DiabloFans

Well there are a few skills for the DH that say 'fire bullets' and the like (ie Evasive Fire). The datamined items also make no mention of guns, so I think/hope its only referring to certain skills.

Yea, I don't think people will only use their class specific weapon unless your a WD or Wiz. For example, not all Barbs are going to want a 2-hander, and not all DHs are going to want fast firing pistol xbows. Even with the WD and Wiz, I'm sure anyone would switch out their class specific off hand for a shield if it had stats they wanted. It really just allows players to have more possibilities, but I don't think they're going to be the absolute best for the class, although they certainly have the potential to be excellent for certain builds.

Alongside the update that added a skill calculator to the official Diablo III site, Blizzard also added in depth character pages to give you a better idea of how each class works. Although they obviously share some features with the class pages on the old site, there are some nice new features that show off the main differences between each class. Be sure to check out each page through the links below.

The first noticeable difference between these new pages and the ones on the old site has to be the Key Features bar on the side of each class page. It essentially compresses the reasons to play each class into a few short paragraphs, which also gives a very good idea of the playstyle of each class. For example, the Barbarian's page brings attention to the shouts that they can utilize to buff themselves and their allies, while the Witch Doctor page gives a short description of how pets add to the flavor of the class. Right beneath the Key Features is an in depth look at the resource used by each character, which brings attention to both the lore and functions of Fury, Hatred/Discipline, Spirit, Mana, and Arcane Power.

Each class page also provides the character's background. In a brief overview of the lore behind the classes, a short paragraph tells the motivations and objectives of each class to explain why they risk their lives fighting the Burning Hells, from the Wizard's quest for fame to the Monk's desire to embody the will of their one thousand and one gods. For anyone who read the old character pages, there might not be anything new, but the background section could provide a welcome refresher nonetheless.

Shortly after the backgrounds, there are two extremely interesting sections. The first is the Unique Equipment section, which goes over the items that can be used by that class and no other. The Monk has the ability to use not only fist weapons, but also daibos that can be used to attack and deflect incoming projectiles. The Demon Hunter page describes the ability to use and dual wield small, fast firing pistol crossbows. The Barbarians are able to use their immense strength to wield massive weapons, enormously big two handed weapons that can be used to pulverize enemies. Barbarians also are able to use nearly every weapon available in the game. The Wizard uses orbs to augment their powers and wands to project their abilities through enchanted lengths of wood. Finally, the Witch Doctor can use ceremonial daggers that are normally used in human sacrifices and mojos, which are off-hand items that seem functionally similar to the Wizard's orbs.

After going over the weapons each class can use, the character pages also give us a glimpse at what armor progression will look like through 3D models at the bottom of each page. While we have seen progression concept art before, seeing the armor sets in 3D more accurately depicts how the look of your character will change as you progress from act to act and difficulty to difficulty.

Each character page also has a link directly to their skill calculator located at the top, sitting right next to tabs for active and passive skills. While the skill calculator might be all you need for exploring the skills for each class, these tabs do provide an excellent side by side look at each skill and rune effect without limiting you to looking at six active and three passive skills at a time. In these tabs, you are also allowed to search for a skill by name, and can click on filters to only view one type of skill at a time, such as discipline skills for the Demon Hunter or signature skills for the Wizard.

Although I'm sure reading that description was enjoyable, I can assure you that these new character pages are an extremely fun read for any Diablo fan. So as I said before, be sure to check out each page in its full glory through the links at the top of this article.

I would bet (and hope) that its either someone making a typo after seeing 'pistol crossbows' or that its referring to active skills the DH has, like Rapid Fire. Ideally we'll get a blue post on the matter soon.

Also, I feel like, if they are in the game, they would be DH specific, and would therefore be mentioned in the DH's Unique Equipment section.

Stark also just means "sheer, utter, downright or complete" along with "harsh, grim, or desolate." Although I did actually have that same thought. And its A Song of Ice and Fire. Corrections aside, I would love it if it was actually an intentional easter egg, seeing as I love that show.

Interesting idea, but I think by sacrificing all that power to simply regenerate AP you'll probably make yourself extremely easy to kill. Especially seeing as monsters will be much faster compared to the player than they were in D2, so the moment you stop teleporting you'll be screwed. The fact of the matter is you'll have to kill something in order to farm, and if all your gear is AP regeneration (which I'm assuming you'd need to get enough AP within 2 seconds after emptying your globe), you probably won't have the power to do so.

Also, theres no immunities in D3. Obviously the rest of your point about the best place to farm still stands. What I think will happen in that regard is that the most effective way to farm will essentially boil down to boss runs, but it will be in your best interest to kill your way to a boss instead of skipping to one. Both because of the loot the other monsters will drop and because skipping will require builds that can't kill the boss/monsters once you get to the part you want to farm.

Oh, and a complete nerf to this would be as simple as adding something along the lines of 'This effect can only occur up to X times before the cooldown starts' After the Alabaster rune's effect, which is very well how it could work anyways, seeing as that effect seems a bit ridiculous to begin with.

Quote from CrusaderGT

With all the runestone officially showing in the community site, does this mean they scrapped the planned iteration they mentioned in the press event where they were adding affix to it? Hmm.

I actually thought the same thing, but as Fingolfin pointed out they could still have it work as they described while having the same rune effects, so it doesn't really point us in one direction or the other. Hopefully they put up a Runestones page soon or something of that sort to clear up the confusion.

Quote from Verity

The wording of the section on the Hardcore stash also seems to hint that there could be some items available only to Hardcore characters that you can't find on Normal, or possibly the other way around.

Interesting observation. It may not be anything to rely on, but there's always the possibility! Have there been any word about this at all?

Well the actual wording is this:

Hardcore characters are a breed apart. With the challenges and rigors of that play style in mind, it's important to note that Hardcore characters on a Diablo III account will share exclusive access to a shared stash (as well as an auction house and gold pool) that's completely separate from the one used by Normal characters. Players will still be able trade items between their Hardcore characters, but they won't be able to give Normal characters access to anything that's only available on Hardcore Mode, or vice versa.

I don't know what to make of it, but I'm pretty sure that the D3 team hasn't gone in to any detail about it before that.

Today, the Diablo III website got an upgrade in the form of an official skill calculator. No longer will you have to go back and forth between lists of skills and their rune effects to plan your characters! The skill calculator itself looks very similar, if not identical, to the skill UI seen in the beta, and has three groups of skills for each class. To use it, simply head over to the Skill Calculator page found on the Diablo III site, select your class, and the rest is pretty much self explanatory. You should keep in mind that the numbers inserted into skill descriptions are based on level 60 characters with level 7 runes.

The skill calculator also provides a very convenient way to see the description of each skill and its rune effects, along with the icon for each skill. If you're starting from the home page instead of the link above, select the Game tab, look under Tools, and you'll find the link to the skill calculator there. The Game tab also provides an interesting look at future updates to the official page.

Another update on the official site is a new page on Diablo III's shared stash. Although its not anything new, it does provide a nice overview of the stash's functions in the upcoming game. The article about the shared stash also reveals that Hardcore characters will have access to a different stash and Auction House than Normal characters. The wording of the section on the Hardcore stash also seems to hint that there could be some items available only to Hardcore characters that you can't find on Normal, or possibly the other way around.

Other than that, the site was also updated with a What's New in Diablo III page. It provides short paragraphs on Runestