Ogden}} -  {{iw|1_NPCs Pepin}} -  {{iw|1_NPCs Wirt}} -  {{iw|1_NPCs Lester}} -  {{iw|1_NPCs The Complete Nut}} -  {{iw|1_NPCs Celia}}  '''Monster NPCs:''' {{iw|1_NPCs Defiler}} -  {{iw|Gharbad_the_Weak Gharbad}} -  {{iw|Lachdanan Lachdanan}} -  {{iw|1_NPCs Lazarus}} -  {{iw|1_NPCs Na-Krul}} -  {{iw|1_NPCs Snotspill}} -  {{iw|Zhar_the_Mad Zhar}}   '''Switch to NPCs'''  ''(Orange links are placeholders, yellow links are live)'' </td> </tr> <tr class="NavTabContent" title="Races"> <th width="15%" style="font-size:10px;" rowspan="2"> [[Race|Races]] of the [[Diablo Universe]] </th> <td colspan="4"> Choose a race from the [[Diablo Universe]]:   </td> </tr> <tr class="NavTabContent" title="Races"> <td colspan="4">  {{#switch: {{{1|}}} |Angels=X }} | SelectedNavTabHeader}}" title="Angels" >'''Angels''' {{#switch: {{{1|}}} |Demons=X }} | SelectedNavTabHeader}}" title="Demons" >'''Demons''' {{#switch: {{{1|}}} |Humans=X }} | SelectedNavTabHeader}}" title="Humans" >'''Humans''' {{#switch: {{{1|}}} |Nephalem=X }} | SelectedNavTabHeader}}" title="Nephalem" >'''Nephalem'''  </td> </tr> <tr class="NavTabContent" title="Angels"> <th width="15%" style="font-size:10px;" rowspan="2"> [[Angel|Angel]] [[Character]]s </th> <td colspan="1">'''[[Angiris Council]]:'''
* [[Auriel]]
* [[Imperius]]
* [[Itherael]]
 </td> <td colspan="1">'''Angiris (cont):'''
* [[Malthael]]
* [[Tyrael]]
 </td> <td colspan="1">'''Other [[Archangel]]s:'''
* [[Inarius]]
* [[Mirakodus]] (demon)
* [[Yaerius]]
 </td> <td colspan="1">'''[[Angel]]s:'''
* [[Izual]] (fallen)
 </td> </tr> <tr class="NavTabContent" title="Angels"> <td colspan="4">  {{#switch: {{{1|}}} |Angels=X }} | SelectedNavTabHeader}}" title="Angels" >'''Angels''' {{#switch: {{{1|}}} |Demons=X }} | SelectedNavTabHeader}}" title="Demons" >'''Demons''' {{#switch: {{{1|}}} |Humans=X }} | SelectedNavTabHeader}}" title="Humans" >'''Humans''' {{#switch: {{{1|}}} |Nephalem=X }} | SelectedNavTabHeader}}" title="Nephalem" >'''Nephalem'''  </td> </tr> <tr class="NavTabContent" title="Demons"> <th width="15%" style="font-size:10px;" rowspan="2"> [[Demon|Demon]] [[Character]]s </th> <td colspan="1">'''[[Great Evils]]:'''
* '''[[Prime Evils]]:'''
* [[Diablo]]
* [[Mephisto]]
* [[Baal]]
 </td> <td colspan="1">'''Great Evils (cont):'''
* '''[[Lesser Evils]]:'''
* [[Andariel]]
* [[Azmodan]]
* [[Belial]]
* [[Duriel]]
 </td> <td colspan="1">'''Other [[Demon]] Lords:'''
* Empty
 </td> <td colspan="1">'''[[Demon]]s:'''
* [[Izual]] (fallen)
* [[Septumos]]
 </td> </tr> <tr class="NavTabContent" title="Demons"> <td colspan="4">  {{#switch: {{{1|}}} |Angels=X }} | SelectedNavTabHeader}}" title="Angels" >'''Angels''' {{#switch: {{{1|}}} |Demons=X }} | SelectedNavTabHeader}}" title="Demons" >'''Demons''' {{#switch: {{{1|}}} |Humans=X }} | SelectedNavTabHeader}}" title="Humans" >'''Humans''' {{#switch: {{{1|}}} |Nephalem=X }} | SelectedNavTabHeader}}" title="Nephalem" >'''Nephalem'''  </td> </tr> <tr class="NavTabContent" title="Humans"> <th width="15%" style="font-size:10px;" rowspan="2"> [[Human|Human]] [[Character]]s </th> <td colspan="4">
* [[Human]]s are too numerous to list. See individual "Main", "Important" and "Minor" tabs.   </td> </tr> <tr class="NavTabContent" title="Humans"> <td colspan="4">  {{#switch: {{{1|}}} |Angels=X }} | SelectedNavTabHeader}}" title="Angels" >'''Angels''' {{#switch: {{{1|}}} |Demons=X }} | SelectedNavTabHeader}}" title="Demons" >'''Demons''' {{#switch: {{{1|}}} |Humans=X }} | SelectedNavTabHeader}}" title="Humans" >'''Humans''' {{#switch: {{{1|}}} |Nephalem=X }} | SelectedNavTabHeader}}" title="Nephalem" >'''Nephalem'''  </td> </tr> <tr class="NavTabContent" title="Nephalem"> <th width="15%" style="font-size:10px;" rowspan="2"> [[Nephalem|Nephalem]] [[Character]]s </th> <td colspan="1">

* '''[[Nephalem|Original Nephalem]]:'''
** [[Rathma]]
** [[Bul-Kathos]]
 </td> <td colspan="1">
* '''Original Nephalem (cont):'''
** [[Esu]]
** [[Vasily]]
 </td> <td colspan="1">
* '''[[Edyrem]]:'''
** [[Mendeln]]
** [[Serenthia]]
** [[Uldyssian]]
 </td> <td colspan="1">
* '''[[Ancient]]s:'''
* [[Korlic]]
* [[Madawc]]
* [[Talic]]
 </td> </tr> <tr class="NavTabContent" title="Nephalem"> <td colspan="4">  {{#switch: {{{1|}}} |Angels=X }} | SelectedNavTabHeader}}" title="Angels" >'''Angels''' {{#switch: {{{1|}}} |Demons=X }} | SelectedNavTabHeader}}" title="Demons" >'''Demons''' {{#switch: {{{1|}}} |Humans=X }} | SelectedNavTabHeader}}" title="Humans" >'''Humans''' {{#switch: {{{1|}}} |Nephalem=X }} | SelectedNavTabHeader}}" title="Nephalem" >'''Nephalem'''  </td> </tr> <tr class="NavTabContent" title="Main"> <th width="15%" rowspan="2" style="font-size:10px;"> [[Character|Main Characters]]''' </th> <td colspan="3"> Good: [[Hero|Heroes]] - [[Deckard Cain]] - [[Tyrael]]* </td> <td colspan="1"> Evil: [[Mephisto]] - [[Baal]] - [[Diablo]] - [[Belial]] - [[Azmodan]][[Dark Wanderer|Wanderer]] -    </td> </tr> <tr class="NavTabContent" title="Main"> <td colspan="4"> ''* Presumed and [[Tyrael|debated]]'' </td> </tr> <tr class="NavTabContent" title="Imp"> <th width="15%" style="font-size:10px;"> [[Character|Important Characters]] </th> <td colspan="4"> <center>[[Abd al-Hazir]] - [[Akarat]] - [[Albrecht]] - [[Andariel]] - [[Arcanna]] - [[Atanna]] - [[Athulua]] - [[Astrogha]] - [[Auriel]] - [[Aust]] - [[Bartuc]] - [[Blood Raven]] - [[Bul-Kathos]] - [[Duriel]] - [[Esu]] - [[Fiacla-Géar]] - [[Gregus Mazi]] - [[Gulag]] - [[Hakan I]] - [[Harkin Khan]] - [[Hefaetrus]] - [[Horazon]] - [[Inarius]] - [[Imperius]] - [[Izual]] - [[Itherael]] - [[Jered Cain]] - [[Kalan]] - [[Karcheus]] - [[Khalim]] - [[Lachdanan]] - [[Leoric]] - [[Lilith]] - [[Lucion]] - [[Madawc]] - [[Malthael]] - [[Marius]] - [[Mendeln]] - [[Lazarus]] - [[Quov Tsin]] - [[Rathma]] - [[Serenthia]] - [[Siggard]] - [[Sankekur]] - [[Tal Rasha]] - [[The Summoner]] - [[Uldyssian]] - [[Vasily]] - [[Yaerius]] - [[Zerae]] - [[Zular Khan]]  </center> </td> </tr> <tr class="NavTabContent" title="Minor"> <th width="15%" style="font-size:10px;"> [[Character|Minor A-K]] </th> <td colspan="4"> <center>[[Achilios]] - [[Adria]] - [[Akara]] - [[Albord]] - [[Aldric Jitan]] - [[Alkor]] - [[Anya]] - [[Asheara]] - [[Assur]] - [[Atma]] - [[Augustus Malevolyn]] - [[Baerna]] - [[Banagar]] - [[Benjin]] - [[Brek]] - [[Buyard Cholik]] - [[Camylle]] - [[Celestia]] - [[Cornelius]] - [[Darrick Lang]] - [[Diomedes]] - [[Drognan]] - [[Edgewulf]] - [[Elora]] - [[Elzix]] - [[Emilye]] - [[Fara]] - [[Farnham]] - [[Fautzin]] - [[Galeona]] - [[Garda]] - [[Gheed]] - [[Gillian]] - [[Gorst]] - [[Greiz]] - [[Griswold]] - [[Guthwulf]] - [[Hagan]] - [[Halbu]] - [[Hanos Jeronnan]] - [[Hargo]] - [[Hays]] - [[Hratli]] - [[Hrothwulf]] - [[Humbart Wessel]] - [[Hunfrith]] - [[Hyram]] - [[Icharion]] - [[Jace]] - [[Jamella]] - [[Jerhyn]] - [[Jodas]] - [[Juris Khan]] - [[Justinian IV]] - [[Kabraxis]] - [[Kara Nightshadow]] - [[Karybdus]] - [[Kashya]] - [[Kentril Dumon]] - [[Kethryes]] - [[Korlic]] - [[Kreghn]] - [[Ku Y'leh]] -  </center> </td> </tr> <tr class="NavTabContent" title="Minor2"> <th width="15%" style="font-size:10px;"> [[Character|Minor L-Z]] </th> <td colspan="4"> <center>[[Linariel]] - [[Lam Esen]] - [[Larzuk]] - [[Lysander]] - [[Malah]] - [[Mat Hu-Ring]] - [[Meshif]] - [[Mirakodus]] - [[Mordecai]] - [[Natalya]] - [[Nefriti]] - [[Nellia]] - [[Nihlathak]] - [[Nor Tiraj]] - [[Norrec Vizharan]] - [[Ogden]] - [[Ord Rekar]] - [[Orlif]] - [[Ormus]] - [[Oskal]] - [[Palashia]] - [[Pepin]] - [[Qarak]] - [[Qual-Kehk]] - [[Riordan Nesardo]] - [[Sadun Tryst]] - [[Salene Nesardo]] - [[Sardak]] - [[Sarnakyle]] - [[Septumos]] - [[Simon]] - [[Talic]] - [[Taramis Volken]] - [[Tilgar]] - [[Tobio]] - [[Toko]] - [[Tylwulf]] - [[Vischar Orous]] - [[Warriv]] - [[Wirt]] - [[Wulfgar]] - [[Xazax]] - [[Zagraal]][[Zayl]] - [[Zorea]] -  </center> </td> </tr>{{Fan character navbox}} <tr> <th colspan="5" style="font-size:9px; font-weight:normal;"> (All listed [[NPCs]] and [[Monsters]] are also [[Character]]s, main ones or otherwise.) - (This navigation is being populated.) </th> </tr></table><noinclude>[[Category:Templates]][[Category:Navboxes]]

An idea here is to make sub-sections for Quest NPCs, Vendors etc. They can be listed to the left or so. Or, they can have their own TR in ALL titles.

</noinclude>

Monk skills

2010-10-03T18:00:26Z

Asteria: added later date

[[Image:Skill-tree-blizzcon09-monk-muldric.jpg|thumb|right|300px|[[Monk]] Skill Tree interpretation by [http://forums.diii.net/showthread.php?t=739038 Muldric].]]
This page lists all known '''[[Monk]] skills''', sorted by skill tree. Follow the links to the individual skill pages for full discussion of every skill, including first hand reports and screenshots.

'''General Note'''
The Monk's skill trees have not yet received names as of Gamescom in August 2010, so they are given the generic names "Skill Tree A-C" by Blizzard. This will be updated when new information comes to us from Blizzard.

'''Useful skill links:'''
* [[Skill]]s - General skill design and mechanics.
* [[Skill Tree A]] - A-skills
* [[Skill Tree B]] - B-skills
* [[Skill Tree C]] - C-skills
* [[Monk skill archive]] - Removed Monk skills.
* [[Rune|Skill runes]] - One new way to customise skills.
* [[Signature skill]]s - Skills that define characters.
* [[Active skill]]s - Skills where effects are activated by the player.
* [[Passive skill]]s - Skills where effects are activated automatically, by the computer or by special events.

{{:Skill Tree A}}
{{:Skill Tree B}}
{{:Skill Tree C}}

==References==
* [http://www.diii.net/blog/full-monk-skill-tree-discussion-and-status/ Full Monk Skill Tree Stats and Discussion]

{{Skill navbox}}
{{Skill navbox Monk}}

[[Category:Monk skills]]
[[Category:Skills]]
[[Category:Monk]]

Cinematic: WWI 2008

2010-02-13T15:25:18Z

Asteria:

This [[cinematic]] movie was produced by the Blizzard Cinematics Department and was the first announcement of Diablo 3. The movie features narration by the NPC [[Leah]], a known associate of [[Deckard Cain]], as she describes the state of the world players will encounter in Diablo 3.

The movie shows various scenes from later cinematics, including flashbacks to Baal's armies and the destruction of the Worldstone, the final event of the Diablo 2 Expansion.

==D3 Introduction Cinematic==

Visit [http://us.blizzard.com/diablo3/media/#movies Blizzard's movies page] for links to download this one in higher quality.

The version below is embedded from the [http://www.youtube.com/user/Diablo3Inc Diablo3Inc channel] on YouTube.com.

<youtube>puKC5W8U3WI</youtube>

===Cinematic Content===

Numerous game features and pieces of content are shown in this cinematic, including the following. Click the links for more details:
* [[Arreat Crater]]
* [[Caldeum]]
* [[Deckard Cain]]
* [[Diablo]]
* [[Izual]]?
* [[Tyrael]]
* [[Leah]]
* [[Tristram]]

==Screenshots==

Numerous very high quality screenshots from this movie can be [http://diablo.incgamers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?si=&limit=&thumbsonly=0&perpage=18&cat=600&ppuser=&thumbcheck=0&page=1&sortby=&sorttime=&way=&cat=600 seen in the Image Gallery].

[[File:Meteor1.jpg|center|thumb|800px|The mysterious meteor descends towards the Tristram Cathedral.]]

[[category:cinematics]]
[[Category:WWI_2008]]

WWI 2008

2010-02-13T15:23:56Z

Asteria:

[[Blizzard]]'s '''World Wide Invitational''' of 2008 was held in Paris, 28th-29th of June. See the main [[World Wide Invitational]] article for more information about the event in general.

==Diablo III Announced==
''Diablo III'' was announced at WWI 2008.
* Full coverage including interviews, movies and articles can be found on [http://www.diii.net/articles/667313/wwi-coverage The dii.net] WWI coverage page.
* [http://www.diii.net/articles/667288/the-wwi-splash-image-mystery See this article] for all the images, rumors, and wild theories that surrounded the week of mystery splash images leading up to the debut of ''Diablo III''' at the WWI.

==Panels & Cinematic==
There were four hour-long panels on ''Diablo III'' at the WWI. Click the following links to read transcripts from each panel.

* [[WWI 2008: D3 Design Fundamentals Panel]]
* [[WWI 2008: D3 Game Design Panel]]
* [[WWI 2008: D3 Lore and Environmental Art Panel]]
* [[WWI 2008: Denizens of Diablo Panel]]
* [[Cinematic:_WWI_2008| WWI 2008: Cinematic]]

==Other Coverage==
There was a massive media coverage of WWI. A full list of content can be found at the:
* '''[[Media coverage#June_2008:_World_Wide_Invitational|Media coverage]]''' centre.

==Event Title Image==
[[Image:Wwi-title.jpg|frame|center]]

[[category:WWI 2008]]
[[category:WWI]]
[[category:Events]]

Glossary

2010-02-06T17:33:41Z

Asteria:

The '''glossary''' contains short descriptions of, and links to, common terms, phrases and game concepts relevant to ''[[Diablo 3]]''.

* See also the [[Abbreviations|Abbreviations and Acronyms]] list.

<div style="float:right; clear:right;"> 
__TOC__
</div>

==A==
* [[Achievements|Achievement]] - account-based system tied to a player's Blizzard Account ID, tracks achievements in all Blizzard games to determine "Blizzard Level".
* [[Active skill]] - skills cast or used directly with the mouse button or hotkey.
* [[Quest#Adventures|Adventure]] - semi-random mini-quests that doesn't tie into the overall plot.
* [[Area of effect]] - general term for effects, skills, spells or abilities that will affect an area, and the inhabitants of that area, rather than a single target. Also known as Splash Damage or Line Damage. Also known as AoE. 
* [[Arena]] - dueling arena, not confirmed to be in Diablo III

==B==

* [[Battle.net]] - Blizzard's online match-making component for several of their game franchises. Also known as Bnet.
* {{iw|Blocking Blocking}} - Action of blocking physical and magical attacks.
* Bowazon - Familiar term for an Amazon who specialises in {{iw|Bow_and_Crossbow Bow and Crossbow (Diablo II)}}.
* [[Breakpoint]] - found in 2D games, and refer to how fast animations for attacking, spell casting, hit recovery, and many other things are displayed in frame-based games such as Diablo II.
* [[Buff]] - generally a non-permanent attribute added to a unit, affecting it directly or indirectly for a period of time in a positive manner.

==C==

* [[Caster]] - type of class or monster, capable of using ranged magical spells, or spell-like abilities from a distance.
* [[Character customization]] - configuring your character through choices to appearance and gender when first creating a character and developing it within the game through skills, ability selections and items worn.
* [[Character]]s - collective term for both playable classes and non-player people (merchants, quest givers, townsfolk) within the game.
* [[Checkpoint]] - point that once reached will serve as a respawn point, usually stairs or entrance to the current level.
* [[Quest#Class-Specific_Quests|Class-specific Quest]] - quests offered to a specific class and no other class has access to them.
* [[Cookie cutter]] - [[RPG]] term that refers to a set of [[character customization]] options (a "character [[build]]") which is very popular. E.g. [[Hammerdin]]s in v1.10+.
* [[Cooldown]] - a set length of reload time implemented to prevent spamming of a spell or ability or drinking of potions.
* [[Critical hit]] - special types of hits dealt to monsters (and other players in PVP) via weapon or spell which deal bonus damage. Also known as Crit.
* [[Crowd control]] - RPG term for killing or managing large amounts of enemies at once.

==D==

* [[Debuff]] - generally a non-permanent attribute added to a unit, affecting it directly or indirectly negatively for a period of time.
* [[Destructible]] - term for parts of the environment that can be destroyed by spells or other attacks by player characters such tables, chairs, doorways, and stair railings.
* [[Dueling]] - consensual PvP combat, as one on one or Free For All battles with multiple characters engaged at once.
* [[Dupe]] - abbreviation for "duplicate." Creating a usable copy of an original item, either for personal use or trade. It's essentially counterfeiting.
* [[Diablo Drought]] - period of time in which very little new information is released by the Diablo III team or their community manager.
* [[Drop rate]] - general RPG term for the chance a monster will drop a given item.

==E==

* [[End game]] -- The play style and activities engaged in by players after the initial joy has begun to fade. The D3 team has given much thought to how they might keep players occupied and happy at this late game stage.

* [[ESport]] - games played competitively at amateur and professional levels. Diablo III is not being developed with this in mind.

==F==

* [[FFA|Free For All]] - multiplayer PvP games in which every player is fighting every other player, rather than taking turns or working in teams. Also known as FFA.

==G==

* [[Gambling]] - spending a large amount of gold at an [[NPC]] merchant on an item that you do not know what it does until it's purchased.
* [[Guild]] - a group of players who regularly play together.

==H==

* [[Hardcore]] - mortal characters. Once dead, always dead. No respawn. Confirmed for Diablo III. Also known as HC.
* [[Hell|Hell Difficulty]] - the hardest difficulty in the game where monsters' hit points and damage is increased and the best better quality items can drop. Can only be played after normal and nightmare difficulties have been completed.

==I==

* [[Iterative]] - means to repeatedly go over elements of the game, as a development team, changing and building on to improve the game.

==K==
* [[Knockback]] - [[Skill]] or [[item]] effect that pushes opponent backwards.

==L==

* [[Ladder]] - official ranking of characters measured by experience. Not comfirmed as being in Diablo III.

==M==

* [[Magic find]] - magical property found on some items which increases the odds of finding higher quality items. Also known as MF.
* [[Mudflation]] - online RPG game term for game economy fluctuation from exploits or poorly designed patches.
* [[Mule]] - secondary character used to store more items than one alone can store in inventory and stash.

==N==

* [[Nerf]] - usually refers to changes in a patch where a class, race or other classification of the game has been lowered quality or efficiency.
* [[Nightmare]] - 2nd level of difficulty a character can play, once normal difficulty has been completed. Monsters' hit points and damage is increased and better quality items can drop. Also known as NM.
* [[Normal]] - the easiest difficulty a character must play before advancing onto nightmare and then hell.

==P==

* [[Passive skill]] - skill that adds bonuses all the time once points are placed into them. Not used directly for attacks. They are the opposite of Active Skills.
* [[Player Killing]] - non-consensual PvP, usually in the form of an ambush by the PK (Player Killer). Also known as PK.
* [[PvE|Player vs. Environment]] - involves fighting computer-controlled enemies. Also known as PvE. The terms PvE and PvM (Player vs. Monster) are used interchangably.
* [[PvM|Player vs. Monster]] - involves fighting computer-controlled enemies. Also known as PvM. The terms PvM and PvE (Player vs. Environment) are used interchangably.
* [[Proc]] - Chance of a [[skill]] or [[item]] effect to be activated under certain circumstances.

==Q==

* [[Quest]] - a set task to achieve a goal and be rewarded with experience, gold and/or items, not necessarily mandatory.

==R==

* [[Red target outline]] - A feature newly added before Blizzcon 2009, this shows a glowing red outline around the currently targeted monster. Opinions vary on whether it's a useful visual or eye-pollution.
* [[Reroll]] - starting a new character.
* [[Respec]] - deleting stats that you can on your existing character to reassign points to skills, proficiencies or attributes.
* [[Rush]] - process of using a higher level character to "rush" or "turbo" one or more lower level characters through the game. This is a useful tactic in most RPGs since characters earn higher rewards from higher level monsters.

==S==

* [[Scripted Events|Scripted Event]] - randomly generated small, quest-like actions when the monsters or NPCs behave in an unusual fashion that's been programmed in advance.
* [[Signature skill]] - most important, visual, significant skills possessed by each playable character that help define it. Passive skills can never be signature skills.
* [[Stash]] - chest or storing place where a player can store items and gold.
* [[Synergy]] - skills that boost other skills or that are boosted by other skills. Generally affect one or two skills rather than an entire skill tree.

==T==

* [[Treasure Class]] - how item drops are organised. Also known as TC.

{{stub}}
[[Category:Reference]]
[[Category:Basics]]
[[Category:Glossary]]

Glossary

2010-02-06T16:06:57Z

Asteria:

The '''glossary''' is contains short descriptions of, and links to, common terms, phrases and game concepts relevant to ''[[Diablo 3]]''.

* See the full [[Abbreviations|Abbreviations and Acronyms]] page for a huge master list of common terms.

<div style="float:right; clear:right;"> 
__TOC__
</div>

==A==
* [[Achievements|Achievement]] - account-based system tied to a player's Blizzard Account ID, tracks achievements in all Blizzard games to determine "Blizzard Level".
* [[Active skill]] - skills cast or used directly with the mouse button or hotkey.
* [[Quest#Adventures|Adventure]] - semi-random mini-quests that doesn't tie into the overall plot.
* [[Area of effect]] - general term for effects, skills, spells or abilities that will affect an area, and the inhabitants of that area, rather than a single target. Also known as Splash Damage or Line Damage. Also known as AoE. 
* [[Arena]] - dueling arena, not confirmed to be in Diablo III

==B==

* [[Battle.net]] - Blizzard's online match-making component for several of their game franchises. Also known as Bnet.
* {{iw|Blocking Blocking}} - Action of blocking physical and magical attacks.
* Bowazon - Familiar term for an Amazon who specialises in {{iw|Bow_and_Crossbow Bow and Crossbow (Diablo II)}}.
* [[Breakpoint]] - found in 2D games, and refer to how fast animations for attacking, spell casting, hit recovery, and many other things are displayed in frame-based games such as Diablo II.
* [[Buff]] - generally a non-permanent attribute added to a unit, affecting it directly or indirectly for a period of time in a positive manner.

==C==

* [[Caster]] - type of class or monster, capable of using ranged magical spells, or spell-like abilities from a distance.
* [[Character customization]] - configuring your character through choices to appearance and gender when first creating a character and developing it within the game through skills, ability selections and items worn.
* [[Character]]s - collective term for both playable classes and non-player people (merchants, quest givers, townsfolk) within the game.
* [[Checkpoint]] - point that once reached will serve as a respawn point, usually stairs or entrance to the current level.
* [[Quest#Class-Specific_Quests|Class-specific Quest]] - quests offered to a specific class and no other class has access to them.
* [[Cookie cutter]] - [[RPG]] term that refers to a set of [[character customization]] options (a "character [[build]]") which is very popular. E.g. [[Hammerdin]]s in v1.10+.
* [[Cooldown]] - a set length of reload time implemented to prevent spamming of a spell or ability or drinking of potions.
* [[Critical hit]] - special types of hits dealt to monsters (and other players in PVP) via weapon or spell which deal bonus damage. Also known as Crit.
* [[Crowd control]] - RPG term for killing or managing large amounts of enemies at once.

==D==

* [[Debuff]] - generally a non-permanent attribute added to a unit, affecting it directly or indirectly negatively for a period of time.
* [[Destructible]] - term for parts of the environment that can be destroyed by spells or other attacks by player characters such tables, chairs, doorways, and stair railings.
* [[Dueling]] - consensual PvP combat, as one on one or Free For All battles with multiple characters engaged at once.
* [[Dupe]] - abbreviation for "duplicate." Creating a usable copy of an original item, either for personal use or trade. It's essentially counterfeiting.
* [[Diablo Drought]] - period of time in which very little new information is released by the Diablo III team or their community manager.
* [[Drop rate]] - general RPG term for the chance a monster will drop a given item.

==E==

* [[End game]] -- The play style and activities engaged in by players after the initial joy has begun to fade. The D3 team has given much thought to how they might keep players occupied and happy at this late game stage.

* [[ESport]] - games played competitively at amateur and professional levels. Diablo III is not being developed with this in mind.

==F==

* [[FFA|Free For All]] - multiplayer PvP games in which every player is fighting every other player, rather than taking turns or working in teams. Also known as FFA.

==G==

* [[Gambling]] - spending a large amount of gold at an [[NPC]] merchant on an item that you do not know what it does until it's purchased.
* [[Guild]] - a group of players who regularly play together.

==H==

* [[Hardcore]] - mortal characters. Once dead, always dead. No respawn. Confirmed for Diablo III. Also known as HC.
* [[Hell|Hell Difficulty]] - the hardest difficulty in the game where monsters' hit points and damage is increased and the best better quality items can drop. Can only be played after normal and nightmare difficulties have been completed.

==I==

* [[Iterative]] - means to repeatedly go over elements of the game, as a development team, changing and building on to improve the game.

==K==
* [[Knockback]] - [[Skill]] or [[item]] effect that pushes opponent backwards.

==L==

* [[Ladder]] - official ranking of characters measured by experience. Not comfirmed as being in Diablo III.

==M==

* [[Magic find]] - magical property found on some items which increases the odds of finding higher quality items. Also known as MF.
* [[Mudflation]] - online RPG game term for game economy fluctuation from exploits or poorly designed patches.
* [[Mule]] - secondary character used to store more items than one alone can store in inventory and stash.

==N==

* [[Nerf]] - usually refers to changes in a patch where a class, race or other classification of the game has been lowered quality or efficiency.
* [[Nightmare]] - 2nd level of difficulty a character can play, once normal difficulty has been completed. Monsters' hit points and damage is increased and better quality items can drop. Also known as NM.
* [[Normal]] - the easiest difficulty a character must play before advancing onto nightmare and then hell.

==P==

* [[Passive skill]] - skill that adds bonuses all the time once points are placed into them. Not used directly for attacks. They are the opposite of Active Skills.
* [[Player Killing]] - non-consensual PvP, usually in the form of an ambush by the PK (Player Killer). Also known as PK.
* [[PvE|Player vs. Environment]] - involves fighting computer-controlled enemies. Also known as PvE. The terms PvE and PvM (Player vs. Monster) are used interchangably.
* [[PvM|Player vs. Monster]] - involves fighting computer-controlled enemies. Also known as PvM. The terms PvM and PvE (Player vs. Environment) are used interchangably.
* [[Proc]] - Chance of a [[skill]] or [[item]] effect to be activated under certain circumstances.

==Q==

* [[Quest]] - a set task to achieve a goal and be rewarded with experience, gold and/or items, not necessarily mandatory.

==R==

* [[Red target outline]] - A feature newly added before Blizzcon 2009, this shows a glowing red outline around the currently targeted monster. Opinions vary on whether it's a useful visual or eye-pollution.
* [[Reroll]] - starting a new character.
* [[Respec]] - deleting stats that you can on your existing character to reassign points to skills, proficiencies or attributes.
* [[Rush]] - process of using a higher level character to "rush" or "turbo" one or more lower level characters through the game. This is a useful tactic in most RPGs since characters earn higher rewards from higher level monsters.

==S==

* [[Scripted Events|Scripted Event]] - randomly generated small, quest-like actions when the monsters or NPCs behave in an unusual fashion that's been programmed in advance.
* [[Signature skill]] - most important, visual, significant skills possessed by each playable character that help define it. Passive skills can never be signature skills.
* [[Stash]] - chest or storing place where a player can store items and gold.
* [[Synergy]] - skills that boost other skills or that are boosted by other skills. Generally affect one or two skills rather than an entire skill tree.

==T==

* [[Treasure Class]] - how item drops are organised. Also known as TC.

{{stub}}
[[Category:Reference]]
[[Category:Basics]]
[[Category:Glossary]]

Mule

2010-02-06T16:06:15Z

Asteria: added link to muling guide

A '''mule''' is generally a secondary [[character]] used by a player in order to store more [[item]]s than one alone can store in his or hers [[inventory]] and [[stash]].

__TOC__
==Diablo II==
This is a huge part of the ''[[Diablo II]]'' gameplay, where each character has a very small amount of space to store items. While it might be improved upon in a future patch by [[Blizzard Entertainment|Blizzard]], it's currently a problem for many players, and a source of some annoyance. A {{iw|Muling_Guide Muliing Guide}} gives advice on how to use and manage mules.

==Diablo III==
[[Diablo III]] will feature a much larger [[stash]] with some sort of way to share loot between characters of one player, and will most likely have a lot fewer mules.

[[Category:Glossary]]
[[Category:Items]]

Help:Markup

2009-12-22T16:07:42Z

Asteria: /* Linking to Images */

Wiki pages are designed to be easy to create and edit, and require a minimal amount of technical knowledge. If you can create a forum post, you can edit a wiki page. Read this page for some basic theory and common codes, and you'll be well on your way. Also keep in mind that you can always click the edit tab on an existing page to see how it was formatted.

For information on how to create pages, read the [[Help:New article|New article]] help page.

==Wiki Code==
Wikis use their own syntax (markup) for creating text formatting. Below is a list of common syntax you can use to format your pages. A more extensive guide to wiki editing can be found [http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Help:Editing on Wikimedia's site].

===Text Formatting===
Wiki pages should present information with words and occasional images, in a simple, low-tech format. Wiki pages are more analogous to forum posts or word documents than to modern webpages, and as such only a few commands are necessary. Some of the most useful are:

* ''Italic Text'' <nowiki>''Your Text''</nowiki> (2 apostrophes) 
* '''Bold Text''' <nowiki>'''Your Text'''</nowiki> (3 apostrophes) 
* '''''Bold Italic Text''''' <nowiki>'''''Your Text'''''</nowiki> (5 apostrophes) 
* Underline <nowiki>Your Text</nowiki>

===Section Headers===
To keep pages readable and organized, separate the text into sections. Section headers do this nicely, and are automatically added to the table of contents. Headers should be hierarchical and descending, as needed. There are several levels of headers, and the text so offset by equals signs will display in descending point size and font colour.
* Heading 1 <nowiki>==Your heading==</nowiki> 
* Heading 2 <nowiki>===Your heading===</nowiki> 
* Heading 3 <nowiki>====Your heading====</nowiki> 

The single equal sign is ''not'' used in articles. It's used for the formatting for the title of pages. Use the double equal signs for the first heading and replace any heading hierarchies on article pages that might use the single one.

Avoid putting numbers into page headers, since numbers are automatically generated by the wiki table of contents, and will look redundant or even misleading.

====The Table of Contents Box====
Wiki format is pretty clever and can automatically create TOC boxes like you see at the top of the page. A content box is automatically created when you use 4 or more headlines, which are formatted as explained above. All headlines will show up in the TOC, which is very handy.

The level structure of the TOC works just as explained above with headlines. It's that simple!

===Lists===
Aside from links and tables, covered elsewhere on this page, the most common formatting tool is the list. There are two types: bulleted and numbered, and they are written in exactly the same manner. To create a bullet list, simply place asterisks (*) at the start of each line you want to bullet. If you want a numbered list, use the hash (#) sign. To add subheadings, simply use 2 or more such punctuation signs. The wiki script will automatically arrange them on the page.

<blockquote><pre>
* Item One
* Item Two
** Item Two and a half
*** Item two and three quarters
* Item Three
</pre></blockquote>

Turns into:
<blockquote>
* Item One
* Item Two
** Item Two and a half
*** Item two and three quarters
* Item Three
</blockquote>

Bullet points or numbered lists should be used to organize and format pages, and to present short facts in sequence.

====Soft Returns====
The wiki script ignores single returns. For instance, if you type something that looks like this in the edit box:

This 
line 
has 
a 
lot 
of 
returns.

Will show up on the page as a ''plain line of text'', without any line breaks. You need to add a <nowiki> </nowiki> tag to each line you want to format below the next. It's also possible to use pointed or numbered lists for breaks. Read above about lists.

====Preformatted Boxes====
To make a preformatted box, for showing text with fixed width, especially when showing different types of code, simply add one space before it begins, and the wiki script will automatically place it in a red-tinted box with a special outline. For example:

Aren't I dramatic!

Use this tool primarily to show code in explanatory pages, but it's also possible to use it for short notes, since items in this sort of box do not receive additional wiki formatting, and will stretch pages infinitely wide. Use a soft break to keep such lines from running endlessly off to the right, if they are longer than a few words.

==Creating Links==
Creating links is very simple and there are two methods to do so: an external site link for outside sources and an internal site link for content inside the {{WikiTitle}}.

===Internal Links===
An internal site link use two brackets <nowiki>[[ ]]</nowiki> on either side of the title, with an optional title (if specified, separate with a | character). <nowiki>[[Topic|Link Title]]</nowiki>. If you add link brackets to the same article currently shown, the link will turn '''bold''' instead of into a link. It's also possible to modify the link title without changing the link by adding characters after the right side brackets (<nowiki>]]</nowiki>) like this: <nowiki>[[Topic|Link Title]]ing</nowiki>.

The following code:
<blockquote><pre>
[[Help:Contents]] 
[[Help:Contents|Help]] 
[[Help:Contents|Help]]ing 
[[Help:Contents|Help]]ers 
</pre></blockquote>
Will look like this:
----
[[Help:Contents]] 
[[Help:Contents|Help]] 
[[Help:Contents|Help]]ing 
[[Help:Contents|Help]]ers 
----

====Linking to Categories====
Linking to [[Help:Category|categories]] can be helpful, since the search option will not generally display a category page even if that's the most useful page for their desired information. It's also helpful for newer wiki users who may not know to scroll to the bottom of a page to find the automated category links.

The problem is of course that adding the "<nowiki>[[ ]]</nowiki>" around a category name will only add that page into the category, so to create a clickable link to a category and avoiding this, type: ''"<nowiki>[[:Category:xxxxx]]</nowiki>"'' where "xxxxx" is the name of the Category.

The only difference from actually adding the category is the ":" before the "Category". An optional title is often good to use here, so people don't get confused by the "strange" name. Remember If that page is meant to be in that category, add a tag for it at the end of the page as well.

* [[Help:Category|Category help page]]

====Linking to Images====
Sometimes you might want to link directly to an image instead of embedding it on the page. If so there are two ways to do this:
* Use a direct, external, link to the image url: [http://www.diablowiki.net/images/2/24/Jay_Wilson.jpg Image]
* Use an internal wiki link to the image page: [[:Image:Jay_Wilson.jpg| Image]]
The former way works exactly like any external link (read more about that later), for the link title, URL or a little bracketed link. The latter works just like Category Links, with a ":" in front, and with the possibility to change title with a pipe ("|").

All about [[Help:Image| uploading, adding and organising]] images in the wiki.

===External Links===
External links are made similarly to internal links. The difference is that it uses single brackets (<nowiki>[ ]</nowiki>) and naturally also must contain an external URL. Another difference between internal and external links is that instead of a pipe ("|") to separate the link source with an alternative title, it uses a simple space. This naturally means that it isn't possible to link to pages that uses spaces in the URL. It's easy to distinguish external links in the wiki by the "external link icon" that appears on those links ([http://www.diii.net/ example]).

There are three types of links that can be used; either a clickable URL, a clickable number in brackets, or a clickable link title. The last one work very similar to internal links. Do note that it isn't possible to add letters at the end of an external link to make it part of the link title. The entire link title needs to be within the brackets.

====Regular URL Link====
Writing the following:
<blockquote><pre>
http://www.diii.net/
</pre></blockquote>
Will display like this: http://www.diii.net/

In cases where it's needed to show the whole URL, just write it out in the document, and it will automatically be parsed.

====Numbered Link====
Writing the following:
<blockquote><pre>
[http://www.diii.net/]
</pre></blockquote>
Will display like this: [http://www.diii.net/]

This is a numbered link that is excellent to use when sourcing other pages. It will be numbered from how many similar links are on a document, so the first such link is <nowiki>[1]</nowiki>, and the third one is <nowiki>[3]</nowiki>.

====Link in Title====
Writing the following:
<blockquote><pre>
[http://www.diii.net/ Diii.net with custom title] 
</pre></blockquote>
Will display like this: [http://www.diii.net/ Diii.net with custom title]

This is naturally the most commonly used link, and is used much like the internal links.

====External Links Without Icon====
It's possible to remove the little external link icon from links, and this is mostly used when linking within the Diablo community, such as links to the other Diablo wiki, or to [http://www.diii.net/ Diii.net].

For simple links that does not contain any odd characters like "?", "=", or "&", you can use the [[Template:wl|Wiki Link template]] like this:
<blockquote><pre>
{{wl|[http://www.diii.net/ Title]}} 
</pre></blockquote>
Will display like this: {{wl|[http://www.diii.net/ Title]}}

For more complex URLs, full html formatting is required. Just add <nowiki>""</nowiki> directly in front of your link, and <nowiki>""</nowiki> directly after for the same effect as above.

===General Linking Guidelines===
When you know how to make a link in the code, it's also imperative that you know how to use this knowledge in the wiki. It's quite simple on the whole:
* Link any word that has an article with the same name in the wiki.
* Only link words that would make the article you are reading more clear in context for the link. Sometimes it might have an opposite effect if linking the word "stash" when it's not used to describe the ingame [[stash]], but perhaps a general description of a cache of some sort used in a novel. Know when NOT to link.
* Only link the first of the same word mentioned in an article.
** If an article is long, or has several sections, you should link it so that it's easy to get to the link, wherever you are. One link per section is a good guideline.

==Images==
To insert an image, just add the following code, that you can see is very similar to other wiki links: <nowiki>[[Image:filename.jpg]]</nowiki>. Make sure you don't forget to write the file extension. The valid image files for {{WikiTitle}} are:
* .gif
* .jpg
* .png
Images will automatically be justificated to the left side on a page, but it's easy to change this with variables, to make boxes around images and to change their size. Read more about images on the [[Help:Image|Image Help page]].

==Categories==
Categories and subcategories are the backbone of a wiki's navigation. (Especially since the wiki search options aren't very intuitive.) Every page should be slotted into at least one category, to enable other users to find it easily. If you are making new articles, it's very important to make sure they are put in the right category.
* Read more about categories in the [[Help:Category|Category Help page]].
Please also note that you need special formatting to [[Help:Markup#Linking to Categories|link to categories]].

==Creating Tables==
If you are familiar with html then wiki table syntax will seem logical; however, if you are not familiar with html it is still relatively simple to follow.

Here's an example of one of the mediawiki table notations:
----
<nowiki>{|</nowiki> 
<nowiki>! 1</nowiki> 
<nowiki>! 2</nowiki> 
<nowiki>! 3</nowiki> 
<nowiki>|-</nowiki> 
<nowiki>| 4</nowiki> 
<nowiki>| 5</nowiki> 
<nowiki>| 6</nowiki> 
<nowiki>|}</nowiki>
----
That will look like this:
{|
! 1
! 2
! 3
|-
| 4
| 5
| 6
|}

The tables are automatically formatted with the site style so you '''aren't required to add any style elements''' to the tables. The only time you would really need to add an element to the table is if you want to specify a width or want to make a table that is different than the standard {{WikiTitle}} style.

As you can see the wiki code 'looks' like a table and you can expand on this and format more complex tables. It's easy enough to look at other tables as well, to get inspiration if you want to do more advanced things with it.
* Read more about tables in the [[Help:Table|Table Help page]].

==Try it out!==
There is a special [[{{WikiTitle}}:Sandbox|Wiki Sandbox]] that you can try out your editing skills in, without making unnecessary changes to existing articles.

==Further Reading==
* [[Help:FAQ|Onsite Wiki FAQ]]
* Advanced image technique placement, making thumbnails, captions, etc can be found in Wikipedia's article on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Extended_image_syntax extended image syntax].

{{Help_navbox}}

Help:Image

2009-12-22T16:07:29Z

Asteria: /* Gallery of Images */

'''Images''' are always nice to spice up content, and in many cases they are outright needed in order to describe information from a game. Luckily, they are easy enough to add in {{WikiTitle}}.

==Adding Images==
[[Image:Jay_Wilson.jpg|thumb|right|150px|[[Jay Wilson]], the Lead Game Designer of [[Diablo 3]].]]To insert an image on any page, you use a small piece of [[Help:Markup|wiki markup]], that you can see is very similar to [[Help:Markup#Creating Links|wiki links]]: <nowiki>[[Image:filename.jpg]]</nowiki>. Make sure you don't forget to write the file extension. For this instruction we assume the picture is already uploaded to the wiki (more on that further down). The valid image files for {{WikiTitle}} are:
* .gif
* .jpg
* .png
Images will automatically be made into a large size, and justificated to the left side on a page, but it's easy to change these settings with simple variables in the code. In this case we will be using the [[:Image:Jay_Wilson.jpg|Jay Wilson image]] that you can see "thumbnailed" to the right.

===Image Code Variables===
The following variables can be added by adding a pipe ("|") after the file name:

* '''Type'''
** |frame - Creates a frame around the picture. If a caption is added, it is shown below. Picture retains original size, regardless of "size" attributes. Picture is normally floated right.
** |thumb - Resizes the picture to a thumbnail, adds a frame and room for a caption. Automatically aligns "right" unless overwritten with a "left" variable.
** |thumbnail - Same as "thumb".

* '''Location'''
** |right - Aligns the image floating to the right. Text will align around the left hand side.
** |left - Aligns the image floating to the left. Text will align around the right hand side.
** |center - Centers the image on the page. Text aove and below only.
** |none - The image will have no floating alignment. Best for [[Help:Table|tables]].

* '''Size'''
** |150px - Sets the width of the image to 150 pixels. The image size ration is preserved.
** |150px100px - The image becomes no wider than 150 pixels and no higher than 100 pixels. The image size ration is preserved.
** If not used, it will use the standard size.

* '''Caption''' - Any element that isn't identified as one of the above.
** |(any text) - This will create an alternative mouseover tooltip instead of the standard "Image:Jay_Wilson.jpg" on regular images. Will add a caption below the image for "frames" and "thumbs".

Examples:
* <nowiki>[[Image:Jay_Wilson.jpg|left|frame|150px|Caption about [[Jay Wilson]] in a "frame".]]</nowiki>
* <nowiki>[[Image:Jay_Wilson.jpg|right|150px|Caption not working.]]</nowiki>
* <nowiki>[[Image:Jay_Wilson.jpg|thumb|150px|Caption about [[Jay Wilson]] in a "thumbnail".]]</nowiki>

Notice how the "150px" attribute on the "frame" image does not work, and that the caption for the regular image is only shown in the mouseover.

[[Image:Jay_Wilson.jpg|left|frame|150px|Caption about [[Jay Wilson]] in a "frame".]][[Image:Jay_Wilson.jpg|right|150px|Caption not working.]][[Image:Jay_Wilson.jpg|thumb|150px|Caption about [[Jay Wilson]] in a "thumbnail".]]
<div style="clear:both;"></div>

===Spacing Between Images===
In order to create vertical spacing between images, or to stop text from wrapping around it, some CSS html code must be used. Add the following piece of code in order to stop any new content from being show on the side of a picture:
<blockquote><pre><div style="clear:both;"></div></pre></blockquote>

===Images as Links===
The wiki scripts automatically add the image page (the "article" page where the image's description, categorisation, etc is) as the source of a link that lays on top of the image. There is currently no way to make an image link to somewhere else than its image page with any type of code. Be it CSS, HTML or wiki syntax - it's just not possible.



==Uploading Images==
To upload images to the wiki, there are primarily two ways; either create the wiki syntax for the image first, and then click on the red link to upload, just like you would when creating a new [[Help:Article|article]], or you can go to the [[Special:Upload|upload page]] of the wiki.

When uploading, make sure to adhere to the [[{{WikiTitle}}:Policy|title policies]] of {{WikiTitle}}, and to add it in the appropriate [[Help:Category|categories]]. You might want to check with the [[Help:Structure|category structure]] to see what categories it will fit in.

==Gallery of Images==
The other functional use of pictures on a page is to make a ''gallery'' of pictures. The wiki code "<nowiki><gallery></gallery></nowiki>" will create a 4xX gallery that auto-fills with more pictures. The gallery will be four columns of pictures wide, and any number of rows. The gallery can either be just thumbnails, or thumbnails with captions. Just make wiki syntax like illustrated below, and add one {{WikiTitle}} image page name per row:
<blockquote><pre>
<gallery>
File:Jay_Wilson.jpg
File:Jay_Wilson.jpg|Caption 1
File:Jay_Wilson.jpg|Caption 2
File:Jay_Wilson.jpg|Link: [[Jay Wilson]]
File:Jay_Wilson.jpg|Lead Designer D3
File:Jay_Wilson.jpg
File:Jay_Wilson.jpg|Last pic
</gallery>
</pre></blockquote>
This is what it would look like:
<gallery>
File:Jay_Wilson.jpg
File:Jay_Wilson.jpg|Caption 1
File:Jay_Wilson.jpg|Caption 2
File:Jay_Wilson.jpg|Link: [[Jay Wilson]]
File:Jay_Wilson.jpg|Lead Designer D3
File:Jay_Wilson.jpg
File:Jay_Wilson.jpg|Last pic
</gallery>
Notice that the 8th picture place is empty until one more picture is added.

==Linking to Images==
Sometimes you might want to link directly to an image instead of embedding it on the page. If so there are two ways to do this:
* Use a direct, external, link to the image url: [http://www.diablowiki.net/images/2/24/Jay_Wilson.jpg Image]
* Use an internal wiki link to the image page: [[:Image:Jay_Wilson.jpg| Image]]
The former way works exactly like any external link (read more about that later), for the link title, URL or a little bracketed link. The latter works just like [[Help:Markup#Linking_to_Categories|Category Links]], with a ":" in front, and with the possibility to change title with a pipe ("|").

Read more at the [[Help:Markup#Creating Links|markup link syntax]].

{{Help navbox}}

Fansite

2009-12-11T23:51:24Z

Asteria: added diablo-iii.it

A '''fansite''' is a site dedicated to a specific game, and is a meeting point for fans of the game. This can be everything from a big community fansite with forums, blogs, image galleries, screenshots, artwork, articles, columns and information pages or just a single fan's blog.

Since this is the Diablo wiki, this page is dedicated to Diablo fansites.

=Diablo Sites - English=
* '''[[Diii.net|Diablo: IncGamers]]''' - Established in 1997. Full fansite with forums, image gallery, articles, columns, blogs, etc. Formerly DiabloII.Net/DIII.Net.
* '''[[The Dark Library]]''' - A now defunct site that used to host hundreds of fan fiction stories. Diablo Wiki is trying to help expanding on it by adding stories from their archives to the wiki.
* '''[[ATMA]]''' - "'''A''' '''T'''enshi '''M'''uling '''A'''pplication" - a site that hosts one of the most popular muling programs for Diablo II.

=Diablo Sites - International=
* '''[[Diablo4Arab.com]]''' - Diablo for Arab. The primary website for Arabic fans of the Diablo franchise.
* '''[[Diablo3x.com]]''' - A popular English Diablo 3 blog.
* '''[[Diablo3.net.pl]]''' - One of the main Polish websites for Diablo.
* '''[[Diablo3.cz]]''' - Diablo centre of the Czech Republic.
* '''[[Diablo-3.eu]]''' - One of the best Diablo 3 sites in Germany.
* '''[[Diablo-3.net]]''' - The biggest Diablo III site in Germany.
* '''[[DiabloGamer.com]]''' - A big Diablo blog in German.
* '''[[Diablo3.biz.pl]]''' - Poland have lots of Diablo followers. Many find their home at Diablo3.biz.pl.
* '''[[Diablo-iii.it]]''' First Italian portal/fansite for Diablo 3 with a growing community.

==Useful Sites==
* [[Diablo_Wiki:About|DiabloWiki.Net]] - All your Diablo information needs.
* [[BlizzBlues.com]] - Best Blues tracker out there! - [http://www.blizzblues.com/ BlizzBlues.com]

{{Website navbox}}
[[Category:Fansites]]
[[Category:Websites]]

Fansite

2009-12-11T23:42:47Z

Asteria:

A '''fansite''' is a site dedicated to a specific game, and is a meeting point for fans of the game. This can be everything from a big community fansite with forums, blogs, image galleries, screenshots, artwork, articles, columns and information pages or just a single fan's blog.

Since this is the Diablo wiki, this page is dedicated to Diablo fansites.

=Diablo Sites - English=

* '''[[Diii.net|Diablo: IncGamers]]''' - Established in 1997. Full fansite with forums, image gallery, articles, columns, blogs, etc. Formerly DiabloII.Net/DIII.Net.
* '''[[The Dark Library]]''' - A now defunct site that used to host hundreds of fan fiction stories. Diablo Wiki is trying to help expanding on it by adding stories from their archives to the wiki.
* '''[[ATMA]]''' - "'''A''' '''T'''enshi '''M'''uling '''A'''pplication" - a site that hosts one of the most popular muling programs for Diablo II.

=Diablo Sites - International=

* '''[[Diablo4Arab.com]]''' - Diablo for Arab. The primary website for Arabic fans of the Diablo franchise.
* '''[[Diablo3x.com]]''' - A popular English Diablo 3 blog.
* '''[[Diablo3.net.pl]]''' - One of the main Polish websites for Diablo.
* '''[[Diablo3.cz]]''' - Diablo centre of the Czech Republic.
* '''[[Diablo-3.eu]]''' - One of the best Diablo 3 sites in Germany.
* '''[[Diablo-3.net]]''' - The biggest Diablo III site in Germany.
* '''[[DiabloGamer.com]]''' - A big Diablo blog in German.
* '''[[Diablo3.biz.pl]]''' - Poland have lots of Diablo followers. Many find their home at Diablo3.biz.pl.

==Useful Sites==
* [[Diablo_Wiki:About|DiabloWiki.Net]] - All your Diablo information needs.
* [[BlizzBlues.com]] - Best Blues tracker out there! - [http://www.blizzblues.com/ BlizzBlues.com]

{{Website navbox}}
[[Category:Fansites]]
[[Category:Websites]]

File:Doomknights2.jpg

2009-12-09T16:53:13Z

Asteria: Doom Knights

Doom Knights

File:Doomknights.jpg

2009-12-09T16:52:36Z

Asteria: Doom Knights

Doom Knights

Talk:Health Globe

2009-11-01T04:06:44Z

Asteria:

I am not 100% sure but I believe that this may not be correct

"and if not consumed after a battle will float in space indefinitely"

I believe they may disappear after a short period of time. I will need to investigate some gp footage to be sure but in the meantime if anyone knows for sure you can change the text here.

File:Amplifydamage2.jpg

2009-11-01T03:56:57Z

Asteria: Amplify Damage

Amplify Damage

File:Amplifydamage.jpg

2009-11-01T03:56:16Z

Asteria: Amplify Damage

Amplify Damage

Harrogath

2009-10-30T15:52:17Z

Asteria: added picture of Harrogath

[[Image:harrogath.jpg|thumb|Birdseye view of Harrogath before its destruction]]'''Harrogath''' was the town area at the foot of [[Mount Arreat]] in [[Diablo II: Lord of Destruction]]'s fifth act. Harrogath can only be entered by players who install the Diablo II expansion pack, and it is accessed through a red portal opened by [[Tyrael]], after a character defeats [[Diablo]] himself in Act Four.

=Background=
In Lord of Destruction Harrogath is a city in the frozen north, situated on the slopes of [[Mount Arreat|Mt. Arreat]]. It is located in the [[Barbarian]] lands, and all of the [[NPC]]s are Barbarians of one type or another, though they are hospitable to characters of other [[class]]es as well, once they've proved their worth.

Harrogath was a town at the foot of [[Mount Arreat]] forming one of the last barriers of defence. It was the safe [[town]] area of {{iw|Act_5 Act 5}}, and withstood the host of [[Baal]] when the elders (except {{iw|Nihlathak Nihlathak}}) sacrificed themselves casting a forbidden druid spell which blocked [[demon]]ic energies from entering. However, it was later destroyed in the powers unleashed by the shattering of the [[Worldstone]].

=Destruction of Harrogath=
One confusing aspect of the destruction of Harrogath [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/the-return-of-harrogath/], is that even though it was apparently destroyed by the Worldstone, at the end of Diablo 2 you can go back and talk to the people about it. They seem relatively happy about the outcome, although there is more than a little confusion about the imminent destruction of the Worldstone:

::''"You have done the impossible, hero. Your defeat of the last of the three prime evils is a great victory for the light. Strange that you say the Worldstone must be destroyed. The prophecy said nothing about that. Perhaps all we have fought for will be lost. Or, perhaps, we will never need fight again."'' - {{iw|Anya Anya}}, Diablo 2x final speech

This is at the heart of the controversy about [[Tyrael]]. In any case, no-one seems to be evacuating the city, so we can only assume that no-one knew it would explode. On the other hand, we know of at least two survivors of the destruction of the city - the Barbarian, and [[Deckard_Cain|Cain]], so maybe the mountain exploded in parts, and the residents had time to evacuate through a portal or [[waypoint]].

=Reference=

[1] [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/the-return-of-harrogath/ The Return of Harrogath?] [Blizzard Post - 10 October 2009]

{{Sanctuary navbox}}

[[Category:Settlements]]
[[Category:Sanctuary]]

File:Harrogath.jpg

2009-10-30T15:34:51Z

Asteria: Harrogath in Act 5 of Diablo 2 Lord of Destruction

Harrogath in Act 5 of Diablo 2 Lord of Destruction

User:Asteria

2009-08-25T02:38:34Z

Asteria:

My forum profile is [http://forums.diii.net/member.php?u=135584 here]

Art controversy

2009-08-24T17:45:36Z

Asteria:

The '''art controversy''' of [[Diablo III]] started with [[WWI 2008]], when a number of Diablo fans found the colour of the Diablo environment palette to be "too colourful". The actual art direction was done in the summer 2007. [http://www.ausgamers.com/features/read/2662371]

==Fan Reactions==
[[Image:Art_controversy_09.jpg|center|thumb|400px|One Diablo fan's artistic inspiration from the [[WWI 2008]] reveal.]]

This is what Blizzard said in regards to the Diablo III art direction in the [http://www.diii.net/articles/668952/lore-amp-environmental-art-panel-video Lore & Environmental Art Panel:]
::''Skip to about the 21:00 mark to hear it. To paraphrase, the designers talk about how their memories of D1 and D2 were that they were dark and gritty, but that when they actually looked back through the games they found much more color than they expected. They also say that they looked at horror movies and noticed how the color was used effectively to create mood, and that they're following that design path with Diablo III.''
 
 

===How it "Should" Look===
A lot of discussion started up about the colour of the environments in the [http://forums.diii.net/showthread.php?t=669266 community forums], where some fans utterly hated the new colours, some didn't care as long as they got D3, and some liked it. Fan-made [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photo_manipulation#Photoshopping photoshopped] images popped up with no colour, higher contrast, more "grit", or even the odd blood stain. More pictures hasve been posted in the [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=553 Controversy Gallery] since then. Naturally, effects such as rainbows were done away with as the point of all these images is to make the pictures more grey and "dark". Some variants just enhance a few aspects, while some go all-out. A very strong fear for just "re-making World of WarCraft" is prevalent.

