==The Wanderer==

''from the [[Exeter Book]], ca. 10th century.''

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==What's New In the Expansion?==

:'''New treasure types:'''

::'''Class-Specific Items''' – This class of items, new to Diablo II: Lord of Destruction, offers properties and powers specific to the seven different character classes.

'''Expansion Characters:''' After installing Diablo II: Lord of Destruction, you will have the option to choose between two different “character types”—Standard and Expansion—when creating a new character. (Note: these are different from the two new character classes. See pages 15 and 20.) Standard Characters are just like the characters you are used to playing in Diablo II, whereas Expansion Characters are specifically created for use in Diablo II: Lord of Destruction. You should be aware of some details before deciding which character type to choose:

:* Expansion Characters can only create or join expansion games. They cannot create or join original Diablo II games.

:* Standard Characters cannot use any of the new features or modifications found in Diablo II: Lord of Destruction, nor can they create or join Expansion games. (These are games specifically designed to enjoy all of the extra benefits contained in Diablo II: Lord of Destruction.)

:* Converting a Standard Character is an irreversible, one-way process. Once a character has been converted to an Expansion Character, he or she can never be changed back to a Standard Character. Similarly, once an Expansion Character has been created, he or she can never be converted into a Standard Character.

Remember that your character must meet the requirements for any weapons you want to equip. Also, please keep in mind that only your currently selected weapon configuration is actively equipped. Any magical properties of items in your inactive configuration will not affect your character until you make that configuration active. For example, if you are currently using weapon configuration “I,” any magical properties of items in configuration “II” have no effect until you make it your active configuration.

'''Hirable Non-Player Characters (“Hirelings”):''' Diablo II: Lord of Destruction offers some exciting modifications to hirable NPCs. These computer-controlled hirelings who fight by your side can be hired from specific NPCs in most “towns”—the safe starting points in each Act—or are given free of charge as a reward for completing certain quests. In the original Diablo II, they followed your character around and helped you slay monsters, but you did not interact with them directly. In Diablo II: Lord of Destruction, you can increase their efficiency in combat and assist their development in a number of ways. (Note: These special new features only apply to hired NPCs and retainers acquired as quest rewards. Summoned creatures are not subject to these improvements.)

clearly gone mad.

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:* '''Attributes and Experience:''' Hirelings in Diablo II: Lord of Destruction come with their own set of attributes: Strength, Dexterity, Health, Damage, Defense, and Experience. As hirelings kill monsters, they gain experience points. When they gain enough experience points to reach a new level, their attributes automatically improve. You can also improve their attributes by equipping them with better equipment (see below). Keep in mind that hirelings aren’t just paid mercenaries—they are co-adventurers. They fully share experience for their kills with you and your party, and they receive a smaller share of experience for monsters that you or your party members kill.

:* '''Equipment:''' You can now furnish your hirelings with equipment such as armor, helms, and weapons. Your hirelings must meet all strength, dexterity, and level requirements for the item, and any weapons must be compatible with the hirelings’ weapon type, as represented by what you see them carrying. (For instance, the Rogue hirelings in Act I can be equipped with a War Bow, but not a Short Sword, whereas the Town Guard hirelings in Act II can be equipped with a Voulge, but not a Crossbow.) To equip your hireling, simply left-click on the appropriate button on your Mini-panel or press the O key to bring up the Hireling Inventory and Information screen. Then place items in the corresponding slots as you would in your own Inventory screen.

:* '''Hireling Continuity:''' Hirelings are now willing and able to accompany you to any of the various Acts of the game. In fact, you can actually finish the entire game through all three difficulty settings using only the first hireling received in Act I. You may choose to employ a new hireling at any time, but you may not take more than one hireling into your service at a time. If you choose to replace your current hireling with a fresh one, your old hireling will retire and be unavailable for further service. Before you replace a hireling, open the Hireling Inventory and remove any items you want to keep. Otherwise, you will lose that equipment.

:* '''Death:''' When your hireling dies, you can return to the nearest mercenary captain and either pay to have your late comrade resurrected, or hire a new one. If you choose to resurrect your hireling, he or she will return to your employ with all of the attributes, experience, and equipment he or she had at the time of death. If, however, you decide to employ a new hireling, you give up the recently departed’s services and forfeit any equipment he or she was wearing. Note: if your character dies, your hireling dies also.

