Diablo news, info, guides, cheats, and downloads
For those of us impatient enough (isn’t that everyone?), a Diablo III custom map has been released.
You need Warcraft III in order to play it and the map is still in beta. However, I’m really amazed at the graphics – the world editor is indeed powerful enough to change the game completely. It does look like Diablo III.
P.S. Maybe it was my bad luck with skill selection as a Wizard but even the first wave of zombies proved insurmountable for me!
According to BlizzPlanet, Blizzard has not stated officially that Battle.net 2.0 is going to be free.
However, Blizzard is known for its vague comments when it comes to monetization:
Are there any plans to monetize Battle.net 2.0 service? Mike Morhaime limited to answer: “I’m not ready to talk about that today”. Mike Morhaime confirmed that Battle.net 2.0 will be free to those who buy StarCraft 2 retail.
Of course, you need to remember that Starcraft 2 is coming out not in one but in THREE retails boxes (for a total of around $100). So even one measly box gets you into Battle.net 2.0 for life? I’ll take it.
Remember past Blizzcons when we wondered if that horn is Diablo’s? Or anything else that looked like a clue that Diablo 3 will be announced?
Well, Diablo 3 takes center stage at this Blizzcon! The Barbarian is displayed prominently on the homepage (next to something green looking like a Starcraft II ghost).
OK, a few bullet points about Blizzcon 2009!
If you’re not able to attend, there’s the poor man’s Blizzcon – live Directv coverage for just $39.95. You do the murloc marine pet, so if you need a green/blue blob around you at all times, make sure you give your hard-earned cash to Blizzard.
It’s not just the fans anymore. Bill Roper is complaining that Diablo 3 isn’t Diablo enough.
Bill Roper is the producer of the original Diablo and Diablo II and he thinks that Diablo is a Gothic fantasy. He thinks the CLOWNs at Blizzard have took the game over and have repainted the graphics in their favorite cartoony colors.
I think that one of the things that we always tried to get across was that Diablo was Gothic fantasy and I think there was just a need that was put in there from the visuals that I didn’t necessarily get. I got it from the architecture and to a degree from the character design but not the feeling of the world. I can’t say that I dislike it. I didn’t look at it and go, oh my God that’s horrible. But I looked at it and went, it’s not really… to me as a player it just didn’t really ring with Diablo.
Admittedly, it could be that Bill Roper is bitter about the dismal failure of the Hellgate: London project. Frankly, though, I agree with him – we need MORE blood and guts and dark horrors, not LESS.
Blizzard has put out some screenshots of the Barbarian skill tree. It’s part of the new (N8) Blizzcast. It covers a lot of ground, especially when it comes to Diablo 3.
Combat Skills Combat Masteries Warcries
Level 1 Bash Sword Mastery, Axe Mastery, Mace Mastery Howl, Find Potion
Level 6 Double Swing, Leap Polearm Mastery, Throwing Mastery, Spear Mastery Shout, Taunt
Level 12 Double Throw, Stun Increased Stamina Find Item
Level 18 Leap Attack, Concentrate Iron Skin Battle Cry
Level 24 Frenzy Increased Speed Battle Orders, Grim Ward
Level 30 Whirlwind, Berserk Natural Resistance War Cry, Battle Command
Blizzard have just updated the Diablo 3 site with new screenshots and a new beast: The Unburied.
“Being born out of pits of human misery, these beings feed on human suffering. Wherever bodies are dumped together unceremoniously, the unburied may rise.”
That’s neat. I wonder if my Barbarian should pack a shovel to dispose of bodies in individual graves now. Or God forbid, the unburied will arise again.
Anyway, check out the updated media section.
Blizzard has just announced a theme park contest. If you’ve ever imagined taking a Diablo ride, this is your chance to get acknowledgment for your imagination.
Here’s the theme park contest rules:
What thrills would you seek in the Blizzard Entertainment theme park of your dreams? This is your chance to show us.
We’re challenging you to design and illustrate your own Blizzard Entertainment Theme Park, including roller coasters, water rides, shows, shopping areas, food courts, game areas, patrons, and whatever fantastic attractions you desire.
Submit your original park design by March 30, 2009, and we’ll choose our favorites based on the creativity of the design, artistic technique (including the medium and style), and how your park reflects the lore and spirit of Blizzard Entertainment’s games.
In case you’re wondering, there is a prize: Wacom Cintiq 12WX Digitizing Tablet, a pair of StarCraft II beta keys, and more.
The runes (thought not runewords) make a return to Diablo 3. They’ll still drop from monsters, however, they will be used in a way that is VERY different from Diablo 2.
OK, let’s go over how runes worked in Diablo 2. There are 33 runes that drop from monsters. Note that some runes drop often while others drop extremely (e.g. Zod rune). Also, there are items with sockets that are able to take runes (or jewels). Some rune combinations (called runewords) create Runic Items, which are among the most powerful items in the game.
For example, socketing the runes Hel + Ohm + Um + Lo + Cham gives your axe or hammer a whole bunch of additional stats and it also adds the label “Doom”.
OK, so what are the changes to the runes in Diablo 3? Runes will still be used to CUSTOMIZE your character, however, runes no longer modify ITEMS. Instead they’ll be added to skills (each skill has a single rune slot).
Also, to make runes easier to use, rune names will be changed to reflect their effect, e.g. Rune of Multistriking. How does this affect gameplay?
For example, a Minor Multistrike Rune attached to the Skull of Flame will make projectile skip along the ground once , but higher quality Runes like the Major Multistrike Rune may raise the amount of bounces and the distance traveled by the projectile.
Jay Wilson, Diablo 3 Lead designer, expressed his strong desire to make each skill customizable while at the same time retaining the uniqueness of each class. In other words, he doesn’t want the Barbarian to be able to mimic the Wizard by adding certain runes to skills.
Note: You only get ONE email, the one announcing the Diablo 3 beta.