'''Sample of arguments:'''
* The art should be nowhere near the art of [http://www.worldofwar.net/ World of Warcraft].
* Art should not look "cartoonish" at all. Less pastel with bold lines and defined contours. More realism.
* Darker environment with more realistic gothic creepy dark influences.
* Less colour in the environment.
* No rainbows!
* Add the 'light radius' of Diablo 1 and Diablo 2.
* Equipment should be more realistic, with smaller shoulder plates as a main focus point.

<center>
<gallery>
Image:Art_controversy_01.jpg|Colour, brightness, details and "grit".
Image:Art_controversy_02.jpg|Darker, more red ambient light, "creepier" with more blood.
Image:Art_controversy_03.jpg|Light radius and line-of-sight light.
Image:Art_controversy_04.jpg|Rainbows? An upset fan exclaims disappointment.
Image:Art_controversy_05.jpg|One suggested colour change. Red.
Image:Art_controversy_06.jpg|Dungeon with more "gothic" colours and detail. Necromancer's choice.
Image:Art_controversy_07.jpg|Outdoor colour change, more contrast, less pastel.
Image:Art_controversy_08.jpg|Rainy weather, and darker.
</gallery>
</center>
 
 

===The Petitions===
Together with the first few photoshopped images, petitions started to appear on the net with the demand that Blizzard should change the art design, similar to what they did with [http://www.starcraftwire.net/wiki/Terran Terrans in StarCraft II]. Petition signature count 2008-08-07:
*[http://www.petitiononline.com/d3color/petition.html Petition Against colour 1] - Closed
*[http://www.petitiononline.com/DIII/petition.html Petition Against colour 2] - 1,873
*[http://www.petitiononline.com/d3art/petition.html Petition Against colour 3] - 54,138 (60,654 2009-07-01)
*[http://www.petitiononline.com/d3israd/petition.html Petition to support Blizzard] - 815
One of the petitions against the new art direction got quite popular, and Blizzard originally did not comment on it. There were also petitions starting to support Blizzard's decision. The number of signatures on the different petitions is probably not an accurate guideline for what fans think however, as the fans who do like the current direction would be less vocal than those who are unhappy.
 
 

===Responses to Complaints===
Among other fans, popular web comic site [http://www.penny-arcade.com/ Penny Arcade] didn't quite think the changes required such a violent response, and made a very satirical response to it. Very "Penny-Arcade-esque".

[[Image:Angst.jpg|thumb|center|400px|Penny Arcade responded with a comic named 'Angst.jpg'.]]
 
 

==Blizzard's Response==
Blizzard seemed to be prepared for some sort of onslaught against the colours well before the actual [[WWI 2008]] reveal, and started talking about the importance of colour in the [[WWI 2008: D3 Lore and Environmental Art Panel|D3 Lore and Environmental Art Panel]] before the petitions even started.

::[http://www.diii.net/articles/668952/lore-amp-environmental-art-panel-video Video comment by Flux:]
::''Skip to about the 21:00 mark to hear it. To paraphrase, the designers talk about how their memories of D1 and D2 were that they were dark and gritty, but that when they actually looked back through the games they found much more color than they expected. They also say that they looked at horror movies and noticed how the color was used effectively to create mood, and that they're following that design path with Diablo III.''

The reactions from fans might have been a bit stronger than they initially thought though, as they started out in the beginning of July to avoiding replying to the petition itself. It's unlikely Blizzard didn't know about it, as it was reported on from several websites like [http://www.slashgear.com/diablo-iii-producer-under-fire-for-adding-color-0312386.php Slashgear], [http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080703.WBwgtgameblog030120080703084156/WBStory/WBwgtgameblog0301 The Globe and Mail] as well as the largest [http://www.diii.net/n/669078/too-colorful Diablo 3 fansite].

::[http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/07/02/diablo-iii-art-direction/ Keith Lee replies:]
::''A great analogy is like in 'Lord of the Rings' — not everything is dark. [...] We don't want everything to look the same and that’s really what we're trying to aim for. [...]What we also tried to do is create very clean textures so that you can really focus. It's a stylized feel and in that sense, it's very sort of a Blizzard philosophy. It's just really pushing the envelope in terms of the visuals so that everyone is excited about how everything looks. We think that 'Diablo III' is going to be better in so many different ways. We're just building and improving upon the the first and second 'Diablo' games.''

::''We're very involved, because everyone's very passionate about our games. Blizzard employees, we spend a lot of time actually iterating on [the game], and so in terms of the next phase, what we'll try to do is a proof on concept on lot of different gameplay aspects. And we really want to get as much feedback as possible so that we can improve on the game and ensure that we meet Blizzard quality for our fans and for ourselves as players.''

Later in July, a few mainstream sites got the opportunity to talk to Blizzard in NYC, where art direction, and direct replies to some petition pictures were made by Jay Wilson.

::[http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/08/04/diablo-iii-designer-turns-tables/ Jay Wilson judges fan pics:]
::''[[Jay Wilson]]: The key thing to remember here is that this has been Photoshopped. This isn’t created by the engine. Though it looks really cool, it's almost impossible to do in a 3D engine because you can’t have lighting that smart and run on systems that are reasonable. If we could do that, we probably would in a few of the dungeons.''

::''Now in terms of the actual texturing, this texturing, where they grayed out everything and it's very flat and the monsters are all kind of a similar tone — that does not play well. It's very boring to run through more than a couple of times, and it's very difficult to tell creatures apart and pop them out of the environment. So those things don't really work for us. A lot of the lighting stuff I think is very cool, but it's also not very doable for us.''

[[Image:Rainbowkick.jpg|thumb|220px|right|Fun with Rainbows]]
At [[BlizzCon 2009]] in one of the Diablo III panels discussing animation for the monk, attendees got an exclusive first look at the Monk's Rainbow Kick. It was of course a tongue in cheek reference to the controversy and was greeted with much cheering and whooping.
 
 

==Blizzard Art Department Departing==
In the beginning of August, [http://kotaku.com/5034244/blizzard-looking-for-new-diablo-iii-art-director Kotaku noted] that the Lead Art Director position of Diablo III had quit, since they were [http://www.blizzard.com/us/jobopp/art-director.html looking for a new one]. [[Brian Morrisoe]] worked as Lead Art Director as recently as [[WWI 2008]], where he headed the [[WWI_2008:_D3_Lore_and_Environmental_Art_Panel|Environmental Art Panel]], and did some media, such as [http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=193852 this interview with CVG]. Some fans said it seemed odd that he quit in time for the fan protests, just like if there had been tensions in the team, which re-ignited with fan protests.

[[Image:Blizzard_job_ops.jpg|thumb|261px|right|Blizzard recruiting art people.]]What the Kotaku piece doesn't mention is that there are several other D3 art team jobs listed on Blizzard's jobs page. None of them are recent additions, but many fans speculated that Blizzard was having trouble finding/keeping art talent on Diablo 3. Some even went as far as to say that the team might have gotten split up because of internal disagreements on the art direction. Jay Wilson, Diablo 3's Lead Producer, handled the fan screenshot replies mentioned previously, and some fans ask why the Art Directors didn't handle that.

[http://www.diii.net/n/682181/d3-art-direction-disarray Blizzard made a statement] saying that Brian quit to start his own company.
::''Regarding Brian, he recently resigned to form a startup technology company (outside the game industry), which is why we've posted about the open position. This change won't impact the game - we're really pleased with the look and feel that Brian helped create for Diablo III, and the new person we bring onboard will work with the other artists on the team to maintain the art style moving forward. Given this state of affairs, it's hard not to speculate (as several emailers have) that perhaps the controversy over the game's art direction wasn't just amongst the fans. Perhaps different factions within the Diablo 3 team had their own strong opinions on how the game's art should look, and when push came to shove, some of the crew left. Or were asked to leave? Happily, as Blizzard often points out, the production of a game as large as Diablo 3 is handled by a large team, and no one is indispensable. Let's hope they get talented job applicants and can plug them into the openings and carry on smoothly.''

This doesn't say anything in regards to if he quit because of disagreements, or other reasons.
----
[[Jay Wilson]] also commented further on Morrisoe: [http://www.ausgamers.com/features/read/2662371]
::'''''AG: I have a question that is slightly thorny: There was been a lot speculation around the departure of art director Brian Morrisroe from Diablo 3 - from when the art style was revealed; all that mixed reaction from different people. Why exactly did he leave and was it anything to do with that?'''''

::'''''Jay:''' It actually had nothing to do with the project. Brian really loves the project and his leaving was amicable - we actually still talk to him fairly frequently. He left to create a start-up outside of the games industry; he felt an opportunity that he just couldn't pass up - a once in a lifetime thing. I hate to see him go because he’s so good for the team, such a good art director and I really enjoyed working with him. But he felt like this was a fairly safe point for him to depart and pursue his other interest. Because the art style is established and because our art lead structure is strong. While I can't say it has helped the project to have him leave, I think it's done as minimal damage as possible to the project as it could have. It certainly has nothing to do with the art style controversy or anything like that, and our art style direction will not change.''
----
 
 

==Blizzard Changes Art Based on Feedback==
While most of the feedback from enthusiastic fans were discounted as not being a priority or even possible in terms of gameplay, [[Jay]] did come back and told the fans through [http://www.incgamers.com/Videos/190/Diablo-3-Jay-Wilson-GC-Interview IncGamers] that they made certain changes from the feedback. Here is a summary from [http://www.diii.net/n/686928/jay-wilson-video-interview Diii.net]:
<blockquote>''In the interview Jay talks about his past jobs in the gaming industry, the D2 team guys working on D3, struggles they've had with game and art design, and art design, and art design, and art design. Have you heard that there was a controversy about the art design? No? Well, this interview will fill you right in. Jay does elaborate on two art changes they've made based on fan feedback; they're going back and making a lot of the dungeon environments grittier and bloodier, and they're not going to fade out all of the corpses after battles now; just some of them. Many will remain on the ground until the characters leave the area. Also he confirms that there will be cinematics for D3, at least as many as there were for D2, and that the teaser we saw from WWI was pieced together from several of the longer cinematics we'll see in the final game.''</blockquote>
* [http://www.incgamers.com/Videos/190/Diablo-3-Jay-Wilson-GC-Interview Video Interview].
 
 

==The End of the Art Controversy?==
In the second week of September, a Diablo fan called Sozou [http://www.diii.net/n/692572/the-end-of-the-art-controversy posted] a completely modified gameplay video of Diablo III with desaturated and "gritted" moving art in high resolution, showing what the dev team could do. With all the possible screenshot modifications and the like, it seems unlikely any more thorough example of what some fans would like can be made. He also gave Diii.net a short interview.

* [http://www.diii.net/n/692572/the-end-of-the-art-controversy Stream video, summary and interview]
* [http://rapidshare.com/files/144363212/d3_cc-desktop.m4v.html Download link for high quality]
* [http://www.deriss.net/diablo3/HD_Stills.html Still images taken from the movie]

Blizzard have not responded to this new media yet, but as the hype slowly has diminished, it's not quite likely they will either.
 
 

==Links==
* '''Discuss the Issue'''
** [http://forums.diii.net/showthread.php?t=669266 Join the Colour Fan Debate] - The big debate in the community about the colour palette.
* '''General Information'''
** [[WWI 2008]] - Art panels, video and screenshots of the new game.
** [[:Category:Art controversy|Art Controversy Category]] - All articles, pictures, panels and other material related in the wiki.
** [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=553 Controversy Gallery] - Gallery of original screenshots and edited ones by fans trying to convey a more "dark" feeling. Including responses to the critics.
** [[Media Coverage]] - All Interview, Previews, Videos and Pictures released by mainstream gaming media.
* '''Articles'''
** [http://www.diii.net/n/682181/d3-art-direction-disarray Art Direction Disarray] - Lead Art Director quit timely with the fan protests.
* '''Other Media'''
** [http://www.l4d.com/blog/post.php?id=2129 L4D Art Direction, Part 2: Stylized Darkness] - Randy Lundeen on Left 4 Dead explains why they could not use a too dark art direction in the game and make players happy.

[[Category:Controversies]]
[[Category:Art controversy]]

Art controversy

2009-08-24T17:26:22Z

Asteria: Rainbow Kick

The '''art controversy''' of [[Diablo III]] started with [[WWI 2008]], when a number of Diablo fans found the colour of the Diablo environment palette to be "too colourful". The actual art direction was done in the summer 2007. [http://www.ausgamers.com/features/read/2662371]

==Fan Reactions==
[[Image:Art_controversy_09.jpg|center|thumb|400px|One Diablo fan's artistic inspiration from the [[WWI 2008]] reveal.]]

This is what Blizzard said in regards to the Diablo III art direction in the [http://www.diii.net/articles/668952/lore-amp-environmental-art-panel-video Lore & Environmental Art Panel:]
::''Skip to about the 21:00 mark to hear it. To paraphrase, the designers talk about how their memories of D1 and D2 were that they were dark and gritty, but that when they actually looked back through the games they found much more color than they expected. They also say that they looked at horror movies and noticed how the color was used effectively to create mood, and that they're following that design path with Diablo III.''
 
 

===How it "Should" Look===
A lot of discussion started up about the colour of the environments in the [http://forums.diii.net/showthread.php?t=669266 community forums], where some fans utterly hated the new colours, some didn't care as long as they got D3, and some liked it. Fan-made [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photo_manipulation#Photoshopping photoshopped] images popped up with no colour, higher contrast, more "grit", or even the odd blood stain. More pictures hasve been posted in the [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=553 Controversy Gallery] since then. Naturally, effects such as rainbows were done away with as the point of all these images is to make the pictures more grey and "dark". Some variants just enhance a few aspects, while some go all-out. A very strong fear for just "re-making World of WarCraft" is prevalent.

'''Sample of arguments:'''
* The art should be nowhere near the art of [http://www.worldofwar.net/ World of Warcraft].
* Art should not look "cartoonish" at all. Less pastel with bold lines and defined contours. More realism.
* Darker environment with more realistic gothic creepy dark influences.
* Less colour in the environment.
* No rainbows!
* Add the 'light radius' of Diablo 1 and Diablo 2.
* Equipment should be more realistic, with smaller shoulder plates as a main focus point.

<center>
<gallery>
Image:Art_controversy_01.jpg|Colour, brightness, details and "grit".
Image:Art_controversy_02.jpg|Darker, more red ambient light, "creepier" with more blood.
Image:Art_controversy_03.jpg|Light radius and line-of-sight light.
Image:Art_controversy_04.jpg|Rainbows? An upset fan exclaims disappointment.
Image:Art_controversy_05.jpg|One suggested colour change. Red.
Image:Art_controversy_06.jpg|Dungeon with more "gothic" colours and detail. Necromancer's choice.
Image:Art_controversy_07.jpg|Outdoor colour change, more contrast, less pastel.
Image:Art_controversy_08.jpg|Rainy weather, and darker.
</gallery>
</center>
 
 

===The Petitions===
Together with the first few photoshopped images, petitions started to appear on the net with the demand that Blizzard should change the art design, similar to what they did with [http://www.starcraftwire.net/wiki/Terran Terrans in StarCraft II]. Petition signature count 2008-08-07:
*[http://www.petitiononline.com/d3color/petition.html Petition Against colour 1] - Closed
*[http://www.petitiononline.com/DIII/petition.html Petition Against colour 2] - 1,873
*[http://www.petitiononline.com/d3art/petition.html Petition Against colour 3] - 54,138 (60,654 2009-07-01)
*[http://www.petitiononline.com/d3israd/petition.html Petition to support Blizzard] - 815
One of the petitions against the new art direction got quite popular, and Blizzard originally did not comment on it. There were also petitions starting to support Blizzard's decision. The number of signatures on the different petitions is probably not an accurate guideline for what fans think however, as the fans who do like the current direction would be less vocal than those who are unhappy.
 
 

===Responses to Complaints===
Among other fans, popular web comic site [http://www.penny-arcade.com/ Penny Arcade] didn't quite think the changes required such a violent response, and made a very satirical response to it. Very "Penny-Arcade-esque".

[[Image:Angst.jpg|thumb|center|400px|Penny Arcade responded with a comic named 'Angst.jpg'.]]
 
 

==Blizzard's Response==
Blizzard seemed to be prepared for some sort of onslaught against the colours well before the actual [[WWI 2008]] reveal, and started talking about the importance of colour in the [[WWI 2008: D3 Lore and Environmental Art Panel|D3 Lore and Environmental Art Panel]] before the petitions even started.

::[http://www.diii.net/articles/668952/lore-amp-environmental-art-panel-video Video comment by Flux:]
::''Skip to about the 21:00 mark to hear it. To paraphrase, the designers talk about how their memories of D1 and D2 were that they were dark and gritty, but that when they actually looked back through the games they found much more color than they expected. They also say that they looked at horror movies and noticed how the color was used effectively to create mood, and that they're following that design path with Diablo III.''

The reactions from fans might have been a bit stronger than they initially thought though, as they started out in the beginning of July to avoiding replying to the petition itself. It's unlikely Blizzard didn't know about it, as it was reported on from several websites like [http://www.slashgear.com/diablo-iii-producer-under-fire-for-adding-color-0312386.php Slashgear], [http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080703.WBwgtgameblog030120080703084156/WBStory/WBwgtgameblog0301 The Globe and Mail] as well as the largest [http://www.diii.net/n/669078/too-colorful Diablo 3 fansite].

::[http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/07/02/diablo-iii-art-direction/ Keith Lee replies:]
::''A great analogy is like in 'Lord of the Rings' — not everything is dark. [...] We don't want everything to look the same and that’s really what we're trying to aim for. [...]What we also tried to do is create very clean textures so that you can really focus. It's a stylized feel and in that sense, it's very sort of a Blizzard philosophy. It's just really pushing the envelope in terms of the visuals so that everyone is excited about how everything looks. We think that 'Diablo III' is going to be better in so many different ways. We're just building and improving upon the the first and second 'Diablo' games.''

::''We're very involved, because everyone's very passionate about our games. Blizzard employees, we spend a lot of time actually iterating on [the game], and so in terms of the next phase, what we'll try to do is a proof on concept on lot of different gameplay aspects. And we really want to get as much feedback as possible so that we can improve on the game and ensure that we meet Blizzard quality for our fans and for ourselves as players.''

Later in July, a few mainstream sites got the opportunity to talk to Blizzard in NYC, where art direction, and direct replies to some petition pictures were made by Jay Wilson.

::[http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/08/04/diablo-iii-designer-turns-tables/ Jay Wilson judges fan pics:]
::''[[Jay Wilson]]: The key thing to remember here is that this has been Photoshopped. This isn’t created by the engine. Though it looks really cool, it's almost impossible to do in a 3D engine because you can’t have lighting that smart and run on systems that are reasonable. If we could do that, we probably would in a few of the dungeons.''

::''Now in terms of the actual texturing, this texturing, where they grayed out everything and it's very flat and the monsters are all kind of a similar tone — that does not play well. It's very boring to run through more than a couple of times, and it's very difficult to tell creatures apart and pop them out of the environment. So those things don't really work for us. A lot of the lighting stuff I think is very cool, but it's also not very doable for us.''

[[Image:Rainbowkick.jpg|thumb|220px|right|Fun with Rainbows]]At [[BlizzCon 2009]] in one of the Diablo III panels discussing animation for the monk, attendees got an exclusive first look at the Monk's Rainbow Kick. It was of course a tongue in cheek reference to the controversy and was greeted with much cheering and whooping.
 
 

==Blizzard Art Department Departing==
In the beginning of August, [http://kotaku.com/5034244/blizzard-looking-for-new-diablo-iii-art-director Kotaku noted] that the Lead Art Director position of Diablo III had quit, since they were [http://www.blizzard.com/us/jobopp/art-director.html looking for a new one]. [[Brian Morrisoe]] worked as Lead Art Director as recently as [[WWI 2008]], where he headed the [[WWI_2008:_D3_Lore_and_Environmental_Art_Panel|Environmental Art Panel]], and did some media, such as [http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=193852 this interview with CVG]. Some fans said it seemed odd that he quit in time for the fan protests, just like if there had been tensions in the team, which re-ignited with fan protests.

[[Image:Blizzard_job_ops.jpg|thumb|261px|right|Blizzard recruiting art people.]]What the Kotaku piece doesn't mention is that there are several other D3 art team jobs listed on Blizzard's jobs page. None of them are recent additions, but many fans speculated that Blizzard was having trouble finding/keeping art talent on Diablo 3. Some even went as far as to say that the team might have gotten split up because of internal disagreements on the art direction. Jay Wilson, Diablo 3's Lead Producer, handled the fan screenshot replies mentioned previously, and some fans ask why the Art Directors didn't handle that.

[http://www.diii.net/n/682181/d3-art-direction-disarray Blizzard made a statement] saying that Brian quit to start his own company.
::''Regarding Brian, he recently resigned to form a startup technology company (outside the game industry), which is why we've posted about the open position. This change won't impact the game - we're really pleased with the look and feel that Brian helped create for Diablo III, and the new person we bring onboard will work with the other artists on the team to maintain the art style moving forward. Given this state of affairs, it's hard not to speculate (as several emailers have) that perhaps the controversy over the game's art direction wasn't just amongst the fans. Perhaps different factions within the Diablo 3 team had their own strong opinions on how the game's art should look, and when push came to shove, some of the crew left. Or were asked to leave? Happily, as Blizzard often points out, the production of a game as large as Diablo 3 is handled by a large team, and no one is indispensable. Let's hope they get talented job applicants and can plug them into the openings and carry on smoothly.''

This doesn't say anything in regards to if he quit because of disagreements, or other reasons.
----
[[Jay Wilson]] also commented further on Morrisoe: [http://www.ausgamers.com/features/read/2662371]
::'''''AG: I have a question that is slightly thorny: There was been a lot speculation around the departure of art director Brian Morrisroe from Diablo 3 - from when the art style was revealed; all that mixed reaction from different people. Why exactly did he leave and was it anything to do with that?'''''

::'''''Jay:''' It actually had nothing to do with the project. Brian really loves the project and his leaving was amicable - we actually still talk to him fairly frequently. He left to create a start-up outside of the games industry; he felt an opportunity that he just couldn't pass up - a once in a lifetime thing. I hate to see him go because he’s so good for the team, such a good art director and I really enjoyed working with him. But he felt like this was a fairly safe point for him to depart and pursue his other interest. Because the art style is established and because our art lead structure is strong. While I can't say it has helped the project to have him leave, I think it's done as minimal damage as possible to the project as it could have. It certainly has nothing to do with the art style controversy or anything like that, and our art style direction will not change.''
----
 
 

==Blizzard Changes Art Based on Feedback==
While most of the feedback from enthusiastic fans were discounted as not being a priority or even possible in terms of gameplay, [[Jay]] did come back and told the fans through [http://www.incgamers.com/Videos/190/Diablo-3-Jay-Wilson-GC-Interview IncGamers] that they made certain changes from the feedback. Here is a summary from [http://www.diii.net/n/686928/jay-wilson-video-interview Diii.net]:
<blockquote>''In the interview Jay talks about his past jobs in the gaming industry, the D2 team guys working on D3, struggles they've had with game and art design, and art design, and art design, and art design. Have you heard that there was a controversy about the art design? No? Well, this interview will fill you right in. Jay does elaborate on two art changes they've made based on fan feedback; they're going back and making a lot of the dungeon environments grittier and bloodier, and they're not going to fade out all of the corpses after battles now; just some of them. Many will remain on the ground until the characters leave the area. Also he confirms that there will be cinematics for D3, at least as many as there were for D2, and that the teaser we saw from WWI was pieced together from several of the longer cinematics we'll see in the final game.''</blockquote>
* [http://www.incgamers.com/Videos/190/Diablo-3-Jay-Wilson-GC-Interview Video Interview].
 
 

==The End of the Art Controversy?==
In the second week of September, a Diablo fan called Sozou [http://www.diii.net/n/692572/the-end-of-the-art-controversy posted] a completely modified gameplay video of Diablo III with desaturated and "gritted" moving art in high resolution, showing what the dev team could do. With all the possible screenshot modifications and the like, it seems unlikely any more thorough example of what some fans would like can be made. He also gave Diii.net a short interview.

* [http://www.diii.net/n/692572/the-end-of-the-art-controversy Stream video, summary and interview]
* [http://rapidshare.com/files/144363212/d3_cc-desktop.m4v.html Download link for high quality]
* [http://www.deriss.net/diablo3/HD_Stills.html Still images taken from the movie]

Blizzard have not responded to this new media yet, but as the hype slowly has diminished, it's not quite likely they will either.
 
 

==Links==
* '''Discuss the Issue'''
** [http://forums.diii.net/showthread.php?t=669266 Join the Colour Fan Debate] - The big debate in the community about the colour palette.
* '''General Information'''
** [[WWI 2008]] - Art panels, video and screenshots of the new game.
** [[:Category:Art controversy|Art Controversy Category]] - All articles, pictures, panels and other material related in the wiki.
** [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=553 Controversy Gallery] - Gallery of original screenshots and edited ones by fans trying to convey a more "dark" feeling. Including responses to the critics.
** [[Media Coverage]] - All Interview, Previews, Videos and Pictures released by mainstream gaming media.
* '''Articles'''
** [http://www.diii.net/n/682181/d3-art-direction-disarray Art Direction Disarray] - Lead Art Director quit timely with the fan protests.
* '''Other Media'''
** [http://www.l4d.com/blog/post.php?id=2129 L4D Art Direction, Part 2: Stylized Darkness] - Randy Lundeen on Left 4 Dead explains why they could not use a too dark art direction in the game and make players happy.

[[Category:Controversies]]
[[Category:Art controversy]]

File:Rainbowkick.jpg

2009-08-24T17:19:02Z

Asteria: Monk's Rainbow Kick

Monk's Rainbow Kick

Conjuring Skill Tree

2009-08-22T00:27:49Z

Asteria: added new image for Stone Skin

{{class_navbox}}
The Wizard's skills are divided into three skill trees, each of which has about 18 known spells. These were first seen at Blizzcon 2008, and while they are very much subject to change during the game's continued development, viewing them in this state is still informative. The three trees are:

* [[Storm Skill Tree]]
* [[Arcane Skill Tree]]
* [[Conjuring Skill Tree]]

==Diablo 3 Skill Trees==

Unlike the skill trees in Diablo II, the trees in Diablo III are not focused on just one aspect of a character. All known D3 skill trees have a wide variety of skills, with more passive than active skills, and all allow for a variety of play styles.

All active skills in the BlizzCon build were capped at 1 skill point (or rank, as skill levels are called in D3), while most passives went up to 15 points. This will not be the case in the final game; active skills will allow more than 1 point, and passives may have different maximum ranks, to allow better game balancing. Know that skills will be modified, that some will be removed, that others will be added, and that the numbers are almost certain to change.

[[Skill Runes]] could only be socketed in active skills, in the Blizzcon build. This may or may not remain true in the final game.

==Tier 1 Skills==
These skills are available for use as soon as new Wizard is created.

===Spectral Blade===
[[Image:Wiz-spectral-blade1.jpg|thumb|250px|Spectral Blades in action.]]
* Active Skill
* '''Description:''' Summons a spectral blade that strikes each enemy in front of the wizard 3 times causing 1-5 physical damage with each hit.
*'''Rank''': 0/1
*'''Mana cost:''' 7

This skill was the default left click attack at the Blizzcon build, and it worked quite nicely. It was a melee+ spell, hitting anything up close with all 3 slashes, but extending the slashes far enough that targets out of melee range would be hit by one or perhaps two of the attacks. Each slash could also strike multiple targets, making this one potentially quite damaging against multiple, close-range enemies.

===Spell Speed===
* Passive Skill
* '''Description:''' Increases the speed of your magic missile projectiles.
*''' Max Rank:''' 15
** '''Rank 1:''' Increases speed by 8%.
** '''Rank 2:''' Increases speed by 16%.
** '''Rank 3:''' Increases speed by 24%.

===Damage Resistance===
* Passive Skill
* '''Description:''' Increases armor and resistances.
*'''Max Rank:''' 15
** '''Rank 1:''' Increases armor by xx% and all resistances by x%.
** '''Rank 2:''' Increases armor by 10% and all resistances by 8%.
** '''Rank 3:''' Increase armor by 15% and all resistances by 12%.

This seems like a tremendously powerful passive, if the increase per skill point remains constant.

===Weapon Mastery===
* Passive Skill
* '''Description:''' Increases physical damage done by all weapons by 15.
*'''Rank:''' 0/15

This skill is something of a mystery, since there's little else to indicate that the Wizard would be using weapons for damage. It is known that the Wizard's equipment will have some bearing on his spell damage, so perhaps some skills derive their damage from the weapon damage, and this skill would boost that damage?

Either that or it's a harbinger of more melee/weapon type skills, or just something the D3 team was playing around with in their character development.

This would've been useful in Diablo 2, what with all the "unique" builds, including the melee sorceress. The question is if that kind of diversity will exist in Diablo 3, or else this skill seems useless.

==Tier II Skills==
These skills are available as soon as a Wizard reaches level 5.

===Stone Skin===
[[Image:Stoneskin.jpg|thumb|250px|New Crystalined Stone Skin.]]* Active Skill
* '''Description:''' Shield yourself with rock and stone absorbing 30 damage.
*'''Rank:''' 0/1
*'''Duration:''' 8 seconds
*'''Mana cost:''' 12
*'''Cooldown:''' 15 seconds

One of the many shielding skills, all of different types, the Wizard has at her possession.