'''Automap Options:''' There is now an “Automap Size” selection in the “Automap Options” menu in Diablo II: Lord of Destruction. This new option allows you to choose between viewing the map as either the traditional full-screen Automap or the new, scaled-down “Mini Map.” The Mini Map is about one quarter the size of the Automap and, when active, is displayed in one of the top corners of the game screen. This location can be switched from the left of the screen to the right by pressing the V hotkey.

'''Champion-Class Monsters:''' You will remember Champion-Class Monsters from the original Diablo II. These appear as a slightly different-looking pack of monsters that are tougher than normal monsters of their kind. You can immediately discern a Champion-Class Monster because its name appears in purplish-blue letters when targeted. Diablo II: Lord of Destruction offers several different monsters of this type. In addition to the standard Champion, you might encounter the following monsters:

:'''Berserker''' – These monsters have been driven into a homicidal frenzy by demonic corruption. They focus so much energy into slaughtering anyone they see that they do significantly more damage than normal demons. However, their frenzied rage leaves them physically weakened and therefore easier to kill.

:'''Possessed''' – Some demons have been instilled with especially diabolical spirits. These spirits grant the Possessed increased vigor at the cost of the demons’ free will. Because their minds are no longer their own, the Possessed cannot be affected by Necromancer curses. Fanatic – Fanatics are monsters who responded to their own corruption with such zeal that they are now willing to do anything to win the favor of their dark masters. They rush into any battle, fervently attacking with blinding speed any and all foes. Their recklessness does leave them open defensively, and if you can avoid their cascade of blows, you should be able to strike them with greater ease.

''A [[Wanderer]] will pass through the ancient lands trailing chaos in his wake.''

''Reaches out to undo the workings of the [[Ancient]]s. The tides of [[Burning Hells|Hell]] surge—ready to smash''

===The Last Testament of Ord Rekar===

Somehow, Diablo's terrible spirit survived and took root within the very hero who struck him down. Wearing the guise of the mysterious [[Wanderer]], Diablo set out to free his brothers, [[Baal]] and [[Mephisto]], from their imprisonment in the East.

Just as before, a new band of heroes arose to put a halt to Diablo's dark quest. Though the Lord of Terror succeeded in freeing his brothers from bondage, their reunion would be short-lived. The mortal heroes managed to vanquish [[Mephisto]] and even hunted Diablo into the depths of [[Burning Hells|hell]]. Only [[Baal]], the Lord of Destruction, was left unaccounted for...

For now, the nightmare has started once again.

forget her terrible portent.

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Baal has resurfaced, and behind him marches the vast [[Army of Destruction]]. He has gathered a legion of [[demon]]s that revel in mayhem and wanton chaos—and they are headed right towards us...right towards the holy mountain our ancestors swore to protect. It is obvious that Baal comes to assail [[Mount Arreat|Arreat]], seeking the [[Worldstone|Heart of the World]]. And my faith, once unwavering, is now shaken to the very core.

Through extensive training in human, animal, and demonic anatomies, Assassins have developed the ability to perceive natural points of weakness in their foes and target these locations for especially devastating attacks.

An Assassin is taught to utilize her entire body as a weapon—using this skill, she lets loose a powerful kick to send her opponents flying.

Combining her powerful Martial Arts abilities with her psychic training, an Assassin can charge her own fists with pyrokinetic energies, scorching her opponents when the charge is released.

This skill allows the Assassin to try to finish her opponent off with a rending double claw attack. (Requires two equipped Claw-class weapons.)

A properly trained Assassin can focus her mind to draw upon the ambient energies surrounding her. Using this skill, she drains her adversary of life and spiritual essence adding it to her own.

Using her weapon’s metal blades as conductors, an Assassin charges the ions surrounding her and delivers a devastating lightning attack to any who dare challenge her. (Requires equipped Claw-class weapon.)

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The experienced Assassin can deliver a kick so powerful it actually causes an explosion on impact, sending any nearby victims sprawling.

Charging the ether around her claw blades, the trained Assassin can freeze opponents with a vicious rake of her razors. (Requires equipped Claw-class weapon.)

