[[Image:Diablo III Logo.jpg|left|200px150px]]

Blizzard have confirmed that the game will ship with <span style="color:white;">'''five'''</span> character characters. These are the [[Barbarian]], [[classDemon Hunter]]es, [[Monk]], [[Witch Doctor]], and [[Wizard]]. Additional classes may be added in [[expansion]]s. <span style="color:whiteAll five classes will be playable in male or female versions. The gender difference is purely cosmetic;">'''Four'''</span> classes male and female characters have been revealed:identical stats and abilities.

New with Diablo III The characters are very distinct from one another; all armor appears different depending on which character is the '''choice of gender''' for each class. It's not as customizable as using it, the characters in popular MMO have completely unique [[skills]], largely unique [[World of WarCrafttraits]], but the developers have made it possible to choose a '''male or female''' character of the class they preferand each has their own [[resource]] type.

The new maximum character level will be '''<span style="color:white;">60</span>''' instead of 99in Diablo III, with probable increases in expansions. See the [[end game]] article for many more details.

* Skills - [[Berserker Skill TreeBarbarian Skills]] | * [[Juggernaut Skill TreeBarbarian Traits]] | * [[Battlemaster Skill TreeResource]] | All [[Barbarian skills]].* Resource : - [[Fury]]

* Skills - [[Skill Tree AMonk Skills]] | * [[Skill Tree BMonk Traits]] | * [[Skill Tree CResource]] | All [[Monk skills]]* Resource - : [[Spirit]]

* Skills - [[Zombie Skill TreeWitch Doctor Skills]] | [[Spirit Skill Tree]] | [[Voodoo Skill Tree]] | All * [[Witch Doctor skillsTraits]]* [[Resource - ]]: [[Mana]]

* Skills - [[Conjuring Skill TreeWizard Skills]] | * [[Arcane Skill TreeWizard Traits]] | * [[Storm Skill TreeResource]] | All [[Wizard skills]]* Resource - : [[Arcane Power]]

You can look at The skills and their presentation evolved greatly during the game's development. See the above known class [[skillsskill tree]] article 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 full pictorial history. As of Blizzcon 2010 skills are presented in a potion barlist, sorted into seven tiers which are unlocked at various character levels. It works similar to WoW All skills are [[active]], there are no prerequisites other than character level, and more no synergies. [[Traits]] were added during development in 2010, when all [[passive]] skills were removed from the skill trees. Traits are passives or masteries and boost general character traits, or specific skills can now be accessed easily. Read more about While many traits are shared between the classes, granting bonuses to [[attributes]] or other common properties such as [[Lucky]] (increased gold drops), or [[potionPound of Flesh]] changes below(increased [[health orb]] benefit, about half of the traits are unique to each class, providing specific bonuses just for that class.

In Diablo IIprior to v1.13, a character always had all was unable to change their skills and stats as once they were allocated. If you made any mistake, the only solution was to start over[[reroll]]. There has not been a definite word on talent/skill respecsThis is changed in Diablo III, but and it will be fairly easy for characters to "[[Jay Wilsonrespec]] has said that he didn't like that you were limited in the old system, " to remove and that regardless of how reassign points from [[skills]] and [[traits]].  The exact methods have not yet been revealed, but the skill system developers have said it will lookbe fairly easy to do, though not entirely free or instant, respecs are probably going to be availableprevent exploitation.<br><br>

'''ItOne major change announced early in Diablo III's no longer possible to choose where to enter your own development was the elimination of player-assigned stat points.''' They will be In Diablo III, each class gains various [[attribute]] points, [[strength]], [[dexterity]], [[vitality]], and [[willpower]], when they level up, and these are automatically -assigned every time you level up. The customization that this brought Diablo III developers felt the stat allocation in Diablo II is now going was a poor way to be moved to itemization among other ways. Have a look what kind of secondary attributes are influenced by the initial stats/attributes '''provide character customization, since players almost always followed an established [[Attributes#Strength|Strengthbuild]]''', '''which was always the best choice for a character. This removed any variety or individuality. Stats can be modified in Diablo III in various ways. By [[Attributes#Dexterity|Dexteritytraits]]''', '''via [[Attributes#Vitality|Vitalitycharms]]''' and '''in the [[Attributes#Willpower|Willpowertalisman]]'''.*The ''', and with equipment bonuses, including socketing [[Attributes|full list of attributesgems]]''' shows how attributes and secondary attributes interact.<br><br>

[[RuneFile:Runes-hydra-all.jpg|thumb|350px|Hydra runestone effects.]]While gems return for item [[sockets]], [[runes]]s will work very different in Diablo III compared are not used in items. There are five types of runes, [[crimson]], [[alabaster]], [[indigo]], [[golden]], and [[obsidian]], which are socketed into active skills, where they modify the skill in various beneficial ways.  [[Runestones]] are a huge aspect of the game, always improving skills to {{iw|Rune the point that virtually any socketed runestone, even of the lowest level, will make an immediate and obvious difference in a skill's efficacy. Only a few skill rune functions are known at this point, and all are subject to change as development continues.  The first complete known skill permutations was the [[Wizard]]'s [[Hydra]] skill. The basic skill is much as it was in Diablo II Runes}}, and is now part a three-headed flame dragon that pokes out of a manhole in the character customizationground, spitting firebolts at enemies. Each rune changes this effect quite notably. You will enter skill runes The effects revealed for your skills/spellsHydra changed considerably even between August and October 2010, which will affect how when the slide to the these work in right was presented at Blizzcon 2010: * Crimson rune: Turns the gamedragons blue, and they attack with a chilling/slowing breath. A multiplying * Alabaster rune might make your spell fire additional fireballs: Turns the dragons purple, another and they attack with Arcane damage bolts.* Golden rune might make : The dragons remain red, but spit out firewalls, which deal higher damage and leave an [[AoE]] wall of flame on the blast radius bigger etcground.* Indigo rune: The dragons turn blue and spit clusters of lightning.<br>* Obsidian rune: The dragons turn green and spit out poison damaging acid balls.<br>

[[Image:Goatmen surround a Siegebreaker.jpg|thumb|right|150px|<span style="font-size:90%;">[[Goatmen]] & [[Siegebreaker]].</span>]]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 scale of monsters is greatly increased in Diablo III; demons like the Siegebreaker are not uncommon, and appear in sizes unimagined in previous games in the series. And Siegebreak isn't even an especially big boss or Act boss. * '''The [[Monster|Monsters Article]]''' has much more information on the dozens of known monsters.* Monster [[bosses]] are much improved and varied in Diablo III.** [[Boss modifiers]] are new and improved as well, and there are many new and dangerous properties.

==Spectacular DeathsDeath==Death is less of an obstacle to success in Diablo III promises than in previous games in the series. Dead players in Diablo III do not lose equipment or gold. They must merely wait a few seconds, before waiting to bring many different '''[[death|death animations]]''' for each killed enemybe resurrected by another player in their party, as well as special death animations for or restarting at the last [[critical hitcheckpoint]]s, and special fatalities by (not [[bosswaypoint]] monsters when their hit would kill a player) they passed over.

The '''[[death penalty]]''' Death will be a lot even look better. There are many more lenient. People will no longer lose monster death animations, [[experiencecritical hit]] when dying. Naturallydeaths come with bonus gore, if and even players get to enjoy the [[Hardcore]] mode makes a return, a death will be permanentvariety, but potentially possible for friends to loot since some of the corpse. There will also be [[checkpoint]]s that automatically save the progress of special monsters have special fatality animations they'll use if they kill a player, and when during a character dies, he's transported to the nearest checkpointbattle.

There are going to be three [[difficulty]] levels in Diablo 3III, most likely called "normal," "nightmare," and "hell" as has become standard in other games in the Diablo series. How much more difficult and what sort of variety the higher The normal difficulty levels level will add remains to not be determined. Jay Wilson addressed this issue in a November 2009 interview. [http://diablofans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23550]::''What very difficult, and characters are the differences in the difficulty levels in Diablo III other than just monsters doing more damage? ie: What reason will people have expected to rise to play about Clvl 30 working their way through these modes after having already beaten the main story of the game on an easier it. The difficulty setting?::'''Jay Wilson:''' We haven't really gotten into the difficulty settings a lot; we're still just working will increase substantially on Nightmare, and the core content for the game at this point. The primary reason developers have talked about Hell as a much greater challenge, though they are committed to why a player would want allowing solo players to progress through defeat everything in the game, through the several difficulties, would . Nothing will be for more of so hard that a challengegroup is required to pass it.