===Mirror Image===
[[Image:Wiz-mirror-image1.jpg|thumb|Reinforcements!]]
* Active Skill
* '''Description:''' Create an illusionary duplicate of yourself.
*'''Rank:''' 1
*'''Duration:''' 8 seconds
*'''Mana Cost:''' 18

This skill is seen in the Blizzcon cinematic, in which the Wizard creates 5 duplicates, all of which have a small white circle over their heads. They are not just decoys either; they join the combat, which makes this seem like a very interesting spell.

===Conjured Armor===
* Passive Skill
* '''Description:''' Magical armor surrounds the wizard increasing block chance by 2%.
*'''Rank:''' 0/15

===Conjured Health===
* Passive Skill
* '''Description:''' Increases total health by 8% and the health of your conjured images by 12%.
* '''Rank:''' 0/15

===Duplicate Conjuring===
* Passive Skill
* '''Description:''' Increases the images from your mirror image skill and Hydras from your Hydra skill by 1.''
*'''Rank:''' 0/15

A number of the passives in D3 boost two or three other skills, but not every skill in the skill tree. It's an interesting way to add more variety and specialization to the game.

==Tier III Skills==
A Wizard must be at least Clvl 10, and have spent at least 10 skill points in the Conjuring skill tree before he/she is able to put points into any of the skills at this tier.

===Meteor Storm===
[[Image:Wiz-meteor1.jpg|thumb|Laser-like Meteors descend.]]
* Active Skill
* '''Description:''' Meteorites pelt the targeted region dealing 10 to 20 damage per second.
*'''Rank:''' 0/1
*'''Mana cost:''' 12 mana per second

The Meteor skill from D2 has been upgraded and modified. Now it calls down multiple meteors over a wider area, much like the Blizzard skill. Furthermore, Meteor Storm can be cast for as long as the Wizard wishes, with a mana cost per second, rather than per use.

===Acid Cloud===
* Active Skill
* '''Description:''' Drop a cloud of acid on the targeted area. Deals an initial 1-4 poison damage followed by 4-8 poison damage per sec to enemies who remain in the area.
*'''Rank:''' 0/1
*'''Mana cost:''' 15

===Conjured Power===
* Passive Skill
* '''Description:''' Increases damage done by spells by 1% for every 10 points of vitality.''
*'''Rank:''' 0/15

===Conjuring Duration===
* Passive Skill
* '''Description:''' Increases the duration of your Stone Skin and Acid Cloud spells by 1 sec and duration of your mirror image images by 2 sec.''
*'''Rank:''' 0/15:

===Improved Spectral Blade===
* Passive Skill
* '''Description:''' Increases the damage of Spectral Blade by 14%.
*'''Rank:''' 0/15

==Tier IV Skills==
A wizard must invest 15 points in the Conjuring tree before the skills in this tier become available.

===Hydra===
* Active Skill
* '''Description:''' Creates a multi-headed beast that attacks your enemies with bolts of fire.
*'''Rank:''' 0/1

===Magic Weapon===
* Active Skill
* '''Description:''' Imbue your weapon with magical energy granting it increased damage.
*'''Rank:''' 0/1
*'''Mana cost:''' 10
Like weapon mastery, this enhances your melee attacks. Judging by the rest of the conjuring tree (mainly magical impact and slowing strikes) the conjuring wizard will be a more melee oriented wizard, which adds a nice twist to the usual magic stereotype that wizards possess.

===Magical Impact===
* Passive Skill
* '''Description:''' Increases damage of all spells by 15% of your weapon damage.
*'''Rank:''' 0/15

An interesting reversal on this one, boosting spell damage by weapon damage. This would create some very odd weapon choices for wizards, with huge damage weapons potentially more useful than the various spell-caster type wands and orbs mage classes generally specialize during the end game.

===Slowing Strikes===
* Passive Skill
* '''Description:''' Enemies damaged by your melee attacks, Spectral Blade or Magic Weapon have their movement speed reduced by 30% and their attack speed reduced by 20% for 4 sec.
*'''Rank:''' 0/15

===Armor Piercing===
* Passive Skill
* '''Description:''' Conjured and physical damage decreases the armor of armored enemies.
*'''Rank:''' 0/15

[[Category:Wizard]]
[[Category:Skills]]
[[Category:Wizard skills]]

{{Skill navbox}}
{{Skill_navbox_conjuring}}

File:Stoneskin.jpg

2009-08-22T00:25:17Z

Asteria: Wizard's Stone Skin

Wizard's Stone Skin

Lut Bahadur

2009-08-21T03:17:52Z

Asteria:

'''Lut Bahadur''' is a desert town believed to be located within the [[Aranoch]] desert, but could very well be somewhere in [[Kehjistan]] or the [[Dry Steppes]].

It's reasonably closely located to the [[Sundered Pass]], from where help has been sent, as the town is in unknown peril.

=Game Level=
Lut Bahadur is part of the demo playable at Gamescom 2009 and [[BlizzCon 2009]] in which the player is sent to as part of a quest.

==Related Articles==
{{GamesCom 2009}}

{{stub}}

[[Category:Settlements]]

Blood Money

2009-08-20T01:55:11Z

Asteria:

Blood Money is a quest first revealed in the August 2009 build playable at GamesCom and Blizzcon.

=Background=

This quest is issued by a wanted poster in the desert in [[The Canyon Rim Mines]]. The instructions read ''"The wanted poster advertises a bounty on the head of a notorious outlaw, who is camped somewhere in the desert."''

[[Category:Quests]]

Media Coverage

2009-08-20T00:46:33Z

Asteria: /* August 2009 */

This page lists all ''Diablo III'' coverage; previews, interviews, pictures, videos, designer diaries, forum post, and more. Anything from the D3 team that's substantial enough to warrant a news post on Diii.net gets an entry on this page. Larger interviews and other features are archived in this section one month after they go online, to ward off link rot. If you are new to Diablo or Diablo III development, you can read up on the topic here:
* '''[[Diablo 3 Basics]]''' - The light source of all known Diablo III data in one fact sheet.

==August 2009==
{{pre}} August 19, 2009. [http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3175657 Wizard hands-on] by 1up.com.
{{pre}} August 19, 2009. [http://kotaku.com/5340558/diablo-iii-impressions-hands-on-with-the-barbarian Barbarian hands-on] by Kotaku.com.

==June 2009==

{{com}} June 28, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-iii-the-first-year-in-review-part-i/ What We've Learned] news analysis column debuts by reviewing the first year of Diablo 3.
{{int}} June 28, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/rob-pardo-interviewed/ Rob Pardo] interviewed on WoW, B.net, and a little D3. By IndustryGamers.com
{{com}} June 27, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/runewords-a-change-to-pvp/ PvP discussion]: How D2's runewords changed everything (for better and worse).
{{com}} June 25, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/what-if-diablo-iii-gunslinger-class/ Class speculation]: The Gunslinger.
{{com}} June 24, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/guest-article-does-d3-need-a-sexy-character/ Does Diablo 3] need a sexy character?
{{blz}} June 23, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-iii-health-bar-changed/ Bashiok on] changes to the monster health bar display in Diablo 3.
{{blz}} June 16, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-dynamic-lighting-and-tomes-of-lore/ Bashiok on] dynamic lightning and tomes of lore in Diablo 3.
{{blz}} June 16, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-graphics-and-german-wizards/ Bashiok on] German wizards and game graphics.
{{oth}} June 13, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/painted-diablo-iii-overthrown-diorama-unveiled/ Diablo 3 Barbarian] painted statue revealed. ([http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-iii-overthrown-limited-edition-sold-out/ It sells out] in 2 days.)
{{com}} June 13, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/make-your-own-class/ Create your own] D3 class section premieres.
{{blz}} June 12, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-unlocking-tyraels-face/ Bashiok on] unlocking Tyrael's face.
{{blz}} June 11, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-ii-patch-1.13-delayed/ Bashiok explains] why the D2 v1.13 patch was delayed.
{{blz}} June 10, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-the-barbarians-fury/ Bashiok on] changes to the Barbarian's Fury. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-is-fury-ous/ Follow up] #1. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-fury-and-the-joys-of-forum-moderation/ Follow up] #2.
{{blz}} June 10, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-gore/ Bashiok on] gore and Blizzcon announcements.
{{blz}} June 8, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-health-globe-drops/ Bashiok on] [[health globes]] and the [[boss]]es that drop them.
{{com}} June 7, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/no-game-support-boycott-the-sequel/ Angry fans ask] why they should buy a sequel when the original game was not supported as promised?
{{blz}} June 6, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/battle.net-confirmed-fee-free/ Starcraft 2 CM] confirms that some Battle.net access will be fee-free. Details yet TBD.
{{blz}} June 4, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-bloody-floors-white-noise-and-graphics/ Bashiok on] blood floors, white noise, and graphics.
{{blz}} June 3, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/runes-value-and-legitimate-trade/ Bashiok on] runes, trades, and item value.
{{blz}} June 1, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-skill-rune-swapping/ Bashiok] on skill rune swapping.
{{pic}} June 1, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/the-bone-reaver/ The Bone Reaver] concept art debuts.

==May 2009==

{{com}} May 30, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/mad-prophecies-2-defensive-skills/ Defensive Skills] are never as useful as offensive skills. Can this be fixed in Diablo 3?
{{blz}} May 28, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-bald-fallen/ Bashiok] on bald Fallen.
{{Com}} May 27, 2009: [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/guest-article-diablo-pvp-the-past-present-and-future/ Diablo PVP: The Past, Present, and Future] Discussion of PvP implementation in past Diablo titles going towards D3.
{{oth}}May 25, 2009: [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/ongoing-d2-support-questions/ Blizzard calls for] questions on the future of Diablo II.
{{blz}} May 25, 2009: [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-the-fallen-and-animations/ Bashiok on] Fallen and monster animations.
{{pre}} May 23, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-iii-bestiary-the-fallen-ones/ Fallen Ones bestiary page] added to the official site. With [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/fallen-screenshots/ bonus screenshots] and concept art.
{{blz}} May 22, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-item-colors-and-blizzcon-tickets/ Bashiok on Item Colors and Blizzcon Tickets].
{{blz}} May 21, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-socketing-confirmation/ Bashiok on socketing confirmation].
{{oth}} May 20, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/get-a-blizzcon-ticket/ Get a BlizzCon Ticket].
{{oth}} May 18, 2009. [http://www.incgamers.com/News/16421/BlizzConTicketsSoldOutIn15Seconds IncGamers reports: BlizzCon tickets sold out in 15 seconds].
{{com}} May 18, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/mad-prophecies-1/ Balance issues] in Diablo 2 and other RPGs. Can End Game characters ever be properly balanced?
{{oth}} May 16, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/first-batch-of-blizzcon-2009-tickets-sold-out/ First Batch of BlizzCon 2009 Tickets Sold Out].
{{blz}} May 16, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-runewords-and-the-d2-economy/ Bashiok on Runewords and the D2 Economy].
{{oth}} May 16, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzcon-ticket-sales-tomorrow-update/ BlizzCon ticket sales tomorrow. Buying process info].
{{blz}} May 14, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/larger-stash-in-d2-v1.13/ Bashiok talks of larger stash for Diablo II in patch 1.13]
{{pic}} May 14, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-cosplay/ Bashiok posted Blizzard-themed cosplay pictures from China]
{{blz}} May 14, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-system-specs-and-demo-players/ Bashiok on System Specs and Demo Players].
{{oth}} May 13, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/best-costume-to-win-a-free-trip-to-blizzcon-2009/ Costume contest to win free trip to BlizzCon 2009 ]
{{oth}} May 13, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/greg-canessa-joins-battle.net-2.0-dev-team/ Greg Canessa Joins Battle.net 2.0 Dev Team].
{{blz}} May 13, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/sideshow-diablo-iii-overthrown-nearing-final-stages/ Diablo III statue nearing final stages].
{{blz}} May 12, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-iii-skill-trees-innovative-overhaul/ Diablo III Skill Trees Innovative Overhaul].
{{blz}} May 12, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzcon-2009-diablo-iii-panels-revealed/ Blizzcon 2009 Diablo III Panels Revealed].
{{blz}} May 07, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-skill-synergies/ Bashiok on Skill Synergies].
{{com}} May 6, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/on-the-drawing-board-13-maximum-level/ Level up rate and maximum level] in Diablo 3. How fast, and how soon?
{{blz}} May 05, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzcon-2009-tickets-on-sale-may-16/ BlizzCon 2009 Tickets On Sale May 16].
{{blz}} May 05, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-level-requirements-wearing-girls-clothing-and-v1.13/ Bashiok on Level Requirements, Wearing Girl's Clothing, and v1.13].
 
 

==April 2009==
[[Image:Archivist.jpg|thumb|250px|The [[Archivist]]!]]
{{com}} April 30, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/on-the-drawing-board-12-monster-variety/ Monster variety.] How much variety do you want to see in Diablo 3?
{{blz}} April 29, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-lore/ Bashiok on Lore]
{{com}} April 26, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/guest-article-what-it-deserves/ Giving Diablo 3 what it deserves]. How much of a lifestyle change is required to welcome Diablo III into your life?
{{blz}} April 24, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on/ Bashiok on Health Globes and Healing]
{{blz}} April 24, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-mana-regeneration-party-bonuses-hack-prevention-and-gameplay-tra/ Bashiok on Wizard's mana, hacking, party mode and gameplay demo character level].
{{blz}} April 21, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/decapitation-in-diablo-3/ Bashiok tells us how the decapitation animation is activated].
{{blz}} April 20, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/the-barbarians-tattoos/ Bashiok explains why Barbarian tattoos are different in Diablo II and Diablo III].
{{com}} April 19, 2009: [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/guest-article-is-there-a-downside-to-hardcore/ Is there a downside to Hardcore?] Article looks at the possible detrimental effects that [[Hardcore]] mode brings to the game.
{{blz}} April 18, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/d2-ladder-reset-coming/ Blizzard informs of incoming Ladder Reset].
{{blz}} April 18, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-is-less-filling/ Bashiok on pictures from Blizzard HQ].
{{blz}} April 16, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on...-everything/ Bashiok answers 50 random questions at once].
{{blz}} April 14, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/two-unannounced-classes-and-expansions-possibilities/ Bashiok talks generally about class archtypes].
{{blz}} April 14, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzard-theme-park-contest-winners/ Blizzard Theme Park Contest Winners].
{{blz}} April 14, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashioks-monday/ Bashiok on several topics not directly related to D3].
{{blz}} April 9, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-explains-diablo-3-skill-tree-design/ Bashiok Explains Diablo 3 Skill Tree Design].
{{oth}} April 9, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-iii-logo-wins-2009-mi6-awards/ Diablo III Logo Wins 2009 MI6 Awards].
{{oth}} April 8, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzards-friends-list-and-mvp-programs-terminated/ Blizzard’s Friends List and MVP Programs Terminated].
{{blz}} April 3, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-iii-siegebreaker-breaks-wall-to-catch-merc-through-debris/ Bashiok on ambient life, beta eligibility, and the new interface design].
{{blz}} April 3, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashok-on-game-length-and-inventory-design/ Bashiok on game length and interface design feedback].
{{blz}} April 2, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-the-wwi-demo/ Bashiok: making of the WWI gameplay movie].
{{blz}} April 1, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/fourth-diablo-iii-class-revealed-the-archivist/ Bashiok adds more Archivist details].
{{pre}} April 1, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/fourth-diablo-iii-class-revealed-the-archivist/ The Archivist class revealed].
 
 
==March 2009==
[[Image:Paper-doll-annotated.jpg|thumb|300px|New paper doll.]]
{{int}} March 31, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-iiis-composer-speaks/ Russell Browser, Diablo III composer, shares soundtrack information].
{{pic}} March 30, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzcast-8-live-with-diablo-iii-goodies/ Blizzcast #8 with new info and interface pics].
{{blz}} March 24, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-iii-user-interface-uses-intelligent-engine/ Bashiok on the interface and skill hotkeys].
{{blz}} March 21, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-buff-timers/ Bashiok on buff timers and awesome fan art].
{{com}} March 19, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/on-the-drawing-board-11-maximum-party-size/ Maximum party size issues]. How large will parties be in Diablo 3? How large should they be?
{{oth}} March 19, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/battle.net-2.0-is-here/ Battle.net 2.0 launched].
{{int}} March 17, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bill-roper-on-d3/ Bill Roper comments] on Diablo 3, with some controversy. Videogamer.com
{{blz}} March 14, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-orbs-hells-and-sound-effects/ Bashiok on health globes, wizard orbs, and sound effects].
{{blz}} March 10, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-upcoming-d3-goodies/ Bashiok on system requirements and upcoming info releases].
{{pic}} March 8, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzard-campus-weta-wolfrider-statue-finally-installed/ WoW Wolfrider statue installed on Blizzard campus].
{{blz}} March 6, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-blizzard-and-guns/ Bashiok on Blizzard, Guns, and Immunities].
{{blz}} March 5, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-iii-wizard-orb-and-unannounced-weapon-enchantment/ Bashiok on Wizard items and skill runes].
{{oth}} March 3, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-ii-patch-1.13-community-wish-list/ Blizzard requests fan input on D2 v1.13 patch fixes].
** Updated [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-2-patch-1.13-eta-and-content/ suggestions guidelines].
** Updated, Bashiok [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-ii-v1.13-patch-update/ gives a non-ETA].
{{blz}} March 1, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-elemental-weapon-effects/ Bashiok on elemental weapon visual effects].
 
 

==February 2009==
[[Image:Unburied render.jpg|thumb|300px|The Unburied.]]
{{pic}} February 28, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/new-diablo-iii-sceenshots/ New Diablo III screenshots].
{{pre}} February 26, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bestiary-update-unburied/ The Unburied is added to the D3 bestiary]. Plus forum posts and [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/small-unburied-lore-update/ Bashiok comments on it].
{{blz}} February 24, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/chests-and-unannounced-classes/ Bashiok on chests, keys, and unannounced classes].
{{vid}} February 23, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/female-wd-talks-to-captain-rumford/ Video from Blizzcon shows NPC conversation].
{{blz}} February 18, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-d2-secrets/ Bashiok on chat gem, standard of heroes, and charms].
{{oth}} February 17, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzcon-in-2009/ BlizzCon 2009 Announced].
{{blz}} February 14, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/players-wont-explore-all-the-world-in-diablo-3/ Bashiok says the World Map is larger than the game world].
{{blz}} February 13, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/affixes-that-are-odd-on-some-items/ Bashiok on item affixes].
{{blz}} February 13, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/can-diablo-iii-feel-good-without-identify/ Bashiok on ID scrolls].
{{blz}} February 13, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/loot-bosses-and-cars/ Bashiok on loot and bosses].
{{com}} February 12, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/on-the-drawing-board-10-horror-elements/ Horror elements]. Will Diablo 3 be scary and gruesome? Should it be?
{{blz}} February 11, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/item-customization/ Bashiok on item customization and sockets].
{{blz}} February 10, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/more-bashiok-on-gold-sinks-fury-and-the-new-chat-gem/ Bashiok on gold sinks, Fury, and the new chat gem].
{{blz}} February 8, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-gold-sinks/ Bashiok on gold sinks and soul bound items].
{{blz}} February 2, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-dps-displays/ Bashiok on DPS display].
{{int}} February 1, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-iii-gamestar-interviews-leonard-boyarsky/ Leonard Boyarsky on runes, skills, inventory, and much more].
 
 
==January 2009==
[[Image:Secret-level-unicorn1.jpg|thumb|300px|Bashiok's pretty unicorn pony.]]
{{pic}} January 31, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/thousand-pound-ghostbuster/ Joke images: Thousand Pound Ghostbuster and rainbow-farting unicorn].
{{pic}} January 30, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/new-diablo-iii-official-wallpapers-1-29/ New official wallpapers].
{{com}} January 30, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/on-the-drawing-board-9-item-sets-and-set-items/ Item Sets and Set Items]. What changes and modifications can we expect to see in Diablo 3?
{{pre}} January 18, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-iii-death-knight-class/ Death Knight class speculation].
{{blz}} January 17, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/dropped_items_degrade_diablo_3_performance/ Bashiok on dropped items = performance degradation and a larger stash].
{{blz}} January 16, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/damage-and-soundtrack/ Bashiok on damage display and soundtrack].
{{blz}} January 13, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-iii-build-customization-ui-economy-and-more/ Bashiok on inventory space, respecs, and much more].
{{blz}} January 10, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-auction-houses/ Bashiok on Auction Houses and trading].
{{pic}} January 8, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/new-screenshots-and-concept-art-january-8-update/ New screenshots and concept art].
{{pre}} January 7, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/pc-gamer-on-diablo-iii-and-blizzard/ PC Gamer UK vs. US cover captions]. Plus their short Diablo III preview.
{{blz}} January 7, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-iii-stat-points/ Bashiok on Skill Points and build variety].
{{pre}} January 5, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/d3-in-pcgamer/ PC Gamer magazine preview]. Nothing new in the preview; [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=2421&cat=576 cover photo here].
{{pic}} January 3, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/new-female-witchdoctor-concept-art/ New Female WitchDoctor concept art].
 
 
==December 2008==
{{com}} December 25, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/on-the-drawing-board-8-seasonal-bonus-content/ Seasonal bonus content] in video games. A good thing? Something you'd like to see in Diablo 3?
{{int}} December 24, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/1up-jay-wilson-interview/ Jay Wilson interview @ 1up.com].
{{vid}} December 23, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/g4tv-on-diablo-iii/ G4TV video preview of Diablo III].
{{com}} December 18, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/on-the-drawing-board-7-the-barbarians-fury/ Barbarians have Fury] instead of mana in Diablo 3. How does this change the gameplay?
{{blz}} December 13, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/what-happens-when-you-die/ Bashiok on death and checkpoints].
{{pic}} December 12, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/december-diablo-iii-media-update/ New concept art and screenshots].
{{blz}} December 10, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/item-affixes-modifier-brainstorm/ Bashiok asks for item modifier brainstorming].
{{blz}} December 8, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/the-next-gen-attributesystem/ Bashiok with a very long post on auto-attributes.]
{{com}} December 4, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/on-the-drawing-board-6-mercenaries/ Mercenaries] discussed in detail. Should they return with changes in Diablo 3?
{{oth}} December 4, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/massive-inc-and-blizzard-multi-year-advertising-deal/ Blizzard signs multiyear forum ad deal with Massively]. Follow up [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzard-ad-sales-reactions/ media commentaries and fan reactions].
{{blz}} December 4, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzard-does-not-have-all-classes-and-act-1-done/ Bashiok restrains overly-enthusiastic progress reports].
 
 
==November 2008==
{{int}} November 27, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/jay-wilson-interview-by-playtm/ Jay Wison interviewed by Play.tm].
[[Image:Wd-soul-harvest1s.jpg|thumb|350px|Soul Harvesting WD.]]
{{pic}} November 20, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/new-diablo-3-pictures/ New screenshots and concept art].
{{int}} November 20, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzcast-episode-6-transcript/ Blizzcast 6 with tons of new content.]
{{int}} November 18, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-3-will-have-several-expansions/ Mike Morhaime confirms plans for multiple Diablo III expansions].
{{com}} November 14, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/on-the-drawing-board-5-character-design/ Character design in D3]. How important and powerful should party-boosting skills be?
{{blz}} November 13, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-discusses-diablo-iii-inventory-and-monster-respawn/ Bashiok on Inventory, Monster respawning, and monster damage points].
{{int}} November 13, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-skill-trees/ Bashiok on skill trees and skills].
{{com}} November 7, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/on-the-drawing-board-4-preset-attributes/ Preset Attributes] discussed in detail. Their pros and cons.
{{oth}} November 3, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bill-roper-join-cryptic-studios/ Bill Roper join Cryptic Studios]
 
 
==October 2008 - Post BlizzCon==
{{blz}} October 31, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/environmental-damage-against-a-player/ Environmental Damage Against a Player] - [[Bashiok]] on potential griefing.
{{oth}} October 27, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/echoes-of-war-the-music-of-blizzard-entertainment/ Echoes of War: The Music of Blizzard Entertainment]
{{pic}} October 23, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-3-fansites-kit/ Diablo 3 Fansite Kit]
{{vid}} October 23, 2008. [http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/10/15/mtv-video-tour-of-blizzard-headquarters/ MTV Video Tour of Blizzard Headquarters]
 
 
=== October 2008 - BlizzCon ===
Blizzcon reports continued to appear long after the show ended. They're all grouped here for convenience.

