All about the game Diablo III
content auto translated from {from}

Useful information, in general. :)

After Blizzard's announcement of the development of Diablo 3, a literal flood of details about this event surged onto the internet in the form of interviews with developers, various panels, and gameplay demonstrations.

However, all this interesting information is scattered across the vastness of the web. This article is a nearly complete list of all known features of the game at present, as well as the changes and additions made to it.

Of course, given the huge volume of information, some things may have been missed here, so feel free to leave comments with useful additional information.

Contents

  1. General Overview

  2. Gameplay

  3. Quests

  4. Interface

  5. Multiplayer Mode

  6. Classes

  7. Monsters

  8. Storyline

  9. General Overview

• The game borrows a significant part of the style from previous versions of Diablo.

• The controls and camera have not been complicated, but the combat quality has greatly improved.

• The storyline begins 20 years after the events of Diablo II.

• A greater emphasis has been placed on the storyline, which is driven by characters.

• The length of the new Diablo III is similar to that of Diablo II, which lasted four acts.

• A new three-dimensional engine developed by Blizzard is used, as well as the Havok physics engine.

• Diablo III has been in development for four to five years. It was restarted after Blizzard North closed in March 2005.

• The game is truly captivating for a long time and is already quite engaging.

• Currently, the development team consists of about 50-55 employees.

• Diablo III will be released simultaneously on both Mac and PC.

• There have been no announcements about plans for a console version yet.

• No word on the financial model either at this time.

• Blizzard has challenged itself by trying to add some color to the game while maintaining the dark gothic style of previous Diablo versions.

  1. Gameplay

• Significant attention is paid to supporting group play.

• Increased difficulty levels.

• Both random and static maps are used simultaneously, as in Diablo II.

• The Hardcore mode will likely return. “We see no reason not to do this.” • Less attention is given to potions to emphasize the skills being used. Monsters will drop healing orbs that will restore the health of any character that picks them up. Health restoration is instantaneous, and orbs cannot be stored.

• Trading will be improved compared to the specialized system in Diablo II, but there will be no “auction houses” or anything similar in the game. • Much more vertical movement on bridges, stairs, and so forth.

• Destructible environments that can also deal damage to enemies using the Havok physics engine.

• The system of city portals will likely be changed to improve gameplay.

• There is no need for the implementation of rideable animals.

• Traps and hazards will return.

• Helpers/escorts in the form of computer characters will also be utilized.

  1. Quests

• In addition to the main storyline quests, the game will feature special quests for each class.

• A new adventure system will provide the game with randomly generated scenarios. For example, a player traverses a certain area, say, an old abandoned house, which may have its own story and enemies to eliminate.

• A new dialogue system will feature voice acting for all character lines during interactions.

• Gear is now generated personally for each player, meaning you will only see items you can use. Blizzard hopes this will create a sense of cooperation.

• “Colored” items, unique things, runes, and other features from previous Diablo versions will be reintroduced, as well as identification scrolls.

  1. Interface

• The user interface remains almost the same as in Diablo II.

• The new hotbar is a shortened four-slot version of the hotbar from World of Warcraft with additional slots for scrolls.

• Players will be able to quickly switch between skills using the mouse wheel or the “Tab” key.

• The game will have an isometric view with zoom capability.

• Item slots: helmet, shoulders, gloves, body, pants, shoes, belt, two rings, amulet.

• Damage per second will depend on the item.

• All items will take up one inventory slot (no more giant axes and so forth).

• After a critical hit, the amount of damage will now be displayed above monsters.

• Buffs will now be shown in the lower left corner of the screen as small icons.

• Gold is collected automatically.

  1. Multiplayer Mode

• Join/leave group games on Battle.net.

• There will be a single area/region for North America.

• In Diablo III’s multiplayer mode, up to 8 players can participate, but currently, the game is best played with five players. The maximum number of players is still not announced.

• Battle.net will be updated; some innovations can be seen while playing StarCraft II.

• Blizzard is working on Battle.net features that will increase player accountability and reduce disruptive behavior.

• Blizzard is also working on a unified web community. It will be something like a WoW Armory website that allows players to show off their characters outside the game.

  1. Classes

• There will be a total of five character classes.

• Players will be able to choose a female or male variant for each class.

• Confirmed classes: Witch Doctor, Barbarian, and Wizard.

Witch Doctor

• The Witch Doctor hails from Teganze, a region of the Torajan jungle.

• They are a self-sacrificing people who believe in an alternate reality known as the Unformed Land, from which Witch Doctors can draw their power.

• This class functions similarly to the Necromancer class but is not a replacement.

• Known skills:

  1. Firebomb. This fire spell acts like a grenade, dealing damage in a specified area.

  2. Horrify. An area-effect spell that causes most enemies to flee upon application.

  3. Locust Swarm. Summons a swarm of insects that literally devours clusters of enemies, leaving only white bones behind.

  4. Mongrel. This spell creates a demon dog from a skeleton. If used on a summoned monster, Locust Swarm will inflict extra damage to its attacks. Deliberately destroying the Mongrel triggers an explosion that damages nearby enemies.

