DiabloFans

Hello to all you Diablo fans. I'm sure most of you are disappointed and downright depressed about the absence of Diablo at this weekend's BlizzCon. I'm sure it's hard to realize there can't possibly be a cure to this seemingly life-threatening illness. But in fact there is.

There are multiple cures, for multiple patients. Some will vary on others, most will work. Some may have side effects, while some will benefit. Here are the cures you should know about.

Cure #1: Take a moment to sit down and think, and think along these lines: "Man, Diablo wasn't at this BlizzCon either! That makes two in a row!" Now think about what that means to Blizzard Entertainment. They are well aware they have omitted Diablo from these past BlizzCons, minus the Tristram theme song. You know what they have to do now? You guessed it:

They need to make up for it. And mark my words, they will.

The next BlizzCon or large gaming event will probably feature Diablo III. It's downright inevitable. StarCraft II is announced, that won't be out for over a year, WoW's newest expansion won't make it out for about 8 months, so that leaves a huge gap of nothingness for Blizzard to toy with. Just think this way: There are at least two large gaming events left this year: Leipzig Game Convention in late August, and E for All Expo in late October.

The E for All Expo is to replace the E3 event that, until this year, was considered a huge spotlight for games. Blizzard announced many games at E3 in the past, including Diablo II. The event is four days long. It may not house the official annoucement, but expect some feedback from the developers at Blizzard about "Team 3". GC (Leipzig Game Convention) is also four days long, and very large as well. Blizzard (I assume) will be attending both these events. Expect more rumors of "Team 3" to surface there as well.

My prediction: The GC later this month will unveil the Zerg for StarCraft II, along with more information on WoW: WotLK. E for All Expo will be the start of (if not the unveiling of) Diablo III's existence. Reminder - the GC is in October - the same month the final Sin War book is released.

Cure #2: Revitalize yourself. Get that "I can wait" mindset you had before BlizzCon. This is the hardest cure to achieve, but it can be done. The longer the game waits, the better it can only get. Sure, the Convention was totally biased, but BlizzCons of the future will be home to Diablo someday. World of Warcraft will eventually run its course. I can honestly only see one more expansion after Wrath of the Lich King being announced. The expansions become worthless to casual gamers as things get more difficult and require more gaming time and devotion. Hell, there are many complaints already.

But for those that say WoW is dying, you are wrong. Just a few weeks ago, Blizzard announced the game has 9 million active subscribers. That's quite an achievement, and having that kind of fanbase should enthuse Diablo fans, and you're probably wondering why I say this.

The reason why I say this, is because if Blizzard decides to churn out Diablo III, WoW will still have millions of subscribers that are loyal to the game. Diablo III would take some fans away, true, but when WoW remains a multimillion-dollar-a-year game, Blizzard won't complain. Diablo III itself would be a multimillion (if not close to a billion) dollar game. Trust me, you can all wait.

Cure #3: Take your anger out someplace harmless. E-mailing Blizzard telling them, "OMFG YOU NOOBS DON'T KNOW WTF WE WANT... LAWL YOU PLAYED TRISTRAM BUT NO DIABLO WAS THERE GEE GEE BLIZZFUCKS", that doesn't really fix anything. That is more or less of a complaint, something I admit to have done a fair share of myself. Blizzard won't respond to a complaint like that. You want them to listen, send something like this, "I really enjoyed the events that took place at BlizzCon this weekend. I was looking forward to seeing some Diablo, but I'll wait until next time." A message like that, will keep Blizzard a lot less frustrated and careless, and make them more optimistic that the Diablo community is respectful, and worthy of a new game.

If you can't channel your anger into civil thinking, post in the threads here. We'll listen. There will be plenty to join you, I'm sure.

That's the only 3 cures I know of. Anyone know any others?

I think its before the concert or after.