{{pre}} November 20, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/games-radar-diablo-iii-hands-on/ Games Radar's Blizzcon report].
{{pre}} November 6, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/wizard-gameplay-report/P1/ Massive Wizard Gameplay Report].
{{oth}} November 6, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/this-evenings-qa-session/ Diii.net Post-Blizzcon Chat]
{{vid}} November 3, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzcon-dance-contest-part-2/ BlizzCon Dance Contest Part 2]
{{vid}} November 1, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzcon-contest-videos/ BlizzCon Contest Videos] - First Half of the Dance contest, and the "/silly" contest.
{{pre}} October 30, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/witch-doctor-gameplay-report/ Witch Doctor Gameplay Report] - [[Witch Doctor Skills|Skills]] and Items for the [[Witch Doctor]].
{{pre}} October 29, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzcon-demo-discussion/ BlizzCon Demo Discussion] - Massive D3 Report, Part 1.
{{vid int}} October 29, 2008. [http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/blizzard-s-frank-pearce_4 Blizzard's Frank Pearce] - "Easy to learn, hard to master."
{{vid}} October 28, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/costume-contest-vid/ Costume Contest Video]
{{pre}} October 24, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/new-content-from-blizzcon-2008/ New Content From BlizzCon]
{{pic}} October 21, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/new-environmental-art/ New Environmental Art]
{{pre}} October 20, 2008. [http://www.gamingexcellence.com/pc/games/1411/p20081020.shtml BlizzCon 2008: Diablo III Preview]
{{pre}} October 20, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/barbarian-game-play-and-skill-tree-discussion/ Barbarian Game Play and Skill Tree Discussion]
{{pan}} October 19, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzcon-diablo-3-lore-panel-video/ BlizzCon: Diablo 3 Lore Panel Video]
{{pic}} October 18, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/new-character-art1/ New Character Art]
{{pre}} October 18, 2008. [http://news.bigdownload.com/2008/10/18/blizzcon-2008-diablo-iii-hands-on-impressions/ BlizzCon 2008: Diablo III hands-on impressions]
{{pre}} October 17, 2008. [http://www.planetdiablo.com/features/articles/bcexp101708/ The BlizzCon Experience - Afterthoughts]
{{pre}} October 17, 2008. [http://www.planetdiablo.com/features/articles/wdbarb101708/ BlizzCon '08: Witch Doctor and Barbarian Preview]
{{pre}} October 17, 2008. [http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=261369 Diablo III Hands On]
{{pic}} October 17, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/new-npc-artwork/ New NPC Artwork]
{{pic}} October 17, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzcon-d3-inventory-images/ BlizzCon D3 Inventory Images]
{{vid int}} October 17, 2008. [http://www.g4tv.com/xplay/videos/29411/Diablo_III_All_Access.html Diablo III: All Access]
{{pre}} October 17, 2008. [http://news.bigdownload.com/2008/10/18/blizzcon-2008-diablo-iii-hands-on-impressions/ 'Diablo III' Hands-On]
{{pre}} October 16, 2008. [http://www.g4tv.com/mmoreport/videos/29405/The_MMO_Report_BlizzCon_08_Special.html The MMO Report: BlizzCon 08 Special]
{{blz}} October 16, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzcon-2008-diablo-iii-tidbits/ Blizzcon 2008: Diablo III Tidbits]
{{int}} October 16, 2008. [http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/16/blizzcon-2008-blizzards-rob-pardo-on-diablo-3-starcraft-2/ BlizzCon 2008: Blizzard's Rob Pardo talks Diablo 3]
{{pan}} October 16, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzcon-press-conference-with-jay-wilson/ BlizzCon Press Conference with Jay Wilson]
{{pic}} October 16, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/new-blizzcon-monster-art/ New BlizzCon Monster Art]
{{oth}} October 16, 2008. [http://blizzplanet.com/news/2814/ BlizzPlanet Diablo 3 Answers]
{{vid int}} October 16, 2008. [http://www.gamereactor.se/grtv/?id=3255&sid=95f9c59ee168ff5ca1c8943bb107bf2a BlizzCon08: Diablo III Update w/ Gameplay]
{{vid int}} October 16, 2008. [http://uk.gamespot.com/mac/rpg/diablo3/video/6199524/diablo-iii-interview-5 Diablo III Interview 5]
{{pre}} October 16, 2008. [http://www.rpgamer.com/games/diablo/diablo3/diablo3imp.html Diablo 3 - Blizzcon Impression]
{{int}} October 16, 2008. [http://blog.wired.com/games/2008/10/qa-blizzard-ceo.html Q&A: Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime on DRM, WoW and the Next MMO]
{{int}} October 16, 2008. [http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/blizzard-wizard Blizzard Wizard] ([[Paul Sams]] Interview)
{{int}} October 15, 2008. [http://blog.wired.com/games/2008/10/qa-blizzards-ex.html Q&A: Blizzard's Executive Vice President of Game Design Rob Pardo]
{{vid int}} October 15, 2008. [http://diablo3.battlenet.pl/portal/d3/1/99/Wywiad_Battlenetpl_z_Jayem_Wilsonem_i_Rayem_Gresko.html Jay Wilson and Ray Gresko Video Interview]
{{pre}} October 15, 2008. [http://www.meristation.com/v3/des_avances.php?id=cw48f4e9b44d34a&pic=PC&idj=cw48662a1c21860 Diablo III Preview] (Spanish). [http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&tl=en&u=http://www.meristation.com/v3/des_avances.php%3Fid%3Dcw48f4e9b44d34a%26pic%3DPC%26idj%3Dcw48662a1c21860 Google Translated].
{{pre}} October 15, 2008. [http://tentonhammer.com/node/46423 BlizzCon 2008: Diablo III Hands-On Preview]
{{pre}} October 15, 2008. [http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3170686&p=1 Diablo 3 Hands-On Preview]
{{blz}} October 14, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-answers-post-blizzcon-diablo-3-concerns/ Bashiok Answers Post-Blizzcon Diablo 3 Concerns]
{{vid int}} October 14, 2008. [http://www.starcraftwire.net/n/1282/frank-pearce-interview BlizzCon 2008 Frank Pearce Interview]
{{pic}} October 14, 2008. [http://www.joystiq.com/photos/blizzcon-2008-diablo-iii-in-depth-hands-on/ BlizzCon 2008: Diablo III In-Depth Hands On]
{{pic}} October 14, 2008. [http://www.joystiq.com/photos/blizzcon-diablo-3-skill-systems-gallery/ BlizzCon: Diablo 3 Skill Systems Gallery]
{{vid}} October 14, 2008. [http://www.gametrailers.com/player/41489.html Blizzcon 2008: Panel: Skills Part 1 HD]
{{vid}} October 14, 2008. [http://www.gametrailers.com/player/41491.html Blizzcon 2008: Panel: Skills Part 2 HD]
{{vid}} October 14, 2008. [http://www.gametrailers.com/player/41493.html Blizzcon 2008: Panel: Skills Part 3 HD]
{{vid}} October 14, 2008. [http://www.gametrailers.com/player/41495.html BlizzCon 2008: Panel: Runes HD]
{{vid}} October 14, 2008. [http://www.gametrailers.com/player/41497.html BlizzCon 2008: Panel: Death Effects HD]
{{pre}} October 14, 2008. [http://gamesblog.ugo.com/index.php/gamesblog/more/blizzcon_08_diablo_iii_hands_on/ Blizzcon ‘08-Diablo III Hands-On]
{{pre}} October 14, 2008. [http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/207459/preview-diablo-iii/ Feature: Diablo III]
{{pre}} October 14, 2008. [http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/14/blizzcon-2008-in-depth-diablo-3-hands-on/ BlizzCon 2008: In-depth Diablo 3 hands-on]
{{pre}} October 13, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzcon-2008-diablo-iii-hands-on-gameplay-impressions/ BlizzCon 2008: Diablo III Hands-On Gameplay Impressions]
{{vid int}} October 13, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diiinet-jay-wilson-video-interview/ Diii.Net Jay Wilson Video Interview]
{{Oth}} October 13, 2008. [http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/13/blizzcon-2008-rob-pardo-talks-battle-net-monetizing/ BlizzCon 2008: Rob Pardo talks Battle.Net monetizing]
{{vid int}} October 13, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diiinet-jay-wilson-video-interview/ Diii.Net Jay Wilson Video Interview]
{{pre}} October 13, 2008. [http://news.gotgame.com/blizzcon-diablo-3-gameplay-and-the-new-wizard-class/16311/ BlizzCon: Diablo 3 Gameplay and the New Wizard Class]
{{pre}} October 13, 2008. [http://www.shacknews.com/featuredarticle.x?id=1024 Diablo 3: What We Know So Far, Post-BlizzCon Edition]
{{int}} October 13, 2008. [http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/10/13/blizzcon-lead-designer-on-diablo-3-wizard-class/ In Crafting ‘Diablo 3' Class, Blizzard Risking Harry Potter Comparisons Instead Of ‘World of Warcraft’ Ones]
{{oth}} October 13, 2008. [http://www.pcgameshardware.com/aid,663351/News/Blizzcon_Diablo_3_and_Starcraft_2_without_Direct_X_10/ Blizzcon: Diablo 3 and Starcraft 2 without Direct X 10]
{{oth}} October 12, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzcon-2008-live-blog-transcript/ BlizzCon 2008 Live Blog Transcript]
{{pre}} October 12, 2008. [http://www.warcry.com/articles/view/conferences/blizzcon_08/5360-Blizzcon-08-Diablo-III-Hands-On Blizzcon 08: Diablo III Hands-On]
{{pre}} October 12, 2008. [http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/diablo3/news.html?sid=6199271 BlizzCon 2008: Diablo III Updated Hands-On]
{{pre}} October 12, 2008. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/86767-Blizzcon-08-Hands-On-Diablo-III Blizzcon 08: Hands On - Diablo III]
{{oth}} October 12, 2008. [http://www.originalsoundversion.com/?p=760 BlizzCon 08: New Diablo III Tunes, New Co-Composer Announced]
{{pre}} October 11, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/wizard-skill-tree-coverage/ Wizard Skill Tree Coverage]
{{int}} October 11, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/exclusive-jay-wilson-interview/ Exclusive Jay Wilson Interview]
{{vid int}} October 11, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/ray-gresko-and-leonard-boasky-video-interview/ Diii.net Ray Gresko and Leonard Boyarsky Video Interview]
{{int}} October 11, 2008. [http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/919/919059p1.html BlizzCon 08: Rob Pardo on Diablo III]
{{pre}} October 11, 2008. [http://www.planetdiablo.com/features/articles/firstimpression101008/ BlizzCon '08: Diablo III First Impression]
{{oth}} October 11, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/questions-answered/ 30 Diablo 3 Questions Answered]
{{pan}} October 11, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diiinet-diablo-3-gameplay-qa-videos/ Diii.Net Diablo 3 Gameplay Q&A Videos]
{{pre}} October 11, 2008. [http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/919/919074p1.html BlizzCon 2008: Diablo III Hands-on]
{{pic}} October 11, 2008. [http://www.gamingshogun.com/Article/2476/2008_BlizzCon_-_Saturday_Morning_Gallery.html 2008 BlizzCon - Saturday Morning Gallery]
{{int}} October 11, 2008. [http://gamesblog.ugo.com/index.php/gamesblog/more/rob_pardo_talks_diablo_iii/ Rob Pardo Talks Diablo III!]
{{pre}} October 11, 2008. [http://kotaku.com/5062246/hands-on-with-diablo-iii-everything-old-is-new-again Hands On With Diablo III: Everything Old Is New Again]
{{pan}} October 11, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/d3-lore-art-panel/ D3 Lore & Art Panel]
{{pan}} October 11, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/class-panel-fan-qa-video/ Class Panel Fan Q&A Video]
{{vid int}} October 11, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/ray-gresko-and-leonard-boasky-video-interview/ Diii.net Ray Gresko and Leonard Boyarsky Video Interview]
{{oth}} October 11, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-3-not-on-consoles/ Diablo 3 Not on Consoles]
{{vid int}} October 11, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/mike-morhaime-video-interview/ Mike Morhaime Video Interview]
{{pre}} October 11, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/d3-gameplay-panel/ D3 Gameplay Panel]
{{oth}} October 11, 2008. [http://darkzero.co.uk/game-news/blizzard-not-allowing-mods-in-diablo-3-may-make-dlc-available/ Blizzard not allowing mods in Diablo 3, may make DLC available]
{{pre}} October 11, 2008. [http://uk.pc.gamespy.com/pc/diablo-iii/919075p1.html Hands-on with Diablo III's Witch Doctor (PC)]
{{pre}} October 11, 2008. [http://www.gamingshogun.com/Article/2479/2008_BlizzCon_-_Diablo_III_Gameplay_Impressions.html 2008 BlizzCon - Diablo III Gameplay Impressions]
{{pan}} October 11, 2008. [http://d3db.com/media/video/watch/1469EEC0-7F0F-B308-FF6E-39472A5E8647 Class Design Panel at Blizzcon]
{{pre}} October 11, 2008. [http://news.gotgame.com/blizzcon-hands-on-with-the-diablo-iii-witch-doctor/16132/ BlizzCon: Hands on With the Diablo III Witch Doctor]
{{oth}} October 11, 2008. [http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/10/11/blizzard-on-rainbows-in-starcraft-diablo-art-director/ Blizzard: Rainbows Could Appear In ‘StarCraft II,’ Still Looking For New ‘Diablo III’ Art Director]
{{pre}} October 11, 2008. [http://blog.wired.com/games/2008/10/hands-on-diablo.html Hands On: Diablo III Simplifies Everything]
{{oth}} October 11, 2008. [http://www.incgamers.com/Games/1935/News/Diablo-III-Not-For-Console/13981 Diablo III Not For Console]
{{pre}} October 11, 2008. [http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/diablo3/news.html?sid=6199215&mode=previews BlizzCon 2008: Diablo III Hands-On]
{{pic}} October 10, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/screens-and-artwork/ Screens and Artwork]
{{int}} October 10, 2008. [http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/55256 Blizzard Discusses Diablo 3 Console Port (Update: Director Jay Wilson Weighs In)]
{{oth}} October 10, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/wizard/ Wizard!!!]
{{oth}} October 10, 2008. [http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/55271 Blizzard on Battle.net Subscription, Diablo 3 Modding]
{{oth}} October 10, 2008. [http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/55258 Diablo 3 Lead Designer Reveals Skill Rune System]
{{pre}} October 10, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/wizard-first-reactions/ Wizard first reactions...]
{{pic}} October 10, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzcon-pics-goodie-bag/ BlizzCon Pics & Goodie Bag]
{{pre}} October 10, 2008. [http://www.shacknews.com/featuredarticle.x?id=1020 Diablo 3: The Wizard's Talent Trees Unveiled]
{{pan}} October 10, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/d3-class-panel-notes/ D3 Class Panel Notes]
{{pan}} October 10, 2008. [http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/55258 Diablo 3 Lead Designer Reveals Skill Rune System]
{{vid}} October 10, 2008. [http://www.incgamers.com/Videos/265/Diablo-3-Wizard-Class-Gameplay Diablo 3 Wizard Class Gameplay]
{{vid}} October 10, 2008. [http://www.eurogamer.pt/tv_video.php?playlist_id=15714&size=large Diablo III - Wizard e Barbarian Gameplay]
{{pre}} October 10, 2008. [http://uk.pc.gamespy.com/pc/diablo-iii/918894p1.html Diablo III Preview]
{{pre}} October 10, 2008. [http://uk.pc.gamespy.com/pc/diablo-iii/918798p1.html Hands-on with Diablo III's Wizard]
{{pre}} October 10, 2008. [http://uk.pc.gamespy.com/pc/diablo-iii/918622p1.html Hands-on Diablo III at BlizzCon 2008]
{{pre}} October 10, 2008. [http://www.blizzard.com/diablo3/characters/wizard.xml?rhtml=y The Wizard]
{{pre}} October 10, 2008. [http://www.shacknews.com/featuredarticle.x?id=1019 First Diablo 3 Hands-on Impressions: Hell Yeah]
{{pre}} October 10, 2008. [http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/10/joystiq-hands-on-diablo-iii-and-the-wizard-class/ Joystiq hands-on: Diablo 3 and the Wizard class]
{{pre}} October 10, 2008. [http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/55245 New Diablo 3 Class Revealed: The Wizard]
{{pre}} October 10, 2008. [http://www.ripten.com/2008/10/10/blizzcon-08-coverage-throughout-the-day/ BlizzCon 08: Diablo 3 Wizard Class Revealed, More Coverage Throughout the Day]
{{pre}} October 10, 2008. [http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/55235 Diablo 3 Playable at BlizzCon]
{{pre}} October 9, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/articles/comments/blizzcon-2008-coverage/ BlizzCon Coverage]
{{pre}} October 9, 2008. [http://www.planetdiablo.com/community/events/blizzcon08/ BlizzCon 2008 Blog]
{{com}} October 2, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/on-the-drawing-board-3-death/ Death in Diablo 3]. Checkpoints explained. Should there be a sting to death? How about living rewards instead of death penalties?

==September 2008==
{{int}} September 26, 2008. Yet another Leipzig GDC [http://www.ausgamers.com/features/read/2662371 interview with Jay Wilson] touches on subjects including [[Battle.net]], [[cheating]], the [[art controversy]], [[release date]] and [[other classes]]. AusGamers.
{{blz}} September 25, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/695925/bashiok-on-guns-and-spellbooks Bashiok] on Guns and Spellbooks.
{{int}} September 25, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/695907/jay-wilson-buffedde Jay Wilson] interviewed by German Buffed.de.
{{com}} September 24, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/on-the-drawing-board-2-party-vs-solo/ Should Diablo III have party-only content]. Should there be special rewards only for single or party play?
{{blz}} September 23, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/695371/bashiok-on-level-cap-and-inventory Bashiok] on level cap and inventory arrangement.
{{blz}} September 23, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/695370/bashiok-on-d3s-dx10 Bashiok] on DirectX 10 support for Diablo III.
[[Image:Firebomb1.jpg|thumb|250px|Firebombing!]]
{{blz}} September 20, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/694707/bashiok-on-the-alt-key Bashiok] on looting with the use of the Alt-key.
{{blz}} September 19, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/694462/bashiok-on-invisible-characters Bashiok] on invisible characters in [[screenshot]]s.
{{com}} September 18, 2008: [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/on-the-drawing-board-1-rares-vs-uniques/ Rares vs. Uniques], which types of items should be most valuable in Diablo III?
{{blz}} September 18, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/694228/bashiok-on-d2d3-logos Bashiok] on the Diablo III logo history.
{{pic}} September 18, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/694375/new-monster-screens-art Blizzard] posts new screenshots as well as art.
{{blz}} September 18, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/694183/bashiok-on-corpses-and-game-resources Bashiok] on [[corpse]]s and game resources (including [[Havok]]).
{{blz}} September 18, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/694182/bashiok-on-chests Bashiok] on locked [[chest]]s. They probably won't return.
{{int}} September 16, 2008. [http://ablegamers.com/game-news/340-ablegamers-interviews-the-diablo-iii-team.html Wilson and Boyarsky] ([[Jay]] and [[Leonard]]) on system requirements, skills, plot and more. Able Gamers.
{{int}} September 16, 2008. [http://www.videogamer.com/pc/diablo_3/preview-1253.html Jay Wilson] says the next revealed [[class]] will be very much like an existing one.
{{blz}} September 16, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/693796/bashiok-on-corpses-and-web-updates Corpses explained] by [[Bashiok]].
{{blz}} September 16, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/693791/blizzard-comments-on-the-d3sc2-release-schedule D3 release rumours smashed] by Blizzard and IncGamers.
{{blz}} September 12, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/692737/bashiok-on-glowing-skeletal-shields Skeletal shields] explained by [[Bashiok]].
{{Int}} September 12, 2008. [http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/09/11/michael-gough-interview/ Michael Gough] interviewed again, the voice actor for [[Deckard Cain]]. Among other things divulge how much of his voice they have recorded so far. MTV.
{{oth}} September 11, 2008. [http://www.videogaming247.com/2008/09/11/diablo-iii-will-have-its-own-unique-needs-for-the-new-battlenet/ Short snippet] on a detail concerning [[Battle.net 2.0]] made by [[Frank Pearce]]. Videogaming247.
{{vid}} September 11, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/692572/the-end-of-the-art-controversy Diii.net] on the [[art controversy]], where a fan called Sozou submitted a full-fledged '''video''' of desaturated, decolourised gameplay. Including a short interview with Diii.net.
{{vid int}} September 10, 2008. [http://tv7games.se/ValtSpel.aspx?clipId=269 Old resurfaced WWI interview]] with [[Jay Wilson]]. General D3 info, including [[Health Orb]]s, randomness and gameplay. TV7 Games.
{{int}} September 10, 2008. [http://www.incgamers.com/Games/1935/features/90/Diablo-III-Inforview Bashiok] on [[Health Orb]]s, Single Player, and health/mana leach. IncGamers.
{{int}} September 8, 2008. [http://www.crispygamer.com/interviews/2008-09-08/crafting-a-sequel-for-everyone-the-frank-pearce-interview-3.aspx Frank Pearce] on mostly [[StarCraft]] and a little bit on [[Battle.net 2.0]]. Crispy Gamer.
{{int}} September 5, 2008. [http://www.crispygamer.com/interviews/2008-09-05/detailing-diablo-iii-the-jay-wilson-interview.aspx Jay Wilson] on [[art controversy]], console porting, multiplayer and randomisation. CrispyGamer.
{{blz}} September 5, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/691154/bashiok-on-boss-drops-and-the-new-artwork Bashiok] on Boss drops and new artwork.
{{pic}} September 5, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/690879/new-d3-screenshots Blizzard] posts new screenshots.
[[Image:Skovos1.jpg|thumb|250px|Skovos overhead view.]]
{{pic}} September 5, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/690878/new-d3-artwork Blizzard] posts new artwork.
{{blz}} September 5, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/690870/official-diablo-timeline Blizzard] posts the Official Diablo 3 Timeline.
{{int}} September 4, 2008. [http://www.gamebanshee.com/interviews/diabloiii1.php Lenoard Boyarsky] on lore, quests and dialogue. GameBanshee.
{{oth}} September 3, 2008. [http://www.incgamers.com/Games/1206/features/87/MMO-Weekly IncGamers] MMO weekly on [[Battle.net]] and features.
{{pre}} September 2, 2008. [http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/997778/skewed_and_reviewed_gets_details_on.html Skewed and Reviewed] talks with "some Blizzard guy" on [[Health Orb]]s, [[Potion]]s and dungeon traps.
{{pre}} September 1, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/articles/689867/definite-battlenet-20-features Diii.net] on [[Battle.net 2.0]] confirmed features. Diii.net.
 
 

==August 2008 - Post-Leipzig==
{{blz}} August 28, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/688760/bashiok-on-art-direction-controversy-again Bashiok] on the [[art controversy]].
{{blzc}} August 28, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/688607/blizzcast-5-out-diablo-3-qampa-session BlizzCast #5] with [[Jay Wilson]] and Blizzard CMs. Blizzard.
{{blz}} August 27, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/688738/bashiok-on-health-orbs-and-pvp Bashiok] on [[Health Orb]]s and PvP.
{{blz}} August 26, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/688134/bashiok-on-d3s-rating Bashiok] on Diablo 3's age ratings.
{{int}} August 21, 2008. [http://www.purepandemonium.com/main/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=61 Michael Gough], the voice of [[Deckard Cain]] interviewed about his own history. Not quite Diablo-related.
 
 
==August 2008 - GC Leipzig==
Interviews conducted at the GDC kept showing up for weeks after the event. They're all grouped here for convenience.
{{int}} September 26, 2008. Yet another Leipzig GDC [http://www.ausgamers.com/features/read/2662371 interview with Jay Wilson] touches on subjects including [[Battle.net]], [[cheating]], the [[art controversy]], [[release date]] and [[other classes]]. AusGamers.
{{int}} September 3, 2008. [http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200809/N08.0903.1800.35279.htm Jay Wilson] on D2 legacy, [[art controversy]], Blizzard on consoles, failing clones and [[class]] roster.
{{vid int}} September 2, 2008. [http://www.gamereactor.eu/grtv/?id=2936 Jay Wilson] on randomness, the [[art controversy]], "probably [[hardcore]] mode", [[Health Orb]]s 25-35% droprate and some info on [[PvP]]. Gamereactor.
{{vid int}} September 1, 2008. [http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/43166 Jay Wilson] on general Diablo III development.
{{pre}} August 27, 2008. [http://www.miamiherald.com/business/technology/story/661444.html Game Informer Magazine] on Diablo 3 from GC'08.
{{pre}} August 26, 2008. [http://www.gamedaily.com/games/diablo-3/pc/game-previews/preview/7354/20621/ Gamedaily] on Diablo 3 from GC'08.
{{int}} August 25, 2008. [http://diablo3.ingame.de/szene/interviews/interview_jaywilson/index_engl.php Jay Wilson] on Battle.net, German ratings, [[death]] and [[follower]]s.
{{int}} August 25, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/687801/jay-wilson-from-leipzig-5 Jay Wilson]
[[Image:Diablo-head1.jpg|thumb|250px|Miss me?]]
{{int}} August 25, 2008. [http://diablo3.4players.de/games_convention_2008_4.php Jay Wilson] tells us there will be no LAN support. In GERMAN ([http://www.diii.net/n/687810/jay-wilson-from-leipzig-6 English translation]). Diablo3.4Players.de
{{vid int}} August 22, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/686928/jay-wilson-video-interview Jay Wilson] talks about career, D2/D3 teams, struggle and MUCH about the [[art controversy]]. IncGamers.
{{int}} August 22, 2008. [http://www.boomtown.net/en_uk/articles/art.view.php?id=16571 Jay Wilson on] loot and other things. Boomtown.
{{int}} August 22, 2008. [http://www.4players.de/4players.php/dispbericht/PC-CDROM/Special/7040/60013/0/Diablo_3.html Jay Wilson] tells us there will be no Diablo III runewords. 4Players.de.
{{int}} August 21, 2008. [http://kotaku.com/5039711/only-the-barbarian-will-return-in-diablo-iii Jay Wilson] says only the [[Barbarian]] will feature in Diablo 3. The [http://diablo2.diablowiki.net/Necromancer Necromancer] is 100% cut. Kotaku.
{{int}} August 20, 2008. [http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=220175 Jay Wilson] on D1/D2 experiences, isometric view, and [[art controversy]]. Eurogamer.
{{int}} August 20, 2008. [http://uk.pc.gamespy.com/pc/diablo-iii/901260p1.html Jay Wilson] talks about [[Battle.net]] and [[PvP]]. Gamespot.
{{int}} August 20, 2008. [http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/900/900777p1.html Jay Wilson] on potions, inventory and story. IGN.
{{pic|s}} August 20, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/686291/leipzig-d3-artwork New artwork] from the Leipzig press CD.
{{pic|s}} August 20, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/686285/leipzig-d3-screenshots 13 Screenshots] from the Leipzig press CD.
 
 

==August 2008 - Pre-Leipzig==
{{blz}} August 15, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/684680/bashiok-on-spell-visuals-and-game-conventions Bashiok on] game visuals and design philosophies.
{{pic|s}} August 14, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/684539/six-new-screenshotsarts Six new screenshots and artworks].
{{blz}} August 13, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/684026/bashiok-on-beta-testing-and-release-date Bashiok on] beta testing and release dates.
{{int}} August 12, 2008. [http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/08/12/diablo-iii-storyline/ Jay Wilson] on returning characters from D1 and D2, and the Diablo series continuing past D3. MTV MP Blog.
{{int}} August 11, 2008. [http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/08/11/diablo-iii-gender-debate/ Jay Wilson] on male and female options for each character. MTV MP Blog.
[[Image:Unknown-city1.jpg|thumb]]
{{int}} August 10, 2008. [http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/08/07/diablo-iii-cow-level/ Jay Wilson] on the chances of a D3 Secret Cow Level. MTV MP Blog.
{{int}} August 8, 2008. [http://vault.ign.com/View.php?view=Articles.Detail&id=35 Jay Wilson] talks about D3's characters and the game's state of progress. Vault Network.
{{pic|s}} August 7, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/681956/new-d3-concept-art New piece of concept art] posted by SonsoftheStorm.com.
{{blz}} August 6, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/681893/bashiok-secret-cow-level Bashiok on] the Secret Cow Level and game balancing in general.
{{blz}} August 6, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/681653/bashiok-barb-too-magical Bashiok on] whether the D3 Barbarian is "too magical."
{{blz}} August 6, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/681647/bashiok-blizzard-achievements-in-d3 Bashiok on] Blizzard's newly-announced "achievements" and how they will work on Diablo 3.
{{blz}} August 6, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/681638/bashiok-quick-answers Bashiok gives] numerous quick answers on the separateness of D3's acts, night/day cycle, boss-specific fatalities, and more.
{{pre}} August 5, 2008. [http://gamesblog.ugo.com/index.php/gamesblog/more/diablo_iii_development_update/ UGO] on chat trades and Battle.net fees.
{{int}} August 5, 2008. [http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/08/05/diablo-iii-necromancer/ Jay Wilson] on the fact that the Necromancer is gone. MTV
{{pre}} August 4, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/articles/680966/battlenet-20-the-next-generation-gaming-network Diii.net] on Battle.net, and possible Battle.net 2.0 changes.
{{int}} August 4, 2008. [http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/08/04/diablo-iii-designer-turns-tables Jay Wilson] discusses player-modified D3 screenshots and the game's art direction. MTV
{{blz}} August 3, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/680598/bashiok-on-the-barbarian-statue Bashiok on] the Barbarian statue.
{{pre}} August 1, 2008. [http://www.gamesradar.com/pc/diablo-iii/preview/diablo-iii/a-20080801111854458065/g-2008063084756359080 GamesRadar] on D3, and a short QA session.
{{int}} August 1, 2008. [http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/08/01/blizzard-accounts-achievements/ Jeffrey Kaplan] on Diablo 3 Achievements, "Blizzard Account" and fan's "Blizzard level". MTV
 
 
==July 2008==
{{int}} July 31, 2008. [http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/07/31/diablo-iii-designer-talks-colors/ Jay Wilson] on colour and WoW influences. MTV.
{{int}} July 31, 2008. [http://kotaku.com/5031732/art-apocalypse-blizzards-wilson-talks-diablo-iii-design-decisions Jay Wilson] on art design and player petitions. Kotaku.
{{int}} July 31, 2008. [http://kotaku.com/5031684/what-activision-can-and-cant-change-about-blizzard Jay Wilson] on Diablo III's revenue model.
{{blz}} July 31, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/679441/bashiok-on-d3s-improved-bnet-experience Bashiok on] D3's plans for an improved Battle.net experience.
[[Image:Barb-figure-sdcc07.jpg|frame]]
{{pic|s}} July 29, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/678665/barbarian-figurine Barbarian figurine] announced.
{{blz}} July 29, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/678598/bashiok-on-boss-damage-visuals Bashiok on] boss damage visuals.
{{int}} July 27, 2008. [http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=193951 Rob Pardo] on game design (general). CVG.
{{pic|s}} July 26, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/677315/new-screenies five new screenshots] including monster and world art.
{{int}} July 25, 2008. [http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/893/893781p1.html Leonard Boyarsky] on the importance of lore in the game. IGN.
{{pre}} July 25, 2008. Australian PC Powerplay Magazine. Scanned pages [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=1241&cat=576 one], [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=1240&cat=576 two], [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=1239&cat=576 three], [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=1238&cat=576 four], [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=1237&cat=576 five], [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=1236&cat=576 six], [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=1235&cat=576 seven].
{{int}} July 24, 2008. [http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=193852 Brian Morrisroe] speaks about art design with CVG.
{{int}} July 23, 2008. [http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=193951 Rob Pardo] on Blizzard's game design philosophy. CVG.
{{blz}} July 23, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/676400/bashiok-on-everything Bashiok] on [[Barbarian]] leaps and character movement, [[Tristram]] as dungeon, class-equpment, [[death]] animations and outdoor static areas.
{{blz}} July 22, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/675981/blizzard-cares-about-corpses Bashiok] on Blizzard caring about corpses.
{{int}} July 19, 2008. [http://www.developmag.com/news/30184/QA-More-on-how-Activision-Blizzards-merger-impacts-its-studios Activion CFO Tom Tippl] on the Activision/Blizzard merger]. DevelopMag.com
{{blz}} July 17, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/674066/bashiok-corpses-and-more Bashiok on] vanishing corpses and corpse skills, and does D3 = MMO?
{{int}} July 16, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/articles/673865/the-d2-team-comments-on-d3-part-ii Mike Huang], D2 developer gives his impressions of D3.
{{int}} July 14, 2008. [http://www.developmag.com/news/30184/QA-More-on-how-Activision-Blizzards-merger-impacts-its-studios Activision CFO Thomas Tippl] on the Activision / Blizzard merger.
{{blz}} July 13, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/674066/bashiok-corpses-and-more Bashiok] on corpses.
{{blz}} July 12, 2008.[http://www.diii.net/n/672276/more-from-bashiok Bashiok] on health globes and party play.
{{blz}} July 11, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/671871/bashiok-speaks Bashiok] on a variety of issues.
{{blz}} July 9, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/671187/news-blitz-wednesday-july-9th Bashiok] on respecing.
{{int}} July 8, 2008. [http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/07/07/blizzard-on-diablo-mmo-hopes-new-franchises-and-more/ Paul Sams]. Mtv's MP blog.
{{int}} July 7, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/articles/670644/the-d2-team-comments-on-d3 Ben Boos], D2 artist gives his impressions of D3.
{{int}} July 4, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/669697/max-schaefer-on-diablo-3 Max Schaefer] Diablo creator gives his opinion of ''Diablo III''.
{{int}} July 4, 2008. [http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=165005&page=2 Mike Morhaime]. Eurogamer.
{{blz}} July 3, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/669431/pking-played-down Bashiok] on Blizzard's approach to controlling PKing.
 
