DiabloFans

Alchemist
The Alchemist is a crazy scientist, bent on combining liquids and elements in various compounds just to see what happens. They delve on the edge of arcane magics, taking throwing potions to a whole nutha level. The Alchemist focuses on debuff and attack based compounds such as:
Disease Potion - This throwing potion is a combination of deadly poisons, typically lobbed towards enemies creating a toxic cloud for all who are near.
Molotov Cocktail - This potion is enhanced with chemical fire agents which, when combined, completely engulf the target in flames. The surrounding areas suffer from residual fire damage.
Shadow Prism- A combination of ground solids and gases are contained within a multi-faceted prism, which is thrust at the ground. Upon breaking, the prism emits a cloud that confuses and paralyzes enemies providing time to kill or escape.
Breath of Death - A devastating combination of elements are ground into fine dust and blown at a targeted enemy. Inhalation causes a fatal attack on the vascular system; weak enemies implode, stronger foes are paralyzed or receive damage over time.

The alchemist would use lighter armors, and does not like to engage in hand to hand combat. Attacks are delivered from behind the front lines, by way of throwing sharps or vials of liquid; ie: Throwing Potions, Knives, Darts


Shapeshifter
The shapeshifter has studied demonology since time has recorded such occurrences in stone. Weaker beings would be overcome by their contact with the demon plane and the denizens of Hell... but such is the shapeshifters' research and power, they have learned how to take on the forms of demons, gaining their powers and using them to their advantage. Research into the dark arcane magics of the demon plane has also lent them to knowledge of summoning demons, controlling their will and destiny.

Form Ghoul - The shapeshifter takes the form of a Ghoul, hiding in the shadows, gaining the ability to be unseen by enemies and command the battle from afar.
Form Death Knight - The shapeshifter takes the form of a Death Knight, commanding skilled power in hand to hand sword combat.
Form Overlord - The shapeshifter takes on the most powerful demon form known to their order, the Overlord, commanding raw power and an insatiable appetite for fresh mea... err... death.

Summon Skeleton Warrior - summons the undead
Summon Satyr - summons a warrior of Khazra to aid in battle
Summon Abyss Mage - summons the undead demon magicians
Summon Balrog - summons the great demon lords of fire

Combustion - Targeted demon summon unit explodes into a burst of fiery destruction
Vortex - Targeted demon summon unit is imploded into a vortex of dark matter and arcane energy. Sucks enemies in, dealing arcane damage over time based on proximity.


:cool:

Great theory! To me, it looks like the angel shown in the cinematic is inside the cathedral. It seems quite plausible that it is Imperius coming to shut Sanctuary down, as it were.

I considered the 'dimensional' traveling thing and, while it does make sense, the 'Hell' in Diablo has always been below or under the earth, no? Heaven would be above. So I think its still feasible that an angel could be the meteor, whether or not of his own accord.

That would make for a great multi-threaded epic storyline with a power struggle in both Heaven and Hell, while trying to save Sanctuary and wondering if you are on the right side.

In the long gameplay trailer there is an absence of a really visible 'light radius' as we know it, but in the 'Soul Harvest' skill preview on the website it seems to display a more prominent 'light radius' eminating from the Witch Doctor.

Q: Does light radius become more significant as you travel deeper into dungeons that may not have outside light sources?

Quote from "Medievaldragon" »

UPDATE: Added Richard A. Knaak's message to Diablo Fans in response to the release of the Diablo Archive.

woot, got a shout out on that one eh? :thumbsup:

If you haven't already, I would encourage you to read the transcripts of the WWI dev panels at the diii.net wiki. They give alot of insight into the directions and plans and stuff. I thought it was a really good read.

• Diablo III Game Design Q&A Panel
• Diablo III Design Fundamentals Panel
• Lore and Environmental Art Panel
• Denizens of Diablo

Quote from "Contagion" »

I suppose the good thing is you don't have to just click as fast you can like a retard when a boss dies and not even know what dropped until you look at it in your inventory later on. This way you can focus on actually killing the boss and any lingering monsters after the bosses death instead of dying because the Fallen Shaman you forgot to kill shot a fireball at you when you were at 1hp from poison after killing Andariel Lol.

No but seriously, this system leaves a lot up to the RNG. TOO much up to the RNG if you ask me, or any other fast clicker (Not a pickit-wielding cunt) that likes to at least 10% of the time against the item grabbers be in control of getting what they click on.

Like everything else thus far, it's just something new and different that we will get used to. Maybe this system will promote others to be more considerate in the game. Those players that are assfaces and don't give/trade items to the players said items are better suited for (provided they participated in the killing of monster that dropped said item) by their own accord, will be shitlisted like in other games where a basic level of camaraderie is expected. That would be a nice change from the D2 crowd.