  5. Mass Confusion. Temporarily turns a group of enemies against each other.

  6. Soul Harvest. An area-effect spell that kills an enemy and replenishes mana.

  7. Wall of Zombies. A spell similar to a fire wall that creates a wall of zombies to attack approaching enemies.

Barbarian

• Mount Arreat, home of the Barbarians, was destroyed in Diablo II: Lord of Destruction. Later, the race of Barbarians gradually went into decline.

• Some Barbarians have been transformed into inhuman beasts.

• Known skills:

  1. Cleave. This skill hits several enemies at once.

  2. Ground Stomp. A thunderous area-effect spell that stuns enemies.

  3. Leap. A precisely calculated jump that kills enemies upon landing.

  4. Seismic Slam. The Barbarian strikes the ground, creating a directed shockwave that damages all enemies in its path.

  5. Whirlwind. A reckless spinning attack that sweeps away all enemies in the Barbarian's path.

Wizard

• Known skills:

  1. Disintegrate. Creates a beam of pure energy dealing 10 damage per second. Every time the beam passes through a target, the damage changes.

  2. Electrocute. Lightning arcs from the Wizard to enemies, dealing 4-5 damage. Can attack 2 targets.

  3. Teleport. Teleports the character to a selected area within feet.

  4. Magic Missile. Creates a single energy missile that deals 7-13 damage.

  5. Slow Time. Distorts space and time, slowing nearby monsters and flying objects.

  6. Monsters

Skeletons

• There will be a standard soldier skeleton form, a shield skeleton, as well as summoner skeletons.

• The shield skeleton is slow but well-protected. It will absorb damage until its shield is broken, defending the casters behind it.

• Necromancers will be able to summon skeletons anywhere, although it will be easier to do so in graveyards than, say, in dense forests.

• Necromancers will be able to summon hordes of skeletons or a single super-skeleton for the same cost.

• Summoners will automatically replenish the necromancer's army of skeleton warriors, creating a self-replenishing army.

Berserker

• An aggressive monster with a mace that enhances its attacks but becomes vulnerable if it misses.

Khazra (Half-man, half-goat)

• Similar to such monsters from previous versions of the game

• A member of the Moon Clan wielding a large axe.

Dark Cultists

• These are rather weak mages who summon demons to attack your character.

• The “Dark Vessel” variant transforms into a powerful creature. Players should kill such Cultists before they transform, or the battle will be quite difficult.

Ghouls.

• Standard spirits. Shown in the video demonstrating gameplay (they appear in the trap).

Grotesque.

• A portly zombie. Upon its death, dozens of blue eels erupt from its body and attack the character.

Beast

• A large, fur-covered creature with horns. Possibly has the ability to enhance attacks and deal a strong blow.

Thousand Pounder.

• A mini-boss that can be encountered in the “Forgotten Tombs” dungeon. Wields two giant maces.

Gnarled Walkers

• Creatures from another dimension that disguise themselves as enormous trees and grab passing people and animals.

• They possess some form of poisonous attack.

Siegebreaker Assault Beast

• A very large mini-boss that resembles a dog with a human torso. Shown at the end of one of the gameplay demonstration videos.

• Grabs the player and bites off their head, killing the character in one attack.

  1. Storyline

• The player character now interacts with other characters through dialogue.

• Old characters and previous versions of the game will return: Deckard Cain and others.

• The story:

  1. Twenty years have passed since the events of Diablo II. Among those who witnessed the battle with the Lords of Hatred, Fear, and Destruction for the peace of Sanctuary, there are still people alive who remember all the horrors and tragedies the Prime Evil brought into the world. Those who have not seen the chaos and destruction firsthand perceive stories of past events as myths and tales. But evil is resurrecting in Tristram and has already set its sights on its first victim: Deckard Cain.

  2. “In the two previous versions of the game, Diablo and his two brothers, Mephisto and Baal, represented the Prime Evil of the world of Sanctuary. At the beginning of Diablo III, 20 years have passed, and the brothers are no longer present; they have been defeated. At the end of Diablo II: Lord of Destruction, the Worldstone was destroyed; after it, a huge crater remained, and everyone expected hordes of monsters to emerge, but nothing happened. Therefore, Deckard Cain, one of the main characters from previous versions of the game, spent two decades searching for the remaining two entities of Prime Evil, trying to figure out what they are plotting and why the invasion of Hell on earth has not yet occurred. A significant part of the story pertains to Tyrael, the Angel of Justice, and the events that have happened to him since he became the angel who destroyed the world.”

Locations

New Tristram

• The city was created by merchants trying to profit from the legendary treasures found in the cathedral.

• It has fallen into decline after the cathedral was looted.

• Now there are only “dreary shacks” and an old inn.

• Cain believes that there are still valuable items left in the cathedral: ancient manuscripts and tomes.

Caldeum

• Located in Kehjistan.

• It rivals Kurast from Diablo II in size.

• Caldeum has begun to decline after the nobility from Kurast left their city and settled here.

• When the supreme Emperor of Kehjistan fell ill and died, the Zakarum returned, and the city plunged into chaos.

Confirmed area: Leoric Highlands

Confirmed dungeon: Forgotten Tombs