After years of disciplined physical conditioning, an Assassin can develop the ability to move faster than the eye can follow in one quick burst. Using this skill, she lunges at her target and delivers a devastating kick.

This mighty skill allows the Assassin trained in its arts to prepare an attack that gives off powerful elemental energies.

Well-disciplined training in this skill improves the artistry with which an Assassin wields her unique Claw-class weapons.

By utilizing her intense mental prowess, an Assassin creates a powerful force of mental energies and directs it towards a hostile creature, blasting it backwards.

Tapping into her psychokinetic energies, an Assassin temporarily increases the speed of her movements and attacks.

After developing this skill, an Assassin wielding two Claw-class weapons can use her blades to deflect incoming attacks, thus giving herself a defensive edge without using a shield. (Requires two equipped Claw-class weapons.)

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Moving through the darkness, unseen by her foes, the enshrouded Assassin can steal past opponents or ambush her unsuspecting victims with a series of devastating attacks.

An Assassin can will her physical being to shift partially into the astral planes. As her body becomes less substantial, she becomes less susceptible to the effects of elemental attacks and magical curses.

The Assassin trained in this discipline has the ability to project a “shadow” of herself. The Shadow Warrior makes use of the two skills the Assassin has readied for herself.

Focusing her anima, an Assassin using this potent ability can crush the will of a group of enemies, stunning them and confusing the feebleminded into attacking their comrades.

Poison use is another technique an Assassin has to help even the odds when battling demons and their ilk. An Assassin who has mastered this skill secretly coats her weapons with vile toxins.

This discipline allows an Assassin to project an even more powerful shadow avatar. The Shadow Master has access to all of the Assassin skills.

This skill gives an Assassin the ability to manufacture and throw a small incendiary device. This ordnance explodes on impact, damaging any foe within its small blast radius.

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These traps comprise a collection of small conductive components that arc electricity between one another, damaging any opponents who tread upon them.

This skill allows the Assassin to throw a razor-sharp device that flies back and forth between the Assassin and its target, slicing any hostile creatures in its path.

This small device, once cast upon the ground, emits charges of electricity that shock any adversary who strays too close.

Once erected, this trap releases waves of searing flames that incinerate any opponents within its path.

Using this skill, the Assassin throws several small blades, shredding her enemies with a barrage of metal.

This device discharges great bolts of electricity, frying any assailants foolish enough to come near.

Once an Assassin throws it to the ground, this trap expels a large spout of fire at any opponent who moves within its range.

This trap emits projectiles laden with a potent chemical catalyst, detonating the exposed cadavers of slain enemies.

This contrivance releases several small razors and uses magnetic forces to set them spinning about the Assassin, inflicting grievous wounds on any foe who approaches her too closely.

Years of study and a life lived in harmony with nature have provided the Druids a unique empathy with the world around them. These skills represent the Druids' ability to influence the forces of nature. Expertise in these skills allows them to strike at enemies from a distance, assault whole groups of enemies at once, and even protect themselves from the elemental attacks of others.

Wielding this ability, the Druid projects waves of molten earth that spread outward and burn a wide swath of destruction through his foes.

By virtue of this talent, a Druid can summon forth a huge, rolling mass of magma, bowling over smaller enemies in its path before bursting into fiery shards.

Aided by the will of the North Winds, the Druid conjures up a chilling torrent of frost that incapacitates all caught within the frozen blast.

Sending his plea to the very core of the earth, the Druid rends the earth’s very crust, tearing open volcanic vents beneath the feet of his adversaries, charring them to the bone.

This skill allows the Druid to sheath himself in a swirling mass of charged particles that absorbs damage from fire-, cold-, and lightning-based attacks.

Calling to the winds, the Druid sends small whirlwinds advancing into the midst of his enemies, buffeting and stunning them as they go.

A Druid trained in this ability possesses the power to summon from the bowels of the earth a violent eruption, raining molten rock down upon all nearby foes.

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Manipulating the great winds into a fearsome cyclone, the Druid sends this force of destruction into a throng of opponents, crushing into them and leaving devastation in its wake.