[[Image:Barbarian swing.jpg|thumb|right|[[Barbarian]] swinging two magical axes.]]While the Armor is arranged in [[Category:Items|itemgear sets]] system won't be identical in Diablo III. There are 18 of them, increasing in quality/appearance from simple cloth to ornate plate mail. The items do not repeat with different names/stats; there are no exceptional/elite versions of items in Diablo III. This means there is a wider variety of total item types, and that players will see a steady progression throughout the game of increasingly-dramatic looking armor. Weapons are the same, and will increase from plain to fancy, with stats to match.  Most items are rare or magical, as before. Sockets are not a special feature of white items; sockets may occur on any type of item, and there will not be plain socketed items, nor would you want one since there are no [[Runewords]] to put into them. [[Uniques]] return, though they are apparently going to be called "[[Legendary]]" in Diablo IIIII. [[Item sets]] are also likely returning, though they may differ in function somewhat, it to make them more useful and/or easier to assemble.  A very popular type of item will be very similarthe [[crafted]] items, magical or rare items made by the NPC [[Artisans]] from various recipes. ''' ===Armor and Weapon Types=== *[[Armor]]: [[helms]], [[shields]], [[body armor]], [[gloves]], [[boots]], [[rings]], [[Itemsamulets]]''' will drop randomly , and [[belts]] return. Belts are now just another piece of armor; they do not have random attributesany special potion-holding function.** New armor types: [[Shoulders]], [[bracers]], and [[pants]]. Some  * [[Weapons]]: [[Axes]], [[Spears]], [[Polearms]], [[Swords]], [[Clubs]], [[Bows]], [[Crossbows]], [[Wands]], [[shields]], ** New weapons: [[Fists]], [[Daggers]] (no longer a type of sword), [[Orbs]], [[Pistol crossbows]], [[short staves]] for casters only, [[battle staves]] for the things that definitely changedMonk only, ** Removed weapons:There are no [[throwing weapons]] or throwing [[potions]] yet seen in Diablo III. ===Other Items Information==* [[Runes]] no longer attach to weapons, and 'rune words' runewords are '''completely removed'''no more. They [[Runes]] are instead used to enhance your objects that get socketed into [[skills/spells]].* The [[inventory]] is now 'WoW-stylemuch larger than it was in Diablo II, and after numerous permutations it' s settled on a large grid with '''one slot per item'''. No more 'inventory-tetris'all items either 1x1 or 1x2 in size.* The [[stash]] in town is in the game, bigger this timehuge, 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 systemon the same account.* Items will now drop '''per character'''; you only see items you can pick up, and be invisible to no other characters. They are still [[trade]]able, but you will never go a run without loot againplayers see or can grab them.* [[Known Items Listing|The Full List Trading will be improved and there will be some sort of Items]] contain all known itemsauction house, though details have not been revealed.* [[Potion]]s are drastically changedmuch less common than in previous Diablo games. There are no mana or rejuvenation potions, with some sort of limits. If it's less gained just health/mana, or if it has and they come with a [[long cooldown]] is unknownbetween uses. Basically potions are for emergency use, but the old potion system is replaced by [[Health Globe]]s and will only tide a character over briefly; with the belt is replaced by a [[skill]] bar.* There cool down they will be some new trading system ''in addition to'' the old one, possibly like the WoW [[Auction House]]not keep you alive through reckless behavior.<br><br>