 
==June 2008: World Wide Invitational==
''Diablo III'' was announced at Blizzard's [[WWI 2008|World Wide Invitational]] in Paris, on June 28, 2008. A storm of media coverage ensued, with every gaming media outlet on the Internet reporting the announcement. The biggest sources of info from the WWI were the four hour-long Diablo 3 panels, along with [http://www.blizzard.com/diablo3/media/#movies three movies] Blizzard released, the [http://www.diabloii.net/articles/668036/diablo-3-faq D3 FAQ], and over one hundred [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=546 screenshots] and pieces of [http://www.diii.net/gallery/index.php?cat=540 concept art].
 
 
===Blizzard's WWI Panels===
{{pan}} June 29, 2008. [[WWI 2008: D3 Design Fundamentals Panel]].
{{pan}} June 29, 2008. [[WWI 2008: D3 Game Design Panel]].
{{pan}} June 29, 2008. [[WWI 2008: D3 Lore and Environmental Art Panel]].
{{pan}} June 29, 2008. [[WWI 2008: Denizens of Diablo Panel]].
 
 
===WWI Interviews===
{{vid int}} June 29, 2008. [http://trailer.onlinewelten.com/videos,id4103,blizzard_interview_with_rob_pardo.html Rob Pardo]. Onlinewelten.
{{int}} June 29, 2008.[http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/885/885139p1.html Video: Rob Pardo]. IGN,
{{vid int}} June 29, 2008. [http://www.gamespot.com/video/930659/6193139/diablo-iii-interview Video: Rob Pardo]. Gamespot.
{{vid int}} June 29, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/articles/668955/diiinet-diablo-3-interview-session IncGamers with D3 team] (bad sound)
{{int}} June 30, 2008. [http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/games/archives/2008/06/30/blizzard_interview_diablo_3_console_version_a_possibility.html Paul Sams]. Guardian UK.
{{int}} June 30, 2008. [http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/diablo-iii/885172p1.html Leonard Boyarsky]. Gamespot.
{{int}} June 30, 2008. [http://kotaku.com/5020721/the-man-behind-diablo-iii-talks-plot-lore-and-battlenet Jay Wilson]. Kotaku.
{{int}} July 1, 2008. [http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/games/archives/2008/07/01/diablo_3_interview_random_areas_coop_and_the_rest.html Leonard Boyarsky]. Guardian UK.
{{int}} July 1, 2008. [http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3168498 Leonard Boyarsky]. 1up.com.
{{int}} July 2, 2008.[http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3168515 Rob Pardo]. 1up.com.
{{vid int}} July 5, 2008. [http://www.wegame.com/watch/Diablo_3_Interview_with_Keith_Lee/ Keith Lee], Diablo 3 Lead Producer. Gamespot.
 
 
===Additional WWI Reporting and Features===
All posted June 28-30, 2008.
* {{vid int}} [http://www.worldofwar.net/wowtv/media/336/WWI_Walkabout_Movie/ convention hall tour and fan interviews] IncGamers.
* {{pic|s}} [http://www.diabloii.net/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=544 WWI Event Photos]
* {{pre}} [http://www.actiontrip.com/previews/diabloiii.phtml Action Trip] on Diablo 3 at the WWI.
* {{pre}} [http://www.videogamer.com/features/article/03-07-2008-455.html Video Gamer] on Diablo 3 questions Blizzard needs to answer.
* {{pre}} [http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=167096 EuroGamer] on Diablo 3 at the WWI.
* {{vid}} [http://ve3d.ign.com/videos/30948/PC/Diablo-III IGN video reactions] to WWI and D3.
* {{pre}} [http://pc.ign.com/articles/888/888189p1.html IGN's Ten Commandments of D3].
 
 
===Pre-WWI Teasers===
* {{oth}} [http://www.diii.net/articles/667288/the-wwi-splash-image-mystery Pre-WWI Teasers]. Teaser images and secret codes posted on Blizzard's website during the week before ''Diablo III'''s announcement. June 22-28, 2008.

[[category:Media Coverage]]

Media Coverage

2009-08-20T00:43:50Z

Asteria:

This page lists all ''Diablo III'' coverage; previews, interviews, pictures, videos, designer diaries, forum post, and more. Anything from the D3 team that's substantial enough to warrant a news post on Diii.net gets an entry on this page. Larger interviews and other features are archived in this section one month after they go online, to ward off link rot. If you are new to Diablo or Diablo III development, you can read up on the topic here:
* '''[[Diablo 3 Basics]]''' - The light source of all known Diablo III data in one fact sheet.

==August 2009==
{{pre}} August 19, 2009. [http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3175657] by 1up.com.
{{pre}} August 19, 2009. [http://kotaku.com/5340558/diablo-iii-impressions-hands-on-with-the-barbarian Barbarian hands-on] by Kotaku.com.

==June 2009==

{{com}} June 28, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-iii-the-first-year-in-review-part-i/ What We've Learned] news analysis column debuts by reviewing the first year of Diablo 3.
{{int}} June 28, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/rob-pardo-interviewed/ Rob Pardo] interviewed on WoW, B.net, and a little D3. By IndustryGamers.com
{{com}} June 27, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/runewords-a-change-to-pvp/ PvP discussion]: How D2's runewords changed everything (for better and worse).
{{com}} June 25, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/what-if-diablo-iii-gunslinger-class/ Class speculation]: The Gunslinger.
{{com}} June 24, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/guest-article-does-d3-need-a-sexy-character/ Does Diablo 3] need a sexy character?
{{blz}} June 23, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-iii-health-bar-changed/ Bashiok on] changes to the monster health bar display in Diablo 3.
{{blz}} June 16, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-dynamic-lighting-and-tomes-of-lore/ Bashiok on] dynamic lightning and tomes of lore in Diablo 3.
{{blz}} June 16, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-graphics-and-german-wizards/ Bashiok on] German wizards and game graphics.
{{oth}} June 13, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/painted-diablo-iii-overthrown-diorama-unveiled/ Diablo 3 Barbarian] painted statue revealed. ([http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-iii-overthrown-limited-edition-sold-out/ It sells out] in 2 days.)
{{com}} June 13, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/make-your-own-class/ Create your own] D3 class section premieres.
{{blz}} June 12, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-unlocking-tyraels-face/ Bashiok on] unlocking Tyrael's face.
{{blz}} June 11, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-ii-patch-1.13-delayed/ Bashiok explains] why the D2 v1.13 patch was delayed.
{{blz}} June 10, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-the-barbarians-fury/ Bashiok on] changes to the Barbarian's Fury. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-is-fury-ous/ Follow up] #1. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-fury-and-the-joys-of-forum-moderation/ Follow up] #2.
{{blz}} June 10, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-gore/ Bashiok on] gore and Blizzcon announcements.
{{blz}} June 8, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-health-globe-drops/ Bashiok on] [[health globes]] and the [[boss]]es that drop them.
{{com}} June 7, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/no-game-support-boycott-the-sequel/ Angry fans ask] why they should buy a sequel when the original game was not supported as promised?
{{blz}} June 6, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/battle.net-confirmed-fee-free/ Starcraft 2 CM] confirms that some Battle.net access will be fee-free. Details yet TBD.
{{blz}} June 4, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-bloody-floors-white-noise-and-graphics/ Bashiok on] blood floors, white noise, and graphics.
{{blz}} June 3, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/runes-value-and-legitimate-trade/ Bashiok on] runes, trades, and item value.
{{blz}} June 1, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-skill-rune-swapping/ Bashiok] on skill rune swapping.
{{pic}} June 1, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/the-bone-reaver/ The Bone Reaver] concept art debuts.

==May 2009==

{{com}} May 30, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/mad-prophecies-2-defensive-skills/ Defensive Skills] are never as useful as offensive skills. Can this be fixed in Diablo 3?
{{blz}} May 28, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-bald-fallen/ Bashiok] on bald Fallen.
{{Com}} May 27, 2009: [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/guest-article-diablo-pvp-the-past-present-and-future/ Diablo PVP: The Past, Present, and Future] Discussion of PvP implementation in past Diablo titles going towards D3.
{{oth}}May 25, 2009: [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/ongoing-d2-support-questions/ Blizzard calls for] questions on the future of Diablo II.
{{blz}} May 25, 2009: [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-the-fallen-and-animations/ Bashiok on] Fallen and monster animations.
{{pre}} May 23, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-iii-bestiary-the-fallen-ones/ Fallen Ones bestiary page] added to the official site. With [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/fallen-screenshots/ bonus screenshots] and concept art.
{{blz}} May 22, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-item-colors-and-blizzcon-tickets/ Bashiok on Item Colors and Blizzcon Tickets].
{{blz}} May 21, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-socketing-confirmation/ Bashiok on socketing confirmation].
{{oth}} May 20, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/get-a-blizzcon-ticket/ Get a BlizzCon Ticket].
{{oth}} May 18, 2009. [http://www.incgamers.com/News/16421/BlizzConTicketsSoldOutIn15Seconds IncGamers reports: BlizzCon tickets sold out in 15 seconds].
{{com}} May 18, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/mad-prophecies-1/ Balance issues] in Diablo 2 and other RPGs. Can End Game characters ever be properly balanced?
{{oth}} May 16, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/first-batch-of-blizzcon-2009-tickets-sold-out/ First Batch of BlizzCon 2009 Tickets Sold Out].
{{blz}} May 16, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-runewords-and-the-d2-economy/ Bashiok on Runewords and the D2 Economy].
{{oth}} May 16, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzcon-ticket-sales-tomorrow-update/ BlizzCon ticket sales tomorrow. Buying process info].
{{blz}} May 14, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/larger-stash-in-d2-v1.13/ Bashiok talks of larger stash for Diablo II in patch 1.13]
{{pic}} May 14, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-cosplay/ Bashiok posted Blizzard-themed cosplay pictures from China]
{{blz}} May 14, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-system-specs-and-demo-players/ Bashiok on System Specs and Demo Players].
{{oth}} May 13, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/best-costume-to-win-a-free-trip-to-blizzcon-2009/ Costume contest to win free trip to BlizzCon 2009 ]
{{oth}} May 13, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/greg-canessa-joins-battle.net-2.0-dev-team/ Greg Canessa Joins Battle.net 2.0 Dev Team].
{{blz}} May 13, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/sideshow-diablo-iii-overthrown-nearing-final-stages/ Diablo III statue nearing final stages].
{{blz}} May 12, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-iii-skill-trees-innovative-overhaul/ Diablo III Skill Trees Innovative Overhaul].
{{blz}} May 12, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzcon-2009-diablo-iii-panels-revealed/ Blizzcon 2009 Diablo III Panels Revealed].
{{blz}} May 07, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-skill-synergies/ Bashiok on Skill Synergies].
{{com}} May 6, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/on-the-drawing-board-13-maximum-level/ Level up rate and maximum level] in Diablo 3. How fast, and how soon?
{{blz}} May 05, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzcon-2009-tickets-on-sale-may-16/ BlizzCon 2009 Tickets On Sale May 16].
{{blz}} May 05, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-level-requirements-wearing-girls-clothing-and-v1.13/ Bashiok on Level Requirements, Wearing Girl's Clothing, and v1.13].
 
 

==April 2009==
[[Image:Archivist.jpg|thumb|250px|The [[Archivist]]!]]
{{com}} April 30, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/on-the-drawing-board-12-monster-variety/ Monster variety.] How much variety do you want to see in Diablo 3?
{{blz}} April 29, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-lore/ Bashiok on Lore]
{{com}} April 26, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/guest-article-what-it-deserves/ Giving Diablo 3 what it deserves]. How much of a lifestyle change is required to welcome Diablo III into your life?
{{blz}} April 24, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on/ Bashiok on Health Globes and Healing]
{{blz}} April 24, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-mana-regeneration-party-bonuses-hack-prevention-and-gameplay-tra/ Bashiok on Wizard's mana, hacking, party mode and gameplay demo character level].
{{blz}} April 21, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/decapitation-in-diablo-3/ Bashiok tells us how the decapitation animation is activated].
{{blz}} April 20, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/the-barbarians-tattoos/ Bashiok explains why Barbarian tattoos are different in Diablo II and Diablo III].
{{com}} April 19, 2009: [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/guest-article-is-there-a-downside-to-hardcore/ Is there a downside to Hardcore?] Article looks at the possible detrimental effects that [[Hardcore]] mode brings to the game.
{{blz}} April 18, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/d2-ladder-reset-coming/ Blizzard informs of incoming Ladder Reset].
{{blz}} April 18, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-is-less-filling/ Bashiok on pictures from Blizzard HQ].
{{blz}} April 16, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on...-everything/ Bashiok answers 50 random questions at once].
{{blz}} April 14, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/two-unannounced-classes-and-expansions-possibilities/ Bashiok talks generally about class archtypes].
{{blz}} April 14, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzard-theme-park-contest-winners/ Blizzard Theme Park Contest Winners].
{{blz}} April 14, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashioks-monday/ Bashiok on several topics not directly related to D3].
{{blz}} April 9, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-explains-diablo-3-skill-tree-design/ Bashiok Explains Diablo 3 Skill Tree Design].
{{oth}} April 9, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-iii-logo-wins-2009-mi6-awards/ Diablo III Logo Wins 2009 MI6 Awards].
{{oth}} April 8, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzards-friends-list-and-mvp-programs-terminated/ Blizzard’s Friends List and MVP Programs Terminated].
{{blz}} April 3, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-iii-siegebreaker-breaks-wall-to-catch-merc-through-debris/ Bashiok on ambient life, beta eligibility, and the new interface design].
{{blz}} April 3, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashok-on-game-length-and-inventory-design/ Bashiok on game length and interface design feedback].
{{blz}} April 2, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-the-wwi-demo/ Bashiok: making of the WWI gameplay movie].
{{blz}} April 1, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/fourth-diablo-iii-class-revealed-the-archivist/ Bashiok adds more Archivist details].
{{pre}} April 1, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/fourth-diablo-iii-class-revealed-the-archivist/ The Archivist class revealed].
 
 
==March 2009==
[[Image:Paper-doll-annotated.jpg|thumb|300px|New paper doll.]]
{{int}} March 31, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-iiis-composer-speaks/ Russell Browser, Diablo III composer, shares soundtrack information].
{{pic}} March 30, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzcast-8-live-with-diablo-iii-goodies/ Blizzcast #8 with new info and interface pics].
{{blz}} March 24, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-iii-user-interface-uses-intelligent-engine/ Bashiok on the interface and skill hotkeys].
{{blz}} March 21, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-buff-timers/ Bashiok on buff timers and awesome fan art].
{{com}} March 19, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/on-the-drawing-board-11-maximum-party-size/ Maximum party size issues]. How large will parties be in Diablo 3? How large should they be?
{{oth}} March 19, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/battle.net-2.0-is-here/ Battle.net 2.0 launched].
{{int}} March 17, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bill-roper-on-d3/ Bill Roper comments] on Diablo 3, with some controversy. Videogamer.com
{{blz}} March 14, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-orbs-hells-and-sound-effects/ Bashiok on health globes, wizard orbs, and sound effects].
{{blz}} March 10, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-upcoming-d3-goodies/ Bashiok on system requirements and upcoming info releases].
{{pic}} March 8, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzard-campus-weta-wolfrider-statue-finally-installed/ WoW Wolfrider statue installed on Blizzard campus].
{{blz}} March 6, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-blizzard-and-guns/ Bashiok on Blizzard, Guns, and Immunities].
{{blz}} March 5, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-iii-wizard-orb-and-unannounced-weapon-enchantment/ Bashiok on Wizard items and skill runes].
{{oth}} March 3, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-ii-patch-1.13-community-wish-list/ Blizzard requests fan input on D2 v1.13 patch fixes].
** Updated [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-2-patch-1.13-eta-and-content/ suggestions guidelines].
** Updated, Bashiok [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-ii-v1.13-patch-update/ gives a non-ETA].
{{blz}} March 1, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-elemental-weapon-effects/ Bashiok on elemental weapon visual effects].
 
 

==February 2009==
[[Image:Unburied render.jpg|thumb|300px|The Unburied.]]
{{pic}} February 28, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/new-diablo-iii-sceenshots/ New Diablo III screenshots].
{{pre}} February 26, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bestiary-update-unburied/ The Unburied is added to the D3 bestiary]. Plus forum posts and [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/small-unburied-lore-update/ Bashiok comments on it].
{{blz}} February 24, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/chests-and-unannounced-classes/ Bashiok on chests, keys, and unannounced classes].
{{vid}} February 23, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/female-wd-talks-to-captain-rumford/ Video from Blizzcon shows NPC conversation].
{{blz}} February 18, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-d2-secrets/ Bashiok on chat gem, standard of heroes, and charms].
{{oth}} February 17, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzcon-in-2009/ BlizzCon 2009 Announced].
{{blz}} February 14, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/players-wont-explore-all-the-world-in-diablo-3/ Bashiok says the World Map is larger than the game world].
{{blz}} February 13, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/affixes-that-are-odd-on-some-items/ Bashiok on item affixes].
{{blz}} February 13, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/can-diablo-iii-feel-good-without-identify/ Bashiok on ID scrolls].
{{blz}} February 13, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/loot-bosses-and-cars/ Bashiok on loot and bosses].
{{com}} February 12, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/on-the-drawing-board-10-horror-elements/ Horror elements]. Will Diablo 3 be scary and gruesome? Should it be?
{{blz}} February 11, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/item-customization/ Bashiok on item customization and sockets].
{{blz}} February 10, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/more-bashiok-on-gold-sinks-fury-and-the-new-chat-gem/ Bashiok on gold sinks, Fury, and the new chat gem].
{{blz}} February 8, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-gold-sinks/ Bashiok on gold sinks and soul bound items].
{{blz}} February 2, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-dps-displays/ Bashiok on DPS display].
{{int}} February 1, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-iii-gamestar-interviews-leonard-boyarsky/ Leonard Boyarsky on runes, skills, inventory, and much more].
 
 
==January 2009==
[[Image:Secret-level-unicorn1.jpg|thumb|300px|Bashiok's pretty unicorn pony.]]
{{pic}} January 31, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/thousand-pound-ghostbuster/ Joke images: Thousand Pound Ghostbuster and rainbow-farting unicorn].
{{pic}} January 30, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/new-diablo-iii-official-wallpapers-1-29/ New official wallpapers].
{{com}} January 30, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/on-the-drawing-board-9-item-sets-and-set-items/ Item Sets and Set Items]. What changes and modifications can we expect to see in Diablo 3?
{{pre}} January 18, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-iii-death-knight-class/ Death Knight class speculation].
{{blz}} January 17, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/dropped_items_degrade_diablo_3_performance/ Bashiok on dropped items = performance degradation and a larger stash].
{{blz}} January 16, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/damage-and-soundtrack/ Bashiok on damage display and soundtrack].
{{blz}} January 13, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-iii-build-customization-ui-economy-and-more/ Bashiok on inventory space, respecs, and much more].
{{blz}} January 10, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-auction-houses/ Bashiok on Auction Houses and trading].
{{pic}} January 8, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/new-screenshots-and-concept-art-january-8-update/ New screenshots and concept art].
{{pre}} January 7, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/pc-gamer-on-diablo-iii-and-blizzard/ PC Gamer UK vs. US cover captions]. Plus their short Diablo III preview.
{{blz}} January 7, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-iii-stat-points/ Bashiok on Skill Points and build variety].
{{pre}} January 5, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/d3-in-pcgamer/ PC Gamer magazine preview]. Nothing new in the preview; [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=2421&cat=576 cover photo here].
{{pic}} January 3, 2009. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/new-female-witchdoctor-concept-art/ New Female WitchDoctor concept art].
 
 
==December 2008==
{{com}} December 25, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/on-the-drawing-board-8-seasonal-bonus-content/ Seasonal bonus content] in video games. A good thing? Something you'd like to see in Diablo 3?
{{int}} December 24, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/1up-jay-wilson-interview/ Jay Wilson interview @ 1up.com].
{{vid}} December 23, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/g4tv-on-diablo-iii/ G4TV video preview of Diablo III].
{{com}} December 18, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/on-the-drawing-board-7-the-barbarians-fury/ Barbarians have Fury] instead of mana in Diablo 3. How does this change the gameplay?
{{blz}} December 13, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/what-happens-when-you-die/ Bashiok on death and checkpoints].
{{pic}} December 12, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/december-diablo-iii-media-update/ New concept art and screenshots].
{{blz}} December 10, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/item-affixes-modifier-brainstorm/ Bashiok asks for item modifier brainstorming].
{{blz}} December 8, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/the-next-gen-attributesystem/ Bashiok with a very long post on auto-attributes.]
{{com}} December 4, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/on-the-drawing-board-6-mercenaries/ Mercenaries] discussed in detail. Should they return with changes in Diablo 3?
{{oth}} December 4, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/massive-inc-and-blizzard-multi-year-advertising-deal/ Blizzard signs multiyear forum ad deal with Massively]. Follow up [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzard-ad-sales-reactions/ media commentaries and fan reactions].
{{blz}} December 4, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzard-does-not-have-all-classes-and-act-1-done/ Bashiok restrains overly-enthusiastic progress reports].
 
 
==November 2008==
{{int}} November 27, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/jay-wilson-interview-by-playtm/ Jay Wison interviewed by Play.tm].
[[Image:Wd-soul-harvest1s.jpg|thumb|350px|Soul Harvesting WD.]]
{{pic}} November 20, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/new-diablo-3-pictures/ New screenshots and concept art].
{{int}} November 20, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzcast-episode-6-transcript/ Blizzcast 6 with tons of new content.]
{{int}} November 18, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-3-will-have-several-expansions/ Mike Morhaime confirms plans for multiple Diablo III expansions].
{{com}} November 14, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/on-the-drawing-board-5-character-design/ Character design in D3]. How important and powerful should party-boosting skills be?
{{blz}} November 13, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-discusses-diablo-iii-inventory-and-monster-respawn/ Bashiok on Inventory, Monster respawning, and monster damage points].
{{int}} November 13, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-on-skill-trees/ Bashiok on skill trees and skills].
{{com}} November 7, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/on-the-drawing-board-4-preset-attributes/ Preset Attributes] discussed in detail. Their pros and cons.
{{oth}} November 3, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bill-roper-join-cryptic-studios/ Bill Roper join Cryptic Studios]
 
 
==October 2008 - Post BlizzCon==
{{blz}} October 31, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/environmental-damage-against-a-player/ Environmental Damage Against a Player] - [[Bashiok]] on potential griefing.
{{oth}} October 27, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/echoes-of-war-the-music-of-blizzard-entertainment/ Echoes of War: The Music of Blizzard Entertainment]
{{pic}} October 23, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-3-fansites-kit/ Diablo 3 Fansite Kit]
{{vid}} October 23, 2008. [http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/10/15/mtv-video-tour-of-blizzard-headquarters/ MTV Video Tour of Blizzard Headquarters]
 
 
=== October 2008 - BlizzCon ===
Blizzcon reports continued to appear long after the show ended. They're all grouped here for convenience.