This terrible force of nature’s vengeance rains down flaming stones around the Druid who cast it, pummeling any opponents foolish enough to be caught in its fury.

Particularly talented Druids can summon this most potent gale of devastation. A fierce storm wreaks havoc around him, while the Druid stays cradled within the gentle calm of its eye.

This ability allows an enlightened Druid to take on the form of a wolf, imparting to him quicker reflexes and heightened combat facilities.

Changing shape is quite a taxing ordeal for a Druid, and he can only assume animal forms for a limited time. This skill enhances his constitution while in animal form, thereby increasing the amount of time he can remain transformed.

This skill empowers the Druid with the capacity to assume the form of a savage bear, granting him great strength and fortitude.

When in wolf form, the Druid using this ability enters a frenzied rage, viciously tearing into foes and becoming heartier with each consecutive attack.

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A Druid in Werebear form uses his mighty paws to rend brutal gashes in the flesh of his enemies. Using this ability, the fury of his assault increases with every opponent he kills.

When a Druid utilizes this ability, he toxifies his own saliva and attacks his enemies with a vicious bite, spreading a contagious disease that wracks the flesh of his infected opponents.

While in his animal form, a Druid can use his affinity with the natural elements in order to supplement his attacks with a blazing assault.

Nature gives life, but it can also snatch it back. When a Druid using this ability bites an opponent, he drains some of his victim’s vital essence, replenishing his own.

With a tremendous roar, the Druid shakes the earth, stunning any enemies in the surrounding area with the resultant tremor.

The use of this skill drives the Druid into a bloodthirsty frenzy, attacking many foes with a raging fervor.

With enough training in this skill, a Druid can summon a conspiracy of ravens, who viciously attack any opponents with razor sharp talons, flying over obstacles even the Druid himself cannot traverse.

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A more subtle ally, these intelligent vines travel through the ground and use their cruel thorns to poison any opponents they contact.

The Druid uses this ability to call upon a helpful spirit of Nature to enhance his well-being, as well as the health of his companions.

This gift of Nature allows the Druid to conjure forth one or more wolf allies who, with their mystical powers, provide the Druid a potent and ferocious colleague.

The sentient plant summoned by this skill draws the corpses of your enemies into the ground, where it rapidly decomposes them, giving their life energies to the Druid who summoned it.

This ability grants the Druid the knowledge needed to summon into being a spirit that increases his skill in battle, as well as that of his party.

This blessing from Nature imparts to the Druid the ability to summon several great wolves. Though the wolf is already fierce in combat, its savagery becomes greatly inflamed as it consumes the corpses of fallen foes.

This skill conjures forth an intelligent plant that draws the enemy’s dead deep into the earth, where it drains their spiritual essences and bestows them upon the Druid who summoned it.

The spirit invoked by this skill bestows upon the Druid and his company the mystical ability to reflect damage back at any opponents who injure them.

This boon grants the Druid the aid of a tremendous wild bear with huge claws and great fangs that fights ferociously alongside him with terrible strength and unmatched fury.

'''Item Properties:''' As you adventure, keep in mind that even the regular magic items you find now have hundreds of new magical properties with many wondrous new effects to help your characters on their brave quests. They are far too numerous to list here, but keep an eye out for new magic item names; their explanations appear in the item’s pop-up description. (This text, which explains the properties and requirements of the item, appears when you have your Inventory window open, and highlight an item with your cursor.)

:* For some Sets, you no longer need to assemble the complete Set to receive its bonus abilities. You now receive partial bonuses for partially complete Sets.

:* A Set Item can now have more than two magic properties.

:* '''Jewels:''' Jewels are similar to Gems, except that instead of having predetermined magical abilities like a Gem, each Jewel possesses random magic properties, allowing you to bestow a wide variety of magical abilities to your Socketed Item. Some uncommon Jewels can have two or more magical properties. Before inserting a Jewel, its magical properties must be “identified” either by the use of a Scroll of Identity, or by a wise sage who can provide such a service.

matter before the assembled [[Council of Elders]].

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:* '''Runes:''' Runes are small stones inscribed with magical glyphs that can be inserted into Socketed Items. Runes are different from other Insertable Items: not only do individual Runes have magical properties, certain combinations (or Rune Sets), when inserted into an item in the proper order, give that item even more wondrous abilities.