[[Image:Cain-concept1.jpg|thumb|right|75px|<span style="font-size:90%;">[[Cain]]</span>]]There is a small number of As in previous games in the series, [[NPCs]] that are confirmed for will feature large in Diablo III:* . Much of the game [[Deckard Cainstory]] - Back will be given by the NPCs, and they will be more interactive, while their speeches will be shorter, more to the point, and can be listened to ask us while playing; you are no longer forced to "stay awhile" while you "listen." * [[LeahFollowers]] : More NPCs are found out in the dungeons than in past games, and mini- Girl from the quests such as [[cinematicEscort Mission]]s are common throughout the game. Apparently located close to Deckard Cain, likely in  [[TristramMercenaries]]: The developers have talked about wanting to make mercs better and more useful than they were in Diablo III, but nothing has yet been revealed.* [[Pablo DeSotoArtisans]] : "Vendors 2.0," these NPCs are merchants, quest- Father of Leahgivers, and information sources. Close to his daughterThey follow the player throughout the game, likely traveling in a [[Tristramcaravan]].* between the acts, and in addition to the standard item buying and selling, they can [[Captain Rumfordcraft]] new semi- This NPC was found in the small town area where new characters began the random items from special [[BlizzCon 2008recipes]] demo.* , as well as [[Mr. Meat Wagonenchant]] - Unnamed NPC that dumped corpses unto a fire.* , [[Crying Ghostsocket]] - First ever Quest NPC.* , and [[Little Girl Ghostrepair]] - Second ever Quest NPC.* Speculated characters to appear in the game items Artisans can even be found on the [[NPCtrained]] articleup to higher levels, giving them better skills.<br><br>

[[Image:Sanctuary World Map.jpg|thumb|225px|<span style="font-size:90%;">[[world map|Sanctuary world map]], with locations noted.</span>]]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]], and it's known that much of Act Three takes place in the Barbarian Lands around the [[Arreat Crater]].

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]]land if filled with dungeons, and probably close to [[Tristram]] as wellin Diablo II. Dungeons will be almost completely randomized, increasing replayability vary widely in the game. As a dungeon is a lot easier to randomize, these will be made different each timesize and design, and outdoor locations slightly more static. You will also find interactive environments with dangerous traps are promised to offer better randomization and obstacles, and [[destructible]] elements. There will be "numerous" dungeonsvariety than they did in Diablo II.

Most transportation As in Diablo III will be II, travel is on foot, as there will be '''. There are no mounts''' in the game. On the other hand, we've heard the [[D3 teammounts]] talk about in Sanctuary. Nor are there any [[WaypointTown Portal]]s, in a major change from earlier games in the series. The developers felt that Town Portals made it too easy for players to escape danger and made it impossible to offer compelling, so they will likely returndangerous combat. To replace town portals, there are more waypoints, frequent checkpoints, and there is also less running after a new item, the [[deathScroll of Wealth]] due that allows players to sell their items remotely, without returning to to town. The new [[salvage cube]], an essential element of [[checkpointcrafting]]s, is another addition meant to obviate the need for regular town returns.<br><br>

While no [[Easter Eggs]] in Diablo III have been confirmed, (though we can most likely expect some sort 've seen plenty of surprise content Diablo III Easter Eggs in Diablo 3. HoweverStarcraft II), 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 has given plenty of hints about some degree.* Diablo II had its own sort of [[Cow Levelsecret level]]in the game.* Blizzard have hinted at Easter eggs and secret levels.<br><br>

[[Image:Cinematic 10.jpg|thumb|right|300px|<span style="font-size:90%;">Mystical comet overlooking a settlement in the western part of [[Sanctuary]].</span>]]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 Those events took place out of the sight of the common populace, and have become myth or legend over the intervening years. Most of the principles are dead or insane, and no one has gone by largely unnoticed by seen any sight of the Archangel [[Tyrael]] since he destroyed the Worldstone, triggering an explosion that erased [[Mount Arreat]] and shattered the general population as most Barbarians' civilization. Since the destruction of the [[Worldstone]], those warriors few humans (such as [[Deckard Cain]] who directly faced did know of the danger to the world have been expecting an imminent demonic invasion, without the Worldstone to keep them in the [[[Burning Hells]]. This has not happened because, and players will eventually learn, the two remaining lords of Hell(presumably [[Belial]]'s and [[Asmodean]]) have been building armies (and were fortunate enough for a full on invasion, intended to survive) went mad from their experiencesutterly destroy humanity. Some people know  Players will see small scale demonic events, as in previous games, but the developers have promised that the scale of some sort aspects of conflict took placethe game, but for such as the most part the war against siege on [[DiabloBastion's Keep]] is a myth, will be amazingly large; far bigger than anything ever previously seen in the series. 