{{pre}} November 20, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/games-radar-diablo-iii-hands-on/ Games Radar's Blizzcon report].
{{pre}} November 6, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/wizard-gameplay-report/P1/ Massive Wizard Gameplay Report].
{{oth}} November 6, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/this-evenings-qa-session/ Diii.net Post-Blizzcon Chat]
{{vid}} November 3, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzcon-dance-contest-part-2/ BlizzCon Dance Contest Part 2]
{{vid}} November 1, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzcon-contest-videos/ BlizzCon Contest Videos] - First Half of the Dance contest, and the "/silly" contest.
{{pre}} October 30, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/witch-doctor-gameplay-report/ Witch Doctor Gameplay Report] - [[Witch Doctor Skills|Skills]] and Items for the [[Witch Doctor]].
{{pre}} October 29, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzcon-demo-discussion/ BlizzCon Demo Discussion] - Massive D3 Report, Part 1.
{{vid int}} October 29, 2008. [http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/blizzard-s-frank-pearce_4 Blizzard's Frank Pearce] - "Easy to learn, hard to master."
{{vid}} October 28, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/costume-contest-vid/ Costume Contest Video]
{{pre}} October 24, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/new-content-from-blizzcon-2008/ New Content From BlizzCon]
{{pic}} October 21, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/new-environmental-art/ New Environmental Art]
{{pre}} October 20, 2008. [http://www.gamingexcellence.com/pc/games/1411/p20081020.shtml BlizzCon 2008: Diablo III Preview]
{{pre}} October 20, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/barbarian-game-play-and-skill-tree-discussion/ Barbarian Game Play and Skill Tree Discussion]
{{pan}} October 19, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzcon-diablo-3-lore-panel-video/ BlizzCon: Diablo 3 Lore Panel Video]
{{pic}} October 18, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/new-character-art1/ New Character Art]
{{pre}} October 18, 2008. [http://news.bigdownload.com/2008/10/18/blizzcon-2008-diablo-iii-hands-on-impressions/ BlizzCon 2008: Diablo III hands-on impressions]
{{pre}} October 17, 2008. [http://www.planetdiablo.com/features/articles/bcexp101708/ The BlizzCon Experience - Afterthoughts]
{{pre}} October 17, 2008. [http://www.planetdiablo.com/features/articles/wdbarb101708/ BlizzCon '08: Witch Doctor and Barbarian Preview]
{{pre}} October 17, 2008. [http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=261369 Diablo III Hands On]
{{pic}} October 17, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/new-npc-artwork/ New NPC Artwork]
{{pic}} October 17, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzcon-d3-inventory-images/ BlizzCon D3 Inventory Images]
{{vid int}} October 17, 2008. [http://www.g4tv.com/xplay/videos/29411/Diablo_III_All_Access.html Diablo III: All Access]
{{pre}} October 17, 2008. [http://news.bigdownload.com/2008/10/18/blizzcon-2008-diablo-iii-hands-on-impressions/ 'Diablo III' Hands-On]
{{pre}} October 16, 2008. [http://www.g4tv.com/mmoreport/videos/29405/The_MMO_Report_BlizzCon_08_Special.html The MMO Report: BlizzCon 08 Special]
{{blz}} October 16, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzcon-2008-diablo-iii-tidbits/ Blizzcon 2008: Diablo III Tidbits]
{{int}} October 16, 2008. [http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/16/blizzcon-2008-blizzards-rob-pardo-on-diablo-3-starcraft-2/ BlizzCon 2008: Blizzard's Rob Pardo talks Diablo 3]
{{pan}} October 16, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzcon-press-conference-with-jay-wilson/ BlizzCon Press Conference with Jay Wilson]
{{pic}} October 16, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/new-blizzcon-monster-art/ New BlizzCon Monster Art]
{{oth}} October 16, 2008. [http://blizzplanet.com/news/2814/ BlizzPlanet Diablo 3 Answers]
{{vid int}} October 16, 2008. [http://www.gamereactor.se/grtv/?id=3255&sid=95f9c59ee168ff5ca1c8943bb107bf2a BlizzCon08: Diablo III Update w/ Gameplay]
{{vid int}} October 16, 2008. [http://uk.gamespot.com/mac/rpg/diablo3/video/6199524/diablo-iii-interview-5 Diablo III Interview 5]
{{pre}} October 16, 2008. [http://www.rpgamer.com/games/diablo/diablo3/diablo3imp.html Diablo 3 - Blizzcon Impression]
{{int}} October 16, 2008. [http://blog.wired.com/games/2008/10/qa-blizzard-ceo.html Q&A: Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime on DRM, WoW and the Next MMO]
{{int}} October 16, 2008. [http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/blizzard-wizard Blizzard Wizard] ([[Paul Sams]] Interview)
{{int}} October 15, 2008. [http://blog.wired.com/games/2008/10/qa-blizzards-ex.html Q&A: Blizzard's Executive Vice President of Game Design Rob Pardo]
{{vid int}} October 15, 2008. [http://diablo3.battlenet.pl/portal/d3/1/99/Wywiad_Battlenetpl_z_Jayem_Wilsonem_i_Rayem_Gresko.html Jay Wilson and Ray Gresko Video Interview]
{{pre}} October 15, 2008. [http://www.meristation.com/v3/des_avances.php?id=cw48f4e9b44d34a&pic=PC&idj=cw48662a1c21860 Diablo III Preview] (Spanish). [http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&tl=en&u=http://www.meristation.com/v3/des_avances.php%3Fid%3Dcw48f4e9b44d34a%26pic%3DPC%26idj%3Dcw48662a1c21860 Google Translated].
{{pre}} October 15, 2008. [http://tentonhammer.com/node/46423 BlizzCon 2008: Diablo III Hands-On Preview]
{{pre}} October 15, 2008. [http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3170686&p=1 Diablo 3 Hands-On Preview]
{{blz}} October 14, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/bashiok-answers-post-blizzcon-diablo-3-concerns/ Bashiok Answers Post-Blizzcon Diablo 3 Concerns]
{{vid int}} October 14, 2008. [http://www.starcraftwire.net/n/1282/frank-pearce-interview BlizzCon 2008 Frank Pearce Interview]
{{pic}} October 14, 2008. [http://www.joystiq.com/photos/blizzcon-2008-diablo-iii-in-depth-hands-on/ BlizzCon 2008: Diablo III In-Depth Hands On]
{{pic}} October 14, 2008. [http://www.joystiq.com/photos/blizzcon-diablo-3-skill-systems-gallery/ BlizzCon: Diablo 3 Skill Systems Gallery]
{{vid}} October 14, 2008. [http://www.gametrailers.com/player/41489.html Blizzcon 2008: Panel: Skills Part 1 HD]
{{vid}} October 14, 2008. [http://www.gametrailers.com/player/41491.html Blizzcon 2008: Panel: Skills Part 2 HD]
{{vid}} October 14, 2008. [http://www.gametrailers.com/player/41493.html Blizzcon 2008: Panel: Skills Part 3 HD]
{{vid}} October 14, 2008. [http://www.gametrailers.com/player/41495.html BlizzCon 2008: Panel: Runes HD]
{{vid}} October 14, 2008. [http://www.gametrailers.com/player/41497.html BlizzCon 2008: Panel: Death Effects HD]
{{pre}} October 14, 2008. [http://gamesblog.ugo.com/index.php/gamesblog/more/blizzcon_08_diablo_iii_hands_on/ Blizzcon ‘08-Diablo III Hands-On]
{{pre}} October 14, 2008. [http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/207459/preview-diablo-iii/ Feature: Diablo III]
{{pre}} October 14, 2008. [http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/14/blizzcon-2008-in-depth-diablo-3-hands-on/ BlizzCon 2008: In-depth Diablo 3 hands-on]
{{pre}} October 13, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzcon-2008-diablo-iii-hands-on-gameplay-impressions/ BlizzCon 2008: Diablo III Hands-On Gameplay Impressions]
{{vid int}} October 13, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diiinet-jay-wilson-video-interview/ Diii.Net Jay Wilson Video Interview]
{{Oth}} October 13, 2008. [http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/13/blizzcon-2008-rob-pardo-talks-battle-net-monetizing/ BlizzCon 2008: Rob Pardo talks Battle.Net monetizing]
{{vid int}} October 13, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diiinet-jay-wilson-video-interview/ Diii.Net Jay Wilson Video Interview]
{{pre}} October 13, 2008. [http://news.gotgame.com/blizzcon-diablo-3-gameplay-and-the-new-wizard-class/16311/ BlizzCon: Diablo 3 Gameplay and the New Wizard Class]
{{pre}} October 13, 2008. [http://www.shacknews.com/featuredarticle.x?id=1024 Diablo 3: What We Know So Far, Post-BlizzCon Edition]
{{int}} October 13, 2008. [http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/10/13/blizzcon-lead-designer-on-diablo-3-wizard-class/ In Crafting ‘Diablo 3' Class, Blizzard Risking Harry Potter Comparisons Instead Of ‘World of Warcraft’ Ones]
{{oth}} October 13, 2008. [http://www.pcgameshardware.com/aid,663351/News/Blizzcon_Diablo_3_and_Starcraft_2_without_Direct_X_10/ Blizzcon: Diablo 3 and Starcraft 2 without Direct X 10]
{{oth}} October 12, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzcon-2008-live-blog-transcript/ BlizzCon 2008 Live Blog Transcript]
{{pre}} October 12, 2008. [http://www.warcry.com/articles/view/conferences/blizzcon_08/5360-Blizzcon-08-Diablo-III-Hands-On Blizzcon 08: Diablo III Hands-On]
{{pre}} October 12, 2008. [http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/diablo3/news.html?sid=6199271 BlizzCon 2008: Diablo III Updated Hands-On]
{{pre}} October 12, 2008. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/86767-Blizzcon-08-Hands-On-Diablo-III Blizzcon 08: Hands On - Diablo III]
{{oth}} October 12, 2008. [http://www.originalsoundversion.com/?p=760 BlizzCon 08: New Diablo III Tunes, New Co-Composer Announced]
{{pre}} October 11, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/wizard-skill-tree-coverage/ Wizard Skill Tree Coverage]
{{int}} October 11, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/exclusive-jay-wilson-interview/ Exclusive Jay Wilson Interview]
{{vid int}} October 11, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/ray-gresko-and-leonard-boasky-video-interview/ Diii.net Ray Gresko and Leonard Boyarsky Video Interview]
{{int}} October 11, 2008. [http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/919/919059p1.html BlizzCon 08: Rob Pardo on Diablo III]
{{pre}} October 11, 2008. [http://www.planetdiablo.com/features/articles/firstimpression101008/ BlizzCon '08: Diablo III First Impression]
{{oth}} October 11, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/questions-answered/ 30 Diablo 3 Questions Answered]
{{pan}} October 11, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diiinet-diablo-3-gameplay-qa-videos/ Diii.Net Diablo 3 Gameplay Q&A Videos]
{{pre}} October 11, 2008. [http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/919/919074p1.html BlizzCon 2008: Diablo III Hands-on]
{{pic}} October 11, 2008. [http://www.gamingshogun.com/Article/2476/2008_BlizzCon_-_Saturday_Morning_Gallery.html 2008 BlizzCon - Saturday Morning Gallery]
{{int}} October 11, 2008. [http://gamesblog.ugo.com/index.php/gamesblog/more/rob_pardo_talks_diablo_iii/ Rob Pardo Talks Diablo III!]
{{pre}} October 11, 2008. [http://kotaku.com/5062246/hands-on-with-diablo-iii-everything-old-is-new-again Hands On With Diablo III: Everything Old Is New Again]
{{pan}} October 11, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/d3-lore-art-panel/ D3 Lore & Art Panel]
{{pan}} October 11, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/class-panel-fan-qa-video/ Class Panel Fan Q&A Video]
{{vid int}} October 11, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/ray-gresko-and-leonard-boasky-video-interview/ Diii.net Ray Gresko and Leonard Boyarsky Video Interview]
{{oth}} October 11, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diablo-3-not-on-consoles/ Diablo 3 Not on Consoles]
{{vid int}} October 11, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/mike-morhaime-video-interview/ Mike Morhaime Video Interview]
{{pre}} October 11, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/d3-gameplay-panel/ D3 Gameplay Panel]
{{oth}} October 11, 2008. [http://darkzero.co.uk/game-news/blizzard-not-allowing-mods-in-diablo-3-may-make-dlc-available/ Blizzard not allowing mods in Diablo 3, may make DLC available]
{{pre}} October 11, 2008. [http://uk.pc.gamespy.com/pc/diablo-iii/919075p1.html Hands-on with Diablo III's Witch Doctor (PC)]
{{pre}} October 11, 2008. [http://www.gamingshogun.com/Article/2479/2008_BlizzCon_-_Diablo_III_Gameplay_Impressions.html 2008 BlizzCon - Diablo III Gameplay Impressions]
{{pan}} October 11, 2008. [http://d3db.com/media/video/watch/1469EEC0-7F0F-B308-FF6E-39472A5E8647 Class Design Panel at Blizzcon]
{{pre}} October 11, 2008. [http://news.gotgame.com/blizzcon-hands-on-with-the-diablo-iii-witch-doctor/16132/ BlizzCon: Hands on With the Diablo III Witch Doctor]
{{oth}} October 11, 2008. [http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/10/11/blizzard-on-rainbows-in-starcraft-diablo-art-director/ Blizzard: Rainbows Could Appear In ‘StarCraft II,’ Still Looking For New ‘Diablo III’ Art Director]
{{pre}} October 11, 2008. [http://blog.wired.com/games/2008/10/hands-on-diablo.html Hands On: Diablo III Simplifies Everything]
{{oth}} October 11, 2008. [http://www.incgamers.com/Games/1935/News/Diablo-III-Not-For-Console/13981 Diablo III Not For Console]
{{pre}} October 11, 2008. [http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/diablo3/news.html?sid=6199215&mode=previews BlizzCon 2008: Diablo III Hands-On]
{{pic}} October 10, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/screens-and-artwork/ Screens and Artwork]
{{int}} October 10, 2008. [http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/55256 Blizzard Discusses Diablo 3 Console Port (Update: Director Jay Wilson Weighs In)]
{{oth}} October 10, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/wizard/ Wizard!!!]
{{oth}} October 10, 2008. [http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/55271 Blizzard on Battle.net Subscription, Diablo 3 Modding]
{{oth}} October 10, 2008. [http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/55258 Diablo 3 Lead Designer Reveals Skill Rune System]
{{pre}} October 10, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/wizard-first-reactions/ Wizard first reactions...]
{{pic}} October 10, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/blizzcon-pics-goodie-bag/ BlizzCon Pics & Goodie Bag]
{{pre}} October 10, 2008. [http://www.shacknews.com/featuredarticle.x?id=1020 Diablo 3: The Wizard's Talent Trees Unveiled]
{{pan}} October 10, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/d3-class-panel-notes/ D3 Class Panel Notes]
{{pan}} October 10, 2008. [http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/55258 Diablo 3 Lead Designer Reveals Skill Rune System]
{{vid}} October 10, 2008. [http://www.incgamers.com/Videos/265/Diablo-3-Wizard-Class-Gameplay Diablo 3 Wizard Class Gameplay]
{{vid}} October 10, 2008. [http://www.eurogamer.pt/tv_video.php?playlist_id=15714&size=large Diablo III - Wizard e Barbarian Gameplay]
{{pre}} October 10, 2008. [http://uk.pc.gamespy.com/pc/diablo-iii/918894p1.html Diablo III Preview]
{{pre}} October 10, 2008. [http://uk.pc.gamespy.com/pc/diablo-iii/918798p1.html Hands-on with Diablo III's Wizard]
{{pre}} October 10, 2008. [http://uk.pc.gamespy.com/pc/diablo-iii/918622p1.html Hands-on Diablo III at BlizzCon 2008]
{{pre}} October 10, 2008. [http://www.blizzard.com/diablo3/characters/wizard.xml?rhtml=y The Wizard]
{{pre}} October 10, 2008. [http://www.shacknews.com/featuredarticle.x?id=1019 First Diablo 3 Hands-on Impressions: Hell Yeah]
{{pre}} October 10, 2008. [http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/10/joystiq-hands-on-diablo-iii-and-the-wizard-class/ Joystiq hands-on: Diablo 3 and the Wizard class]
{{pre}} October 10, 2008. [http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/55245 New Diablo 3 Class Revealed: The Wizard]
{{pre}} October 10, 2008. [http://www.ripten.com/2008/10/10/blizzcon-08-coverage-throughout-the-day/ BlizzCon 08: Diablo 3 Wizard Class Revealed, More Coverage Throughout the Day]
{{pre}} October 10, 2008. [http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/55235 Diablo 3 Playable at BlizzCon]
{{pre}} October 9, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/articles/comments/blizzcon-2008-coverage/ BlizzCon Coverage]
{{pre}} October 9, 2008. [http://www.planetdiablo.com/community/events/blizzcon08/ BlizzCon 2008 Blog]
{{com}} October 2, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/on-the-drawing-board-3-death/ Death in Diablo 3]. Checkpoints explained. Should there be a sting to death? How about living rewards instead of death penalties?

==September 2008==
{{int}} September 26, 2008. Yet another Leipzig GDC [http://www.ausgamers.com/features/read/2662371 interview with Jay Wilson] touches on subjects including [[Battle.net]], [[cheating]], the [[art controversy]], [[release date]] and [[other classes]]. AusGamers.
{{blz}} September 25, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/695925/bashiok-on-guns-and-spellbooks Bashiok] on Guns and Spellbooks.
{{int}} September 25, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/695907/jay-wilson-buffedde Jay Wilson] interviewed by German Buffed.de.
{{com}} September 24, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/on-the-drawing-board-2-party-vs-solo/ Should Diablo III have party-only content]. Should there be special rewards only for single or party play?
{{blz}} September 23, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/695371/bashiok-on-level-cap-and-inventory Bashiok] on level cap and inventory arrangement.
{{blz}} September 23, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/695370/bashiok-on-d3s-dx10 Bashiok] on DirectX 10 support for Diablo III.
[[Image:Firebomb1.jpg|thumb|250px|Firebombing!]]
{{blz}} September 20, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/694707/bashiok-on-the-alt-key Bashiok] on looting with the use of the Alt-key.
{{blz}} September 19, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/694462/bashiok-on-invisible-characters Bashiok] on invisible characters in [[screenshot]]s.
{{com}} September 18, 2008: [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/on-the-drawing-board-1-rares-vs-uniques/ Rares vs. Uniques], which types of items should be most valuable in Diablo III?
{{blz}} September 18, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/694228/bashiok-on-d2d3-logos Bashiok] on the Diablo III logo history.
{{pic}} September 18, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/694375/new-monster-screens-art Blizzard] posts new screenshots as well as art.
{{blz}} September 18, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/694183/bashiok-on-corpses-and-game-resources Bashiok] on [[corpse]]s and game resources (including [[Havok]]).
{{blz}} September 18, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/694182/bashiok-on-chests Bashiok] on locked [[chest]]s. They probably won't return.
{{int}} September 16, 2008. [http://ablegamers.com/game-news/340-ablegamers-interviews-the-diablo-iii-team.html Wilson and Boyarsky] ([[Jay]] and [[Leonard]]) on system requirements, skills, plot and more. Able Gamers.
{{int}} September 16, 2008. [http://www.videogamer.com/pc/diablo_3/preview-1253.html Jay Wilson] says the next revealed [[class]] will be very much like an existing one.
{{blz}} September 16, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/693796/bashiok-on-corpses-and-web-updates Corpses explained] by [[Bashiok]].
{{blz}} September 16, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/693791/blizzard-comments-on-the-d3sc2-release-schedule D3 release rumours smashed] by Blizzard and IncGamers.
{{blz}} September 12, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/692737/bashiok-on-glowing-skeletal-shields Skeletal shields] explained by [[Bashiok]].
{{Int}} September 12, 2008. [http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/09/11/michael-gough-interview/ Michael Gough] interviewed again, the voice actor for [[Deckard Cain]]. Among other things divulge how much of his voice they have recorded so far. MTV.
{{oth}} September 11, 2008. [http://www.videogaming247.com/2008/09/11/diablo-iii-will-have-its-own-unique-needs-for-the-new-battlenet/ Short snippet] on a detail concerning [[Battle.net 2.0]] made by [[Frank Pearce]]. Videogaming247.
{{vid}} September 11, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/692572/the-end-of-the-art-controversy Diii.net] on the [[art controversy]], where a fan called Sozou submitted a full-fledged '''video''' of desaturated, decolourised gameplay. Including a short interview with Diii.net.
{{vid int}} September 10, 2008. [http://tv7games.se/ValtSpel.aspx?clipId=269 Old resurfaced WWI interview]] with [[Jay Wilson]]. General D3 info, including [[Health Orb]]s, randomness and gameplay. TV7 Games.
{{int}} September 10, 2008. [http://www.incgamers.com/Games/1935/features/90/Diablo-III-Inforview Bashiok] on [[Health Orb]]s, Single Player, and health/mana leach. IncGamers.
{{int}} September 8, 2008. [http://www.crispygamer.com/interviews/2008-09-08/crafting-a-sequel-for-everyone-the-frank-pearce-interview-3.aspx Frank Pearce] on mostly [[StarCraft]] and a little bit on [[Battle.net 2.0]]. Crispy Gamer.
{{int}} September 5, 2008. [http://www.crispygamer.com/interviews/2008-09-05/detailing-diablo-iii-the-jay-wilson-interview.aspx Jay Wilson] on [[art controversy]], console porting, multiplayer and randomisation. CrispyGamer.
{{blz}} September 5, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/691154/bashiok-on-boss-drops-and-the-new-artwork Bashiok] on Boss drops and new artwork.
{{pic}} September 5, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/690879/new-d3-screenshots Blizzard] posts new screenshots.
[[Image:Skovos1.jpg|thumb|250px|Skovos overhead view.]]
{{pic}} September 5, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/690878/new-d3-artwork Blizzard] posts new artwork.
{{blz}} September 5, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/690870/official-diablo-timeline Blizzard] posts the Official Diablo 3 Timeline.
{{int}} September 4, 2008. [http://www.gamebanshee.com/interviews/diabloiii1.php Lenoard Boyarsky] on lore, quests and dialogue. GameBanshee.
{{oth}} September 3, 2008. [http://www.incgamers.com/Games/1206/features/87/MMO-Weekly IncGamers] MMO weekly on [[Battle.net]] and features.
{{pre}} September 2, 2008. [http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/997778/skewed_and_reviewed_gets_details_on.html Skewed and Reviewed] talks with "some Blizzard guy" on [[Health Orb]]s, [[Potion]]s and dungeon traps.
{{pre}} September 1, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/articles/689867/definite-battlenet-20-features Diii.net] on [[Battle.net 2.0]] confirmed features. Diii.net.
 
 

==August 2008 - Post-Leipzig==
{{blz}} August 28, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/688760/bashiok-on-art-direction-controversy-again Bashiok] on the [[art controversy]].
{{blzc}} August 28, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/688607/blizzcast-5-out-diablo-3-qampa-session BlizzCast #5] with [[Jay Wilson]] and Blizzard CMs. Blizzard.
{{blz}} August 27, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/688738/bashiok-on-health-orbs-and-pvp Bashiok] on [[Health Orb]]s and PvP.
{{blz}} August 26, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/688134/bashiok-on-d3s-rating Bashiok] on Diablo 3's age ratings.
{{int}} August 21, 2008. [http://www.purepandemonium.com/main/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=61 Michael Gough], the voice of [[Deckard Cain]] interviewed about his own history. Not quite Diablo-related.
 
 
==August 2008 - GC Leipzig==
Interviews conducted at the GDC kept showing up for weeks after the event. They're all grouped here for convenience.
{{int}} September 26, 2008. Yet another Leipzig GDC [http://www.ausgamers.com/features/read/2662371 interview with Jay Wilson] touches on subjects including [[Battle.net]], [[cheating]], the [[art controversy]], [[release date]] and [[other classes]]. AusGamers.
{{int}} September 3, 2008. [http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200809/N08.0903.1800.35279.htm Jay Wilson] on D2 legacy, [[art controversy]], Blizzard on consoles, failing clones and [[class]] roster.
{{vid int}} September 2, 2008. [http://www.gamereactor.eu/grtv/?id=2936 Jay Wilson] on randomness, the [[art controversy]], "probably [[hardcore]] mode", [[Health Orb]]s 25-35% droprate and some info on [[PvP]]. Gamereactor.
{{vid int}} September 1, 2008. [http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/43166 Jay Wilson] on general Diablo III development.
{{pre}} August 27, 2008. [http://www.miamiherald.com/business/technology/story/661444.html Game Informer Magazine] on Diablo 3 from GC'08.
{{pre}} August 26, 2008. [http://www.gamedaily.com/games/diablo-3/pc/game-previews/preview/7354/20621/ Gamedaily] on Diablo 3 from GC'08.
{{int}} August 25, 2008. [http://diablo3.ingame.de/szene/interviews/interview_jaywilson/index_engl.php Jay Wilson] on Battle.net, German ratings, [[death]] and [[follower]]s.
{{int}} August 25, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/687801/jay-wilson-from-leipzig-5 Jay Wilson]
[[Image:Diablo-head1.jpg|thumb|250px|Miss me?]]
{{int}} August 25, 2008. [http://diablo3.4players.de/games_convention_2008_4.php Jay Wilson] tells us there will be no LAN support. In GERMAN ([http://www.diii.net/n/687810/jay-wilson-from-leipzig-6 English translation]). Diablo3.4Players.de
{{vid int}} August 22, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/686928/jay-wilson-video-interview Jay Wilson] talks about career, D2/D3 teams, struggle and MUCH about the [[art controversy]]. IncGamers.
{{int}} August 22, 2008. [http://www.boomtown.net/en_uk/articles/art.view.php?id=16571 Jay Wilson on] loot and other things. Boomtown.
{{int}} August 22, 2008. [http://www.4players.de/4players.php/dispbericht/PC-CDROM/Special/7040/60013/0/Diablo_3.html Jay Wilson] tells us there will be no Diablo III runewords. 4Players.de.
{{int}} August 21, 2008. [http://kotaku.com/5039711/only-the-barbarian-will-return-in-diablo-iii Jay Wilson] says only the [[Barbarian]] will feature in Diablo 3. The [http://diablo2.diablowiki.net/Necromancer Necromancer] is 100% cut. Kotaku.
{{int}} August 20, 2008. [http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=220175 Jay Wilson] on D1/D2 experiences, isometric view, and [[art controversy]]. Eurogamer.
{{int}} August 20, 2008. [http://uk.pc.gamespy.com/pc/diablo-iii/901260p1.html Jay Wilson] talks about [[Battle.net]] and [[PvP]]. Gamespot.
{{int}} August 20, 2008. [http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/900/900777p1.html Jay Wilson] on potions, inventory and story. IGN.
{{pic|s}} August 20, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/686291/leipzig-d3-artwork New artwork] from the Leipzig press CD.
{{pic|s}} August 20, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/686285/leipzig-d3-screenshots 13 Screenshots] from the Leipzig press CD.
 
 

==August 2008 - Pre-Leipzig==
{{blz}} August 15, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/684680/bashiok-on-spell-visuals-and-game-conventions Bashiok on] game visuals and design philosophies.
{{pic|s}} August 14, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/684539/six-new-screenshotsarts Six new screenshots and artworks].
{{blz}} August 13, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/684026/bashiok-on-beta-testing-and-release-date Bashiok on] beta testing and release dates.
{{int}} August 12, 2008. [http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/08/12/diablo-iii-storyline/ Jay Wilson] on returning characters from D1 and D2, and the Diablo series continuing past D3. MTV MP Blog.
{{int}} August 11, 2008. [http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/08/11/diablo-iii-gender-debate/ Jay Wilson] on male and female options for each character. MTV MP Blog.
[[Image:Unknown-city1.jpg|thumb]]
{{int}} August 10, 2008. [http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/08/07/diablo-iii-cow-level/ Jay Wilson] on the chances of a D3 Secret Cow Level. MTV MP Blog.
{{int}} August 8, 2008. [http://vault.ign.com/View.php?view=Articles.Detail&id=35 Jay Wilson] talks about D3's characters and the game's state of progress. Vault Network.
{{pic|s}} August 7, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/681956/new-d3-concept-art New piece of concept art] posted by SonsoftheStorm.com.
{{blz}} August 6, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/681893/bashiok-secret-cow-level Bashiok on] the Secret Cow Level and game balancing in general.
{{blz}} August 6, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/681653/bashiok-barb-too-magical Bashiok on] whether the D3 Barbarian is "too magical."
{{blz}} August 6, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/681647/bashiok-blizzard-achievements-in-d3 Bashiok on] Blizzard's newly-announced "achievements" and how they will work on Diablo 3.
{{blz}} August 6, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/681638/bashiok-quick-answers Bashiok gives] numerous quick answers on the separateness of D3's acts, night/day cycle, boss-specific fatalities, and more.
{{pre}} August 5, 2008. [http://gamesblog.ugo.com/index.php/gamesblog/more/diablo_iii_development_update/ UGO] on chat trades and Battle.net fees.
{{int}} August 5, 2008. [http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/08/05/diablo-iii-necromancer/ Jay Wilson] on the fact that the Necromancer is gone. MTV
{{pre}} August 4, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/articles/680966/battlenet-20-the-next-generation-gaming-network Diii.net] on Battle.net, and possible Battle.net 2.0 changes.
{{int}} August 4, 2008. [http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/08/04/diablo-iii-designer-turns-tables Jay Wilson] discusses player-modified D3 screenshots and the game's art direction. MTV
{{blz}} August 3, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/680598/bashiok-on-the-barbarian-statue Bashiok on] the Barbarian statue.
{{pre}} August 1, 2008. [http://www.gamesradar.com/pc/diablo-iii/preview/diablo-iii/a-20080801111854458065/g-2008063084756359080 GamesRadar] on D3, and a short QA session.
{{int}} August 1, 2008. [http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/08/01/blizzard-accounts-achievements/ Jeffrey Kaplan] on Diablo 3 Achievements, "Blizzard Account" and fan's "Blizzard level". MTV
 
 
==July 2008==
{{int}} July 31, 2008. [http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/07/31/diablo-iii-designer-talks-colors/ Jay Wilson] on colour and WoW influences. MTV.
{{int}} July 31, 2008. [http://kotaku.com/5031732/art-apocalypse-blizzards-wilson-talks-diablo-iii-design-decisions Jay Wilson] on art design and player petitions. Kotaku.
{{int}} July 31, 2008. [http://kotaku.com/5031684/what-activision-can-and-cant-change-about-blizzard Jay Wilson] on Diablo III's revenue model.
{{blz}} July 31, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/679441/bashiok-on-d3s-improved-bnet-experience Bashiok on] D3's plans for an improved Battle.net experience.
[[Image:Barb-figure-sdcc07.jpg|frame]]
{{pic|s}} July 29, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/678665/barbarian-figurine Barbarian figurine] announced.
{{blz}} July 29, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/678598/bashiok-on-boss-damage-visuals Bashiok on] boss damage visuals.
{{int}} July 27, 2008. [http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=193951 Rob Pardo] on game design (general). CVG.
{{pic|s}} July 26, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/677315/new-screenies five new screenshots] including monster and world art.
{{int}} July 25, 2008. [http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/893/893781p1.html Leonard Boyarsky] on the importance of lore in the game. IGN.
{{pre}} July 25, 2008. Australian PC Powerplay Magazine. Scanned pages [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=1241&cat=576 one], [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=1240&cat=576 two], [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=1239&cat=576 three], [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=1238&cat=576 four], [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=1237&cat=576 five], [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=1236&cat=576 six], [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=1235&cat=576 seven].
{{int}} July 24, 2008. [http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=193852 Brian Morrisroe] speaks about art design with CVG.
{{int}} July 23, 2008. [http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=193951 Rob Pardo] on Blizzard's game design philosophy. CVG.
{{blz}} July 23, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/676400/bashiok-on-everything Bashiok] on [[Barbarian]] leaps and character movement, [[Tristram]] as dungeon, class-equpment, [[death]] animations and outdoor static areas.
{{blz}} July 22, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/675981/blizzard-cares-about-corpses Bashiok] on Blizzard caring about corpses.
{{int}} July 19, 2008. [http://www.developmag.com/news/30184/QA-More-on-how-Activision-Blizzards-merger-impacts-its-studios Activion CFO Tom Tippl] on the Activision/Blizzard merger]. DevelopMag.com
{{blz}} July 17, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/674066/bashiok-corpses-and-more Bashiok on] vanishing corpses and corpse skills, and does D3 = MMO?
{{int}} July 16, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/articles/673865/the-d2-team-comments-on-d3-part-ii Mike Huang], D2 developer gives his impressions of D3.
{{int}} July 14, 2008. [http://www.developmag.com/news/30184/QA-More-on-how-Activision-Blizzards-merger-impacts-its-studios Activision CFO Thomas Tippl] on the Activision / Blizzard merger.
{{blz}} July 13, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/674066/bashiok-corpses-and-more Bashiok] on corpses.
{{blz}} July 12, 2008.[http://www.diii.net/n/672276/more-from-bashiok Bashiok] on health globes and party play.
{{blz}} July 11, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/671871/bashiok-speaks Bashiok] on a variety of issues.
{{blz}} July 9, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/671187/news-blitz-wednesday-july-9th Bashiok] on respecing.
{{int}} July 8, 2008. [http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/07/07/blizzard-on-diablo-mmo-hopes-new-franchises-and-more/ Paul Sams]. Mtv's MP blog.
{{int}} July 7, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/articles/670644/the-d2-team-comments-on-d3 Ben Boos], D2 artist gives his impressions of D3.
{{int}} July 4, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/669697/max-schaefer-on-diablo-3 Max Schaefer] Diablo creator gives his opinion of ''Diablo III''.
{{int}} July 4, 2008. [http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=165005&page=2 Mike Morhaime]. Eurogamer.
{{blz}} July 3, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/n/669431/pking-played-down Bashiok] on Blizzard's approach to controlling PKing.
 
 
==June 2008: World Wide Invitational==
''Diablo III'' was announced at Blizzard's [[WWI 2008|World Wide Invitational]] in Paris, on June 28, 2008. A storm of media coverage ensued, with every gaming media outlet on the Internet reporting the announcement. The biggest sources of info from the WWI were the four hour-long Diablo 3 panels, along with [http://www.blizzard.com/diablo3/media/#movies three movies] Blizzard released, the [http://www.diabloii.net/articles/668036/diablo-3-faq D3 FAQ], and over one hundred [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=546 screenshots] and pieces of [http://www.diii.net/gallery/index.php?cat=540 concept art].
 
 
===Blizzard's WWI Panels===
{{pan}} June 29, 2008. [[WWI 2008: D3 Design Fundamentals Panel]].
{{pan}} June 29, 2008. [[WWI 2008: D3 Game Design Panel]].
{{pan}} June 29, 2008. [[WWI 2008: D3 Lore and Environmental Art Panel]].
{{pan}} June 29, 2008. [[WWI 2008: Denizens of Diablo Panel]].
 