Stay awhile and listen

I have 17 reps

I've decided to oust my inner nerd by writing a fantasy novel. I've had a unique plot for about four years now, and now I'm finally putting it together. I hope to create five books - the original title of the series and the seperate books are likely to change:

The Halls of Valor:
Book One: Day of Ashes
Book Two: Return to Power
Book Three: Siege of the Forest
Book Four: The Fall of Hyton
Book Five: The Final March

Here is a sample, and I hope you guys give me some input to whether or not it is worth continuing:

The Halls of Valor : Day of Ashes
18 Chapters

Chapter One:

The small band of warriors continued north towards the once forgotten snow-capped mountains. Temperature fell steadily as they continued up the foothills and to the base of the peaks. The band showed no signs of halting or slowing their pace. They were loyal to Slaythe, commander and king of the Terronians from the kingdom of Terron. Slaythe’s mission for them was to investigate the regions surrounding the mountains. The band was so far from their homeland, but they did not care. Their lives and fate were in the hands of Slaythe, and they would die gladly for him.

The lands the band was now entering wreaked of war. The ground was composed of pebbles and sand, with the occasional larger stone. Most of the trees were stripped bare and black from the effects of fire. Many trees had ropes with nooses tied to the larger branches. The quarry of the ropes’ were likely decayed to the point of tearing loose. Either that, or something had retrieved the bodies.

The lands were filled with scattered bones and armor. Most bones were stripped of flesh and muscle, but some still remained on some, reminding the band that the battles here took place not that long ago – and they were likely the cause for some of the destruction here. There were old stone ruins, once buildings, that had the conditions of looking ancient, but they were far from it.

The sight was grisly to the once again visiting warriors, and the overcast sky seemed to match their moods. All except one.

Slaythe had no intention to see his band of warriors again, for they were only to protect his observer and oracle, Oscopus. Oscopus himself was a visibly evil man. He was long and stringy, as if he had not eaten for centuries. His skin was deathly pale, and his face looked older than it really was. He did not wear a helmet. Instead he let his thin, long, ragged hair drape over his shoulders and part of his back as if it were a makeshift cape. His eyes were always pressed narrow as if plotting murder, and they radiated evil. His eyes were black – even where the whites were supposed to be. Oscopus’s face was usually expressionless, except for the occasional snarling of his lip or the random twitches that terrorized him.

Oscopus seemed mentally unstable, yet that was a fortunate and false accusation. His twitches were involuntary. He noticed he was cursed with them after he was tortured and punished in Slaythe’s innermost chambers. The memories haunted Oscopus, and he swore never to upset and displease his lord ever again – otherwise torture and death would be received, as promised by Slaythe himself. The initial action that lead to Oscopus’s punishment was long forgotten due to pain and torment. It was best he forgot that anyway.

Fortunately, Oscopus felt that his newest task was a much easier one, and he would most likely not fail this one. Slaythe had sent him to the Forgotten Peaks in search of tribes or civilization. If life was to be found there, Slaythe wanted it vanquished. All the people of Terron unanimously agreed with that decision, as they always did. Slaythe was the king behind countless victories over unknown foes, much like his father, Slayto, who he was so eager to avenge. The people of Terron always enjoyed learning their forces were victorious time after time again. They never seemed tired of eliminating the innocent and likely harmless threats against their kingdom and people.

Slaythe had not sent a scouting party in a long time. Almost ten years it had been. He felt that the search would turn up something, since he was constantly bombarded with an unexplainable and seemingly realistic nightmare. He dreamt he led his entire army to the walls of an ancient city. Instead of leading his army, he departed and headed for the mountains, where he found an enigmatic dragon inside the darkest peak, which always roared, "Come to me, Slaythe".