What happened to [[Tyrael]] after he destroyed Unlike the [[Worldstone]] blank cyphers that all characters were in previous games in the series, the individual characters in Diablo III will have personalities. The Wizard is young, brash, and headstrong. The Monk is powerful and quietly confident. The Barbarian is unknown to everyonestrong and stoic. Scholars like [[Deckard Cain]] anticipated a huge invasion of demonic forces as the protection from the [[High Heaven]]s The Demon Hunter is angry and reckless in her need for vengeance. And the [[Burning Hell]]sWitch Doctor is spiritual, but no invasion ever materialized. Cain has spent the last years trying to figure out what happenedmysterious, and trying to prepare us for misunderstood by the inevitable onslaughtpopulace at large.

We know The characters will behave accordingly, and inspire different replies and behavior 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 NPCs, though the only known examples came from [[Tristram Cathedral]], and that some unlucky soul (if it's [[Leah]] or [[Cain]] isn't sure) is hit by it. [[HellCaptain Rumford]]'s armies are amassing, and it isn't safe any moredialogues as heard at Blizzcon 2008.<br><br>

Not that much information is yet available in regards to [[questQuests]]s, but what is known is that in Diablo III are largely similar in form to those of Diablo II. The changes are to greatly increase the quest system will help players interact more with the '''[[lore]]''' number of the game, but still be '''optional'''quests, and not something you need to experience unless you so choosevary them in type and style. [[Blizzard]] claim the quest system itself will be '''new'''. There will be Numerous smaller events or adventures are randomly added in each game, amidst the standard storymain plot-line skeleton quests, as well as optional random quests related to . Most large areas of the game you are currently , surface and dungeon, will also vary in content and [[class]]form between games. Though the surface areas are non-quests. The random quests will vary from game to game. The same [[location]] in the game might spawn a caravan needing protectiontheir overall shape, there are randomized elements within them, or a mouldy tome which contains a questcan yield mini-quests, bonus dungeons, or perhaps just open space and random monsters, depending on how the spawn works in a big bad [[monster]]given game.<br><br>

The main focus of Diablo III is co-op [[Image:BattlePvE]] style play. Up to four players (yes, just four) will join up in a game and play together, and players in the same game are now always friendly and in the same party.net 2There is no non-consensual PvP in Diablo III, and no way to "go hostile" in a normal PvE game.0 Game creation and group formation should be easier in Diablo III.jpg|right]]You Though the details have not been revealed, the developers hope it will be able very easy to join up and play . Their hope is that players in one game can simply click an option to start another one, and as everyone accepts it they'll immediately appear in a new game and continue playing, almost seamlessly. All multiplayer Diablo III both offline on your PCgaming will take place over Battle.net. Diablo III is following in Starcraft's footsteps and will <u>not include LAN support</Mac u>. Though Blizzard never explicitly terms it as well as online with friendssuch, this is primarily a security measure; requiring players to buy a retail copy and have a valid Battle.net account and CD-Key to play multiplayer is their way of fighting piracy.   ===Battle Arena=== The outlet for PvP in Diablo III is the [[Jay WilsonArena]] has said on numerous occasions , a special game type that the primary focus will be coexists only for head-to-op multiplayerhead combat. Players can join up and fight their friends in 1v1 or 2v2 games, but not excluding single player game. They want all the fans main design is for players to meet up together take part in 3v3 battles, either in teams or as one community, and singles who will make huge changes to be sorted together via the current setup. The preferred multiplayer system for game's [[Diablo IIImatchmaking]] system.  Arena play debuted at Blizzcon 2010 and was wildly-popular, even with just 3 pre-made characters available to choose from, and limited skills all pre-set.  Hardcore Arena will be [[Battlesupported, and the initial plans of the team is for it to be regular Hardcore rules; you die, you stay dead.net 2This approach has many critics, who ask for some sort of non-lethal HC version, and point out that virtually no one plays PvP in D2 Hardcore since the penalty for death is so severe, both in emotional pain and in the play hours required to build up another character to PvP level.0]] and there will It also seems like any sort of team play would be '''NO LAN'''impossible, since even if a team won, one or two of the players on it would lose their character.