 
===WWI Interviews===
{{vid int}} June 29, 2008. [http://trailer.onlinewelten.com/videos,id4103,blizzard_interview_with_rob_pardo.html Rob Pardo]. Onlinewelten.
{{int}} June 29, 2008.[http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/885/885139p1.html Video: Rob Pardo]. IGN,
{{vid int}} June 29, 2008. [http://www.gamespot.com/video/930659/6193139/diablo-iii-interview Video: Rob Pardo]. Gamespot.
{{vid int}} June 29, 2008. [http://www.diii.net/articles/668955/diiinet-diablo-3-interview-session IncGamers with D3 team] (bad sound)
{{int}} June 30, 2008. [http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/games/archives/2008/06/30/blizzard_interview_diablo_3_console_version_a_possibility.html Paul Sams]. Guardian UK.
{{int}} June 30, 2008. [http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/diablo-iii/885172p1.html Leonard Boyarsky]. Gamespot.
{{int}} June 30, 2008. [http://kotaku.com/5020721/the-man-behind-diablo-iii-talks-plot-lore-and-battlenet Jay Wilson]. Kotaku.
{{int}} July 1, 2008. [http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/games/archives/2008/07/01/diablo_3_interview_random_areas_coop_and_the_rest.html Leonard Boyarsky]. Guardian UK.
{{int}} July 1, 2008. [http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3168498 Leonard Boyarsky]. 1up.com.
{{int}} July 2, 2008.[http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3168515 Rob Pardo]. 1up.com.
{{vid int}} July 5, 2008. [http://www.wegame.com/watch/Diablo_3_Interview_with_Keith_Lee/ Keith Lee], Diablo 3 Lead Producer. Gamespot.
 
 
===Additional WWI Reporting and Features===
All posted June 28-30, 2008.
* {{vid int}} [http://www.worldofwar.net/wowtv/media/336/WWI_Walkabout_Movie/ convention hall tour and fan interviews] IncGamers.
* {{pic|s}} [http://www.diabloii.net/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=544 WWI Event Photos]
* {{pre}} [http://www.actiontrip.com/previews/diabloiii.phtml Action Trip] on Diablo 3 at the WWI.
* {{pre}} [http://www.videogamer.com/features/article/03-07-2008-455.html Video Gamer] on Diablo 3 questions Blizzard needs to answer.
* {{pre}} [http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=167096 EuroGamer] on Diablo 3 at the WWI.
* {{vid}} [http://ve3d.ign.com/videos/30948/PC/Diablo-III IGN video reactions] to WWI and D3.
* {{pre}} [http://pc.ign.com/articles/888/888189p1.html IGN's Ten Commandments of D3].
 
 
===Pre-WWI Teasers===
* {{oth}} [http://www.diii.net/articles/667288/the-wwi-splash-image-mystery Pre-WWI Teasers]. Teaser images and secret codes posted on Blizzard's website during the week before ''Diablo III'''s announcement. June 22-28, 2008.

[[category:Media Coverage]]

Skill Runes

2008-11-21T14:29:38Z

Asteria: /* Rune Function */

Runes in Diablo 3 are small items that are socketed into skills, not items. The runes grant special bonuses to the skill. There are many types of runes, all found in various quality levels, and they work across skills -- each rune will (in theory) work in every skill, adding something similar to the skills.

==D3 Runes vs. D2 Runes==

Runes in Diablo III are nothing like the Runes found in Diablo II. In D2 there were 33 kinds of {{iw|Runes Runes}}, which were small items that had no use on their own, but that could be placed in item sockets to add various bonuses to the item. Certain combinations of runes could also be used to create {{iw|Runeword RuneWords}}, very powerful items with pre-set stats.

In Diablo III, Runes are still small objects that must be placed in sockets to take effect, but in D3 the sockets are in skills, not items. (Items may also have sockets, but runes won't be used in them if they do.) Active skills have sockets in the skill tree interface, and when a valid rune is placed into the socket, the skill gains an appropriate bonus, depending on the type and quality of rune used. Bonuses vary greatly, depending on the skill and the type of rune used, and include such things as extra hits, extra damage, increased spell duration, and many more.

==Rune Function==
[[Image:runeskill.jpg|thumb|Rune Socket]]Skill Runes in Diablo III improve a character's active skills in various creative ways. Runes don't just add damage; they modify the skill in some way, making it more powerful and fun to use, as well as allowing for character customization. Runes can be used very strategically; different runes in the same spell will do things. For example, the Wizard skill Blizzard would gain different benefits from different runes. A few hypothetical Blizzard bonuses: more falling projectiles, longer duration, more damage per projectile, longer chill time, better to/hit, better chance of critical hit, and so forth. Also, each of those types of bonuses would be increased in power by the quality of the rune used, allowing for a huge variety of potential bonuses and play styles.

As of the Blizzcon demo (October 2008), only Active Skills had sockets for runes. None of the Passive skills did. It's not known if this will remain into the final game, or if all Active skills will have sockets. No skill had more than one socket, and that too is a feature that may change.

Runes can be removed instantly from sockets, without damaging or destroying the rune. Theoretically players could juggle their runes around constantly; sticking in a multi-strike rune to deal with big mobs, changing to a power rune to up the single target damage before a boss battle, and so forth. It's likely that Blizzard will take steps to limit that sort of rune juggling exploit; perhaps forcing players to return to town before they can change the rune socketed in a spell, putting a cool down time on resocketing the same skill, limiting the number of times a particular rune can be socketed, causing runes to lose quality when unsocketed, etc.

===Function Examples===
The D3 Team gave several examples of rune functions during a panel at Blizzcon (October 2008) when Skill Runes were first revealed as a game feature. ([http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouYP1zGfd0s Watch the demonstration] on You Tube.)

====Wizard's Mirror Image====
* '''Mirror Image Skill:''' This skill, from the [[Conjuring Skill Tree]], creates a duplicate of the [[wizard]], which is capable of moving around and using spells to attack monsters. (It's not just a decoy or an illusion.)
** '''Multistrike Rune: '''Socketing this rune would increase the number of duplicates. Higher quality levels of the multi-strike rune would presumably add more duplicates.
** '''Power Rune: '''Socketing this rune would increase the hit points of each duplicate, and increase the spell's duration.

====Wizard's Teleport Skill====
* '''Teleport skill:''' This skill, from the [[Arcane Skill Tree]], teleports the Wizard to the targeted location. The spell isn't quite as quick as it was in Diablo or Diablo 2, since the Wizard leaps up into the air before vanishing, and appears in the air, then falls down to earth.
** '''Striking Rune:''' Adds damage to targets near where the Wizard appears, functioning something like the Barbarian's Leap Attack skill.
** '''Multistrike Rune:''' Creates a temporary duplicate of the Wizard that will attract enemy fire and will fight and deal damage as well. (This seems to be basically a free way to cast Mirror Image when you Teleport.)

====Witch Doctor's Skull of Flame====
* '''Skull of Flame skill:''' The Witch Doctor lobs a flaming skull, grenade style, which explodes on impact, dealing substantial fire damage to nearby targets.
* '''Multistrike Rune:''' Socketing this rune causes the flaming skull to skip along the ground, like a stone over water, creating multiple explosions. Higher quality runes would allow additional bounces.
* '''Power Rune:''' Socketing this rune adds a firefield property to the Skull of Flame, creating a small patch of flame on the ground that persists after the skull's explosion and damages any monsters that cross over it.

====Wizard's Electrocute====
* '''Electrocute skill:''' This skill, from the [[Storm Skill Tree]] creates a strand of lightning that locks onto an enemy like a beam weapon, dealing steady lightning damage. It will chain to a second enemy if one is in range, dealing damage to both.
** '''Multistrike Rune:''' Socketing this rune allows the lightning to chain to multiple targets.
** '''Lethality Rune:''' Socketing this rune causes some of the monsters killed by Electrocute to explode in a nova, dealing damage to other nearby enemies.

==Rune Types==
Skill Runes will be found in a variety of types. Known runes:

* Energy Rune
* Lethality Rune
* Multistrike Rune
* Power Rune
* Striking Rune

(Players have spent a lot of time [http://forums.diii.net/showthread.php?p=6871952 thinking up other types of runes], and discussing their potential benefits.)

More runes will almost certainly be added during continuing development, as the team thinks of useful types to include in the game. The team won't be adding a lot of odd types of runes, though. D3 Lead Designer Jay Wilson has stressed that runes must add a useful function to multiple types of skills. The D3 Team wants all the runes to be useful to all characters, so they won't add runes that just boost one type of skill, or one character's skills. They have to think up rune bonus properties that work across the board, so there are probably not going to be 50 types of runes. (Utility doesn't equal equality, since not every skill can receive exactly the same level of improvement from every rune.)

==Rune Quality Levels==

It's been stated that runes will occur at various levels of quality, in a fashion somewhat akin to the different quality levels of {{iw|Gem gems}} in Diablo II. At Blizzcon (October 2008) [[Jay Wilson]] said there were 5 or 6 quality levels of runes, but that the number could go up or down during development. Higher qualities of runes will (of course) be dropped by higher level monsters, and the higher qualities will be much rarer. The function of each type of rune will not change at higher quality; instead the bonuses will be increased.

The D3 team hasn't yet revealed much information about how item crafting will work in D3, other than to say that they won't have any {{iw|Horadric_Cube Horadric Cube-style}} converting items. We therefore know nothing about the potential for runes to be upgraded by type, though it's certainly possible that something along those lines could be implemented.

==Rune Storage==

At the Blizzcon demo (October 2008) runes were stored in an inventory grid on the skill tree menu; not in the normal inventory. There were 10 rune slots below the skill trees. It's not known if they will still be stored there in the final game, if there will be ways to increase the number of slots, if they can be stored in the inventory instead, etc.

==Rune History==
What do you really know about runes? The ones from our world comes from the ancient Vikings, and their "futhark" (equivalence of our 'Alpha Bet(a)'). They allegedly hold magic powers, and the magicks of the 'runa' are still practised today. These practices, called "Seden", are of course done mostly as a pastime, but some forms of the old runes were used in proper form as late as early 20th century in the 'Dalarna' area of Sweden...

In [[Sanctuary]] however, runes are definitely magically inscribed symbols. Though their use has changed slightly in the last 20 years, they used to grant (sufficiently prepared) [[items]] magical properties. For sages of these runes, magical {{iw|Runeword RuneWords}} would be created to remake a mundane item into a Runic Item, with powers competing with magical artefacts.

Besides the fact that these supposedly ancient runes hold great and mystic powers, we know little about them. Who created them or how they are created is unknown. They seem to attract [[demon]]s of different kinds, as they are often found on their corpses. If the runes are of demonic origin is not known either. They could have been the simple writing language of the first inhabitants of Sanctuary, who themselves were more powerful than Demons or [[Angel]]s. Whatever the origin, they are of great use to heroes wishing to dethrone [[Diablo]] or [[Baal]].

[[Category:Items]]
[[Category:Runes]]

Barbarian

2008-11-21T14:27:10Z

Asteria:

==Introduction==
{{Class navbox|[[Category:Classes (Diablo III)]][[Category:Classes (Diablo II)]]|[[Category:Classes (Diablo I)]]}}The [[Diablo III]] '''Barbarian''' is an evolutionary improvement on the [[Diablo II]] Barbarian. He (or she) retains some of the same [[Barbarian Skills|skills]], such as [[Whirlwind]] and [[Leap Attack]], but has a variety of new skills to unleash on her enemies and seems to play with a more violent crushing style exuding power and devastation with her every movement.
* See a full listing of the Diablo 3 [[Barbarian Skills]].
* Coverage of the [http://diablo2.diablowiki.net/Barbarian Diablo 2 Barbarian].
* Coverage of the [http://diablo2.diablowiki.net/Barbarian_%28Diablo_I%29 Diablo 1 (Hellfire expansion) Barbarian].

==Character Design==
The Barbarian is back, and he (or she) is bigger and better. There's a great emphasis on power and destruction; on wanting every movement to look massive and devastating. The D3 Team spoke about the character concept during the WWI 2008 [[WWI_2008:_Denizens_of_Diablo_Panel|Denizens of Diablo]] panel.

[[Image:Barb-1.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Male Barbarian.]]
::''This is actually the same individual from Diablo 2. He's aged twenty years, and he's got a personality in this game. Look at his gear; his [[armor]] has points on which he could impale himself. It's extra protection for the harsh environment, but it's also dangerous to him. The day to day life characters lead in this world is very hard.''

::''With the Barbarian, we had to updating a classic. The Barbarian was exciting for us to work on -- to take a classic char we all love to play and bring him back to life. What's this guy been doing for the past 20 years? This guy's 8 feet tall and 300 lbs of pure muscle. He saw things during the events of Diablo II that would have killed most people, but he's still around. In D3 we aged him, grayed his hair, gave him some scars. We think those elements help sell the story visually. Signs of age, how he wears his armor. All that helps us tell the story visually.''

==Story==
The Barbarian character himself is the same individual from [[Diablo II]]. In his personal history the Barbarian defeated [http://diablo2.diablowiki.net/Baal Baal], only to learn from [[Tyrael]] that the [[Worldstone]] was corrupted and would have to be destroyed. The destruction of the Worldstone blasted [[Mount Arreat]] to rubble, destroying the remainder of Baal's army and saving the Barbarian lands from their invasion. Twenty years later, when Diablo III takes place, the Barbarian lands are largely deserted, and the only remains of Mt. Arreat, formerly the symbol of the lands and the source of the Barbarians' spiritual strength, is a huge crater.

More than the physical damage, the events detailed in {{wl|[http://diablo2.diablowiki.net/Act_Five Act Five of Diablo II]}} devastated the Barbarian culture. The Barbarians gained their identity and cultural pride from protecting the Worldstone within Mount Arreat. To see it defiled by Baal and his minions, and then destroyed, tore out the heart of these proud people. They abandoned their homeland and became nomadic, wandering the lands of [[Sanctuary]] and pitching themselves into battle after battle in an effort to forget the pain of their shattered homeland.

[[Abd al-Hazir]] visited the Barbarian lands and wrote about his experiences and observation in the [[Writings of Abd al-Hazir: Entry no. 0025|25th entry]] of [[Writings of Abd al-Hazir|his writings]]. It sets the stage for the story we'll learn when playing the game.

::''The Barbarians consider it their sworn duty to protect [[Mount Arreat]] and the mysterious object within. They believe that if they fail to uphold their duty to the great mount, or are not given a proper burial upon its slopes, they will be denied a true warrior's death, and their spirits shall roam the land without honor for all eternity.

::''If there are any barbarians left alive, they must truly be without hope. Perhaps this is the genesis of the rumors of monstrous things reported to resemble the barbarians in size and ferocity, but that are in reality nothing more than unreasoning, inhuman beasts. Could the destruction of not only their home but also their very beliefs have actually brought this magnificent race so low?

===Old? Female?===
[[Image:Barb-f-pose1.jpg|thumb|125px|Female Barbarian.]]Some suspension of disbelief is necessary to accept the Barbarian character as presented in [[Diablo III]]. After all, the Barbarian was male in [[Diablo II]], and the story in D3 is identical for the male or female versions of each character, thus you can play a female Barbarian in D3 whose past history includes all the events in Diablo II. It's also an interesting concept to have the same character return in D3, as a grizzled veteran of countless conflicts, as a grown man who defeated the three Prime Evils twenty years ago... and who starts off D3 at level 1, without the ability to do much more than swing an axe.

The female Barbarian is identical in ability to the male, but her origin story is a bit different. She's younger and is not a female version of the same individual who defeated Baal in Diablo 2. She's a new warrior, one who was motivated to go forth into battle since the men weren't getting the job done.

==Development==
The Barbarian was not intended to come over from [[Diablo II]] originally. A character with similar appearance and skills was planned, but everyone in the dev team started calling it Barbarian, and so they decided to call it that. [[Jay Wilson]] quote: [http://www.ausgamers.com/features/read/2662371]
----
:: ''The barbarian is the only returning class. Originally we actually planned to have no returning classes, but as we developed the barbarian, it essentially ended up turning into a barbarian. We sort of got to the point where we went – because we actually had a different name for him originally - I think were going to call it this other name and everyone else is just going to call it the barbarian, so maybe we should just call it the barbarian.''

::''One of the things we really did not want to do – it's why we set that initial goal to not repeat classes – was, we didn't just want a rehash; we wanted to make the sequel and the sequel has new gameplay and new experiences. I know a lot of people really love the classes in Diablo 2 and it's not my desire to intentionally arc those people – I like those classes to; I love the necromancer, he's my favourite class from Diablo 2 – but as our goal we really wanted to provide new experiences; that was our focus.''
----
Jay did not disclose what the original name was.

==History==
It is said that when the world was very young the tribes of the [[Northern Steppes]] were given sacred charge. Somewhere deep within the great mountain [[Arreat]], lies a source of great power, crucial to the well-being of all humanity. The tribes act as guardians of this artifact, and through this sacred duty, have shaped their way of life in observance of this power.

Steeped in mystery and tradition, these people refer to themselves as the '''Children of [[Bul-Kathos]]''', the great and ancient king. To better protect their lands from outside forces they adopted a nomadic lifestyle, frequently moving within the confines of the Steppes and maintaining few permanent settlements. Isolating themselves from the world outside their territories, they eschew the use of magic and complex machinery, as they believe these things can only weaken the resolve developed over so many years.

The Children of Bul-Kathos have developed a kinship with the land and have learned to harness the primal energies in nature to enhance their own substantial physical prowess. Because of this, and their freedom from the trappings of the outside world, the [[Western Kingdoms]] has historically referred to these tribes as barbarians, an epithet that belies the rich cultural and spiritual history these people possess. Although some trade with these curious folk, they do so only along the outmost borders of their lands. All intrusions into the territory surrounding [[Mount Arreat]] are forbidden, and warriors from the northern tribes are quick to thwart any incursions.

Every attempt at conquest has always been met with fierce and decisive resistance in an account of one skirmish, hordes of Barbarian tribesmen silently appeared where none had been but moments before. Their bodies painted in mysterious designs, the tribesmen descended on the invaders, howling as the charged like the fierce mountain winds. Fully half of the trespassing soldiers immediately dropped their weapons and fled, the remainder were set upon by the Northmen with a fervor that none of the battle-hardened invaders had ever witnessed. No quarter was asked and none was given, but in the end, when the outlanders sounded a full retreat, no chase was given either . . . at least none that could be observed.

It is interesting that recently, since news of [[Diablo]]'s re-emergence has spread, a small number of Barbarian warriors has been seen roving the lands outside the Steppes, prepared for war and seeking information regarding the recent activities of the [[Prime Evil]]s.

==Traits and Abilities==
Renowned for their awesome combat prowess as well as their arrogant demeanor, the Barbarians appear to be perpetually girt for battle. Through harsh conditioning, the Barbarians excel in physical combat and tremendous feats of strength. They derive their power chiefly from intense physical training, but also tap primal energies from the living world around them. They can manifest these or add to their already considerable catalogue of superhuman feats of strength and power.

===Media===
Male and Female Barbarians are featured in numerous pieces in the Image Gallery.
* [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showgallery.php?si=barbarian&x=0&y=0&limit=&thumbsonly=0&perpage=24&cat=546&ppuser=&thumbcheck=0&page=1&sortby=&sorttime=&way=&cat=546 Barbarian Screenshots].
* [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showgallery.php?si=barbarian&x=0&y=0&limit=&thumbsonly=0&perpage=24&cat=563&ppuser=&thumbcheck=0&page=1&sortby=&sorttime=&way=&cat=563 Barbarian Concept Art].
* [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showgallery.php?si=barbarian&x=0&y=0&limit=&thumbsonly=0&perpage=24&cat=550&ppuser=&thumbcheck=0&page=1&sortby=&sorttime=&way=&cat=550 Barbarian Wallpapers].

[[Image:Barb-concept1.jpg|frame|center]]

==Resources==
* [[Barbarian Skills]].
* [http://www.blizzard.com/diablo3/characters/barbarian.xml Blizzard's Barbarian] page has plenty of plot information, and short videos of some skills in action.
* [[Media Coverage|Diablo III Media Coverage Archive]] for all interviews, previews, pictures and more.

==References==
* [[Writings of Abd al-Hazir: Entry no. 0025]]

[[Category:Basics]]
[[Category:Classes]]
[[Category:Barbarian]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups]]

Barbarian

2008-11-21T14:26:45Z

Asteria:

==Introduction==
The [[Diablo III]] '''Barbarian''' is an evolutionary improvement on the [[Diablo II]] Barbarian. He (or she) retains some of the same [[Barbarian Skills|skills]], such as [[Whirlwind]] and [[Leap Attack]], but has a variety of new skills to unleash on her enemies and seems to play with a more violent crushing style exuding power and devastation with her every movement.
* See a full listing of the Diablo 3 [[Barbarian Skills]].
* Coverage of the [http://diablo2.diablowiki.net/Barbarian Diablo 2 Barbarian].
* Coverage of the [http://diablo2.diablowiki.net/Barbarian_%28Diablo_I%29 Diablo 1 (Hellfire expansion) Barbarian].

==Character Design==
{{Class navbox|[[Category:Classes (Diablo III)]][[Category:Classes (Diablo II)]]|[[Category:Classes (Diablo I)]]}}The Barbarian is back, and he (or she) is bigger and better. There's a great emphasis on power and destruction; on wanting every movement to look massive and devastating. The D3 Team spoke about the character concept during the WWI 2008 [[WWI_2008:_Denizens_of_Diablo_Panel|Denizens of Diablo]] panel.

[[Image:Barb-1.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Male Barbarian.]]
::''This is actually the same individual from Diablo 2. He's aged twenty years, and he's got a personality in this game. Look at his gear; his [[armor]] has points on which he could impale himself. It's extra protection for the harsh environment, but it's also dangerous to him. The day to day life characters lead in this world is very hard.''

::''With the Barbarian, we had to updating a classic. The Barbarian was exciting for us to work on -- to take a classic char we all love to play and bring him back to life. What's this guy been doing for the past 20 years? This guy's 8 feet tall and 300 lbs of pure muscle. He saw things during the events of Diablo II that would have killed most people, but he's still around. In D3 we aged him, grayed his hair, gave him some scars. We think those elements help sell the story visually. Signs of age, how he wears his armor. All that helps us tell the story visually.''

==Story==
The Barbarian character himself is the same individual from [[Diablo II]]. In his personal history the Barbarian defeated [http://diablo2.diablowiki.net/Baal Baal], only to learn from [[Tyrael]] that the [[Worldstone]] was corrupted and would have to be destroyed. The destruction of the Worldstone blasted [[Mount Arreat]] to rubble, destroying the remainder of Baal's army and saving the Barbarian lands from their invasion. Twenty years later, when Diablo III takes place, the Barbarian lands are largely deserted, and the only remains of Mt. Arreat, formerly the symbol of the lands and the source of the Barbarians' spiritual strength, is a huge crater.

More than the physical damage, the events detailed in {{wl|[http://diablo2.diablowiki.net/Act_Five Act Five of Diablo II]}} devastated the Barbarian culture. The Barbarians gained their identity and cultural pride from protecting the Worldstone within Mount Arreat. To see it defiled by Baal and his minions, and then destroyed, tore out the heart of these proud people. They abandoned their homeland and became nomadic, wandering the lands of [[Sanctuary]] and pitching themselves into battle after battle in an effort to forget the pain of their shattered homeland.

[[Abd al-Hazir]] visited the Barbarian lands and wrote about his experiences and observation in the [[Writings of Abd al-Hazir: Entry no. 0025|25th entry]] of [[Writings of Abd al-Hazir|his writings]]. It sets the stage for the story we'll learn when playing the game.

::''The Barbarians consider it their sworn duty to protect [[Mount Arreat]] and the mysterious object within. They believe that if they fail to uphold their duty to the great mount, or are not given a proper burial upon its slopes, they will be denied a true warrior's death, and their spirits shall roam the land without honor for all eternity.

::''If there are any barbarians left alive, they must truly be without hope. Perhaps this is the genesis of the rumors of monstrous things reported to resemble the barbarians in size and ferocity, but that are in reality nothing more than unreasoning, inhuman beasts. Could the destruction of not only their home but also their very beliefs have actually brought this magnificent race so low?

===Old? Female?===
[[Image:Barb-f-pose1.jpg|thumb|125px|Female Barbarian.]]Some suspension of disbelief is necessary to accept the Barbarian character as presented in [[Diablo III]]. After all, the Barbarian was male in [[Diablo II]], and the story in D3 is identical for the male or female versions of each character, thus you can play a female Barbarian in D3 whose past history includes all the events in Diablo II. It's also an interesting concept to have the same character return in D3, as a grizzled veteran of countless conflicts, as a grown man who defeated the three Prime Evils twenty years ago... and who starts off D3 at level 1, without the ability to do much more than swing an axe.

The female Barbarian is identical in ability to the male, but her origin story is a bit different. She's younger and is not a female version of the same individual who defeated Baal in Diablo 2. She's a new warrior, one who was motivated to go forth into battle since the men weren't getting the job done.

==Development==
The Barbarian was not intended to come over from [[Diablo II]] originally. A character with similar appearance and skills was planned, but everyone in the dev team started calling it Barbarian, and so they decided to call it that. [[Jay Wilson]] quote: [http://www.ausgamers.com/features/read/2662371]
----
:: ''The barbarian is the only returning class. Originally we actually planned to have no returning classes, but as we developed the barbarian, it essentially ended up turning into a barbarian. We sort of got to the point where we went – because we actually had a different name for him originally - I think were going to call it this other name and everyone else is just going to call it the barbarian, so maybe we should just call it the barbarian.''

::''One of the things we really did not want to do – it's why we set that initial goal to not repeat classes – was, we didn't just want a rehash; we wanted to make the sequel and the sequel has new gameplay and new experiences. I know a lot of people really love the classes in Diablo 2 and it's not my desire to intentionally arc those people – I like those classes to; I love the necromancer, he's my favourite class from Diablo 2 – but as our goal we really wanted to provide new experiences; that was our focus.''
----
Jay did not disclose what the original name was.

==History==
It is said that when the world was very young the tribes of the [[Northern Steppes]] were given sacred charge. Somewhere deep within the great mountain [[Arreat]], lies a source of great power, crucial to the well-being of all humanity. The tribes act as guardians of this artifact, and through this sacred duty, have shaped their way of life in observance of this power.

Steeped in mystery and tradition, these people refer to themselves as the '''Children of [[Bul-Kathos]]''', the great and ancient king. To better protect their lands from outside forces they adopted a nomadic lifestyle, frequently moving within the confines of the Steppes and maintaining few permanent settlements. Isolating themselves from the world outside their territories, they eschew the use of magic and complex machinery, as they believe these things can only weaken the resolve developed over so many years.

The Children of Bul-Kathos have developed a kinship with the land and have learned to harness the primal energies in nature to enhance their own substantial physical prowess. Because of this, and their freedom from the trappings of the outside world, the [[Western Kingdoms]] has historically referred to these tribes as barbarians, an epithet that belies the rich cultural and spiritual history these people possess. Although some trade with these curious folk, they do so only along the outmost borders of their lands. All intrusions into the territory surrounding [[Mount Arreat]] are forbidden, and warriors from the northern tribes are quick to thwart any incursions.

Every attempt at conquest has always been met with fierce and decisive resistance in an account of one skirmish, hordes of Barbarian tribesmen silently appeared where none had been but moments before. Their bodies painted in mysterious designs, the tribesmen descended on the invaders, howling as the charged like the fierce mountain winds. Fully half of the trespassing soldiers immediately dropped their weapons and fled, the remainder were set upon by the Northmen with a fervor that none of the battle-hardened invaders had ever witnessed. No quarter was asked and none was given, but in the end, when the outlanders sounded a full retreat, no chase was given either . . . at least none that could be observed.

It is interesting that recently, since news of [[Diablo]]'s re-emergence has spread, a small number of Barbarian warriors has been seen roving the lands outside the Steppes, prepared for war and seeking information regarding the recent activities of the [[Prime Evil]]s.

==Traits and Abilities==
Renowned for their awesome combat prowess as well as their arrogant demeanor, the Barbarians appear to be perpetually girt for battle. Through harsh conditioning, the Barbarians excel in physical combat and tremendous feats of strength. They derive their power chiefly from intense physical training, but also tap primal energies from the living world around them. They can manifest these or add to their already considerable catalogue of superhuman feats of strength and power.

===Media===
Male and Female Barbarians are featured in numerous pieces in the Image Gallery.
* [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showgallery.php?si=barbarian&x=0&y=0&limit=&thumbsonly=0&perpage=24&cat=546&ppuser=&thumbcheck=0&page=1&sortby=&sorttime=&way=&cat=546 Barbarian Screenshots].
* [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showgallery.php?si=barbarian&x=0&y=0&limit=&thumbsonly=0&perpage=24&cat=563&ppuser=&thumbcheck=0&page=1&sortby=&sorttime=&way=&cat=563 Barbarian Concept Art].
* [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showgallery.php?si=barbarian&x=0&y=0&limit=&thumbsonly=0&perpage=24&cat=550&ppuser=&thumbcheck=0&page=1&sortby=&sorttime=&way=&cat=550 Barbarian Wallpapers].

[[Image:Barb-concept1.jpg|frame|center]]

==Resources==
* [[Barbarian Skills]].
* [http://www.blizzard.com/diablo3/characters/barbarian.xml Blizzard's Barbarian] page has plenty of plot information, and short videos of some skills in action.
* [[Media Coverage|Diablo III Media Coverage Archive]] for all interviews, previews, pictures and more.

==References==
* [[Writings of Abd al-Hazir: Entry no. 0025]]

[[Category:Basics]]
[[Category:Classes]]
[[Category:Barbarian]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups]]