'''Charged Items:''' Some new magic items grant the use of certain skills to any character. Some of these items have skills that are only triggered under certain conditions, such as striking an enemy or being struck by one. Charged Items allow the wielder to use the skill at will, but only a limited number of times. To engage the skill granted by a Charged Item, left-click your right mouse button Skill Selection (or press the S key). The Charged Item skill is listed near the top of your list of available skills; left-click on its icon to select it. The skill can now be performed by right-clicking on a target. Charged Item skills have a limited number of uses, so be sure to check the item’s pop-up description or the lower right-hand corner of the skill icon to see how many charges remain. If any of an item’s charges are depleted, you can return to a nearby town and recharge the item by having the local Blacksmith repair it.

==Monsters==

In the initial stages of their campaign, the Three used a combination of relocated lesser demons and vile corruptions of native beasts to flesh out the ranks of their marauding host. To support him in his attack on the great Mt. Arreat, Baal knew that common rabble and poorly disciplined earthly mutations would never do, and so, to this end, he has enlisted some of his most powerful minions from the depths of his demesne.

1265 Anno Kehjistani

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===Reanimated Horde===

Whenever Baal needs vast numbers of troops to lay siege to some stronghold determined to resist him, he musters the Reanimated Horde. These undead minions are the twisted souls of dead soldiers whose hearts turned black while still alive and have been given a new existence in the service of Baal. Chosen from only the strongest and most fearsome of warriors, members of the Reanimated Horde are distinguishable from normal skeletons by their greater size and by their vicious charging attack. When you encounter a member of this dark army, kill it and make sure it stays down; they have the nasty habit of refusing to remain dead.

Paige Nittler, Richard & Sandra Schaefer, Megan Williams, Candi Strecker, Nicola Householder, Anna-Marcelle Okamura, Amber Okamura, Megan Okamura, Karen Weiss, Bernadete Sexton, Stephen Hu, Alan Hu, Johnathon Root, Caralee Schaefer, the beautiful Kris Brevik, Denise Hernandez, Talia Ehrlich, Kyle Matthews, Liz Scandizzo, Myra Rivero, Professor Allan Cruse, Brother John Keck, Shannon Kelly, Mike McBrine, Lynn & Ernest Brown, Zeno Dickson, Rosemary Morrissey, Rebecca Owen, Tim Miller, Flying Hands Massage, Brad Mason, Tom Ricket, Yun-Fong Loh, Nezumi, the Boey Family & Nok, Chan Kuan Chean, Cheeming's Homies, Friends of Bill W., Miles Inada, Kira England-Carroll, Fil DeAngelis, Big Idea Girl, Everquest, The Office Park Gym, Naps, Jerry Garcia, Philip K. Dick, Isaac Asimov, Scott Kurtz, Tom at EBX, Napster, Chris Rock, Noam Chomsky, Chevrolet, LMCTF and Loki's Minions, Sluggy Freelance, The Poxy Boggards, Mind Control Software, Mego Micronauts toys, Bongo & Clyde, Scarlet & Apollo, Littles & Baby, Leroy & Tyson, Dave Campbell, & Eric Pinkle, Edwin Braun at Cebas, Beau Perschall at Digimation, Ivan Kolev, Shag Hair, Stephanie Samia, Melissa Huggins, Jo Anne Carpenter, Greg Dale, Laura Clifton, Elizabeth Skelton, Tara Thomas, John and Gai Burnett, Sheryl "Swak" Narahara, Shelly "Saucy" Tasher, Lori Limon, Fred and Josephine Hormis, Suzanne DiPiazza, David Fincher, Mike and Anne Chamberlain, Jeremy Appelbaum, Ray the Soda Guy, Special Cinematic thanks to The Ramones, Jean-Marie Messier, Eric Licoys, Agnes Touraine, Luc Vanhal, Jay Meschel, David Gee, Cameron Buschardt, Jeff Strain, Paula Duffy, Todd Coyle, Danny Kearns, Tom Bryan, Ralph Becker, and the rest…

'''Special Thanks To'''<br />

Hubert Joly<br />

All the families of Blizzard North for waiting so<br />

patiently to see us again

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