Slaythe could not explain the dream, but he sent a band to the assumed region that he had dreamt of. His orders were to scout the area and return with reports. Refrain from entering the mountains, especially the darkest peak. Slaythe truly felt that the dragon was real, and a threat.



~~~~~~~

Oscopus reached the top of the hill that he sought after. As he and the band of fifteen elite Terronian warriors joined him, the wind picked up and swirled sand and dry snow at their feet. Oscopus looked down at the insignificant display, and then looked forward into the vast valley. He and the fifteen were awestruck.

In the valley was a lush coniferous forest stretching for miles towards the base of a dark peak. The same peak that Slaythe must have dreamt of. Oscopus recalled a glimmering light at the base of the peak. He focused his energies hard, and his vision became far more defined and zooming. He studied the glimmer and did not believe his eyes. His heart raced. He gazed further on it.

"What is it, Master Oscopus?", one of the guards mentioned eagerly. No word from Oscopus’s twitching maw.
"Master?"
"It looks to be a fortress!" exclaimed Oscopus. The warriors began talking amongst themselves as Oscopus kept his gaze.
"A heavily occupied one, at that!" The warriors began to cheer. They knew what Slaythe would order upon it. Destruction.
"Don’t get so excited just yet, you fools!" commanded the slender man.
"I sense they are not harmless. I feel that they contain some knowledge of battle."
"That makes it better to practice!" blurted one of the warriors. Oscopus swung around furiously and raised his open palm to the warrior. A sudden force sent the warrior backwards, falling hard on the solid ground.
"You imbecile! Have you no idea what this means? This civilization might have been here nearly as long as ours has! They may be cunning with magic or adept with combat! We can take no chances. We must report immediately to Slaythe. Our lord will be satisfied with our find!"

Hoping to regain his once heavily trusted allegiance to his master, Oscopus prayed that this find would erase all former mistakes created by him, thus delaying his someday imminent death from his lord. Slaythe will like this. He will love this. He will trust me again. Oscopus could only remain so enthused. It was something else to focus on besides his grisly tortures.

As the band turned their backs on the oasis-like valley, an expertly guided arrow whizzed just inches from Oscopus’s face. The band stopped in their tracks, and the fifteen warriors raised their glimmering shields in a dome-like structure. Inside, Oscopus was hidden from view.
"Who dares enters this kingdom with a band of elegant warriors?" erupted the well-armored archer atop the nearest great boulder.
"We are Terronians, from the kingdom of Terron, south of here by many days journey!" said Oscopus without hesitation.
"I am not familiar with the kingdom in which you speak, Terronian!"
"Nor am I with yours!" replied Oscopus, naturally.
The archer proudly announced, "This is the kingdom of Hostilia! Land of the great fortress of Barricus, the Pine Valley, the Black Spire, and the home to great and mighty king, Durad!"
"We are no harm to thee, young…?"
The archer again said proudly, "Gantus! And who are you, shielded by your divine guardians?"
Oscopus emerged from the protective dome, "I am Oscopus, the observer and oracle to our great and kind king Slaythe!" Oscopus gritted his teeth after falsely mentioning the king’s "kindness", especially to him.

~~~~~~~~

Opinions?

1. The Worldstone is destroyed... It more easily allows the forces of Hell to spill onto the world of Sanctuary.
2. Azmodan and Belial were never to be seen, even though they are two of the Lesser Evils
3. No one knows what happened to Baal's Soulstone.
4. Your character takes a portal to "safety" at the end of LoD.

All of these things can combine to form a new game, since the ending of LoD left us hanging anyways

Scientists have recently discovered a food that diminishes a woman's sex drive by 90%.

It's called wedding cake

Sorcamazarianmancerdins

Ever read up on the Diablo clone? On the Arreat Summit website, it is said he was brought back from death by a dark ritual by Lilith, so Diablo isn't COMPLETELY erased, nor will he ever be. But anyways:

I'm pretty sure they need an Excorcist character. He could have knowledge in Demon Smiting skills and other various lore.

Starting at today's date, take the time (in days) you consider "reasonable" to arrive at Beta start, and multiply that by 2. Subtract 5days. Take that number and multiply it by sqrt(3.5), and the resulting number will be the number of days, from today, that Beta will be announced.

This is formula is based on blizzmath^TM, and is considered very basic. In fact, it was derived by one of their "ponderance monkeys," more commonly known as "project managers."

If you got a negative number, you're doing it wrong.

Beta start date is determined by throwing 17 pounds of sticks into a wood chipper, counting the pieces of chipped wood that emerge (neglecting wood chips that become hopelessly lodged in the grass and/or mud), and adding that to the first day of the preceding month.

Simple. Elegant. Blizzard.

Edit: Added ^TM to blizzmath^(TM). Don't wanna get sued here, I have enough problems as it is.

They'll bring said investors into a conference room with a large display screen, they'll press play, and RickRoll the investors.

Like Rogaul said, I'm exhausted from all the speculation and honestly if they don't offer us an approximation of the beta i'm just going to stop visiting sites like this and forget about the game because seriously it feels like they have 10 monkeys with down syndrome working on this game full time.

My preferences change to often, so I voted for a whole bunch of them. I tend to start thinking about a kind of character, and then get jazzed about that kind of weapon.

Quote from AcidReign

I would prefer the theme of Diablo III to be similar to D1

I second that motion