You are looking at it the wrong way I think. Instead of having one roll to drop loot, there is one roll per person. This will add to the overall quantity of stuff that drops - though they are obviously going to 'dial back' the drop rate compared to D2. Additionally, the blizz post indicated that there would be a bonus to drop rates based on number of people in the immediate party - not enough to make solo a joke, but enough to encourage team play.

Example: I would prefer to do 8man Meph or Baal, but my chances of actually snatching something really good that drops are really low in comparison to doing solo runs, where everything is mine. If there was a drop before - like some rune or unique - and some dude ninja'd it... there have been people that follow him around game to game incessantly begging/threatening for it, or people bring in 80 mules to try and trade for it. It essentially has just killed your party and quest game.

This eliminates that. If you are a giving person, then you can offer your loot to people or keep it for yourself, if you are a douche, then no one has to know that you keep everything you don't need. And, if you are a slow clicker, you still have a shot at getting something decent, if you participate in the battle. The point is that it doesn't immediately create conflict in parties by someone getting a rare or wanted item. It will encourage more people to play in random/public parties with other people.

What's the point of saying the thread is a failure or boring? I thought it was a well thought out post by a new member and a diablo fan. I agree with most of it, but perhaps that's why I didnt auto-post some internet picture.

Quote from "Makenshi" »

Don't use them! There's no law saying you have to! ¬¬

Why people rather see no options in a game than see but not use? Many players like merc, many don't as well, so the mercs must be in the game, and those who don't like them just don't use, period.

The 'if you dont like it dont use it' is really a baseless argument. Blizzard is setting the 'game rules' as it were and, when all other players have a bonus aura and the game is balanced towards that, how can you compete if you do not. It's kind of ridiculous for a super powerful demon slaying warrior to 'hire' a mercenary to help him because he is too weak to go at it on his own. Again, this is an opinion and not a game-breaking feature if implemented in either way.

I hope there's no mercs like they were in D2. In fact, since they say that the best number of players per game is 4 or 5, i really doubt they will be there.

They were too dependant for end game builds. Sorcs with Insight or Infinity pole mercs, Summoners with Faith rogues... too ridiculous. Of course part of that is the rune duping, but still... think if you never had that perma merc, how hard would it be to be a solo sorc in hell?

It has been likened to the barb warcries. In D2, you would have to invest 60 skill points to max out the warcries and their synergies. What if, in D3, you could max out your warcries with 30 points (to a similar power level as 60), then it frees up points and opens up more build variations. You might be able to put some other points in Natural Resist or Iron Skin or your attacks. As long as we can achieve similar strengths and balances, then its a good change IMo.

Quote from "Kiserai" »

What more needs to be said? For all of you 'backseat developers', close your mouths and open your eyes. Even an artist who worked on the tone you rant on and on about from D2/D2X thought D3 looked fantastic and has something to say about concerns regarding 'atmosphere'. :thumbsup:

I don't see how one person's opinion on the limited content released so far enforces or negates another's opinion of the same content. I don't need to be able to assemble a Ferrari to consider it badass any more than I need to be able to assemble a Gremlin to consider it a piece of shit.

To the OP: If you have not already, I would implore you to google out the transcripts of all the dev panels at WWI and read them. All of it. It should give some more insight into what they are doing. You might develop a more wait and see approach.

The second clip in this WD video seems to have a light radius.

http://www.wegame.com/watch/Diablo_3_Gameplay_6_29_08/

I couldn't find this video linked in any of the posts i looked through (it's a WD gameplay vid)
http://www.wegame.com/watch/Diablo_3_Gameplay_6_29_08/


Is it just me, or does the first clip in the video have fog of war, and the second clip have light radius?

Quote from name="Sol Invictus" »

Opinions are fine.

They are not fine, however, when you shove them down [forum members] throats by inundating the forums in crap about how the art [doesn't need] to be changed, repeatedly, even though [forum members] have created threads for complaining about it.

They are also not fine when you start rubbing it in peoples faces about how much 'support' you have and how much [forum members] 'suck' for not listening to your opinion.

They are not fine when you go around creating petitions to complain about it and denigrate each and every single [forum member]

No, it's not fine when they become more than just opinions.

I've replaced a few 'blizzard' words with 'forum members' to show that this is also what you are doing, albeit on a reciprocal level. I didn't realize you were elected to the Blizzard forum police or something. You like the game, fuckin A, that's great, most of us do too, and everyone here will buy it on release i bet - but other people have a right to the freedom of speech within the boundaries of the forum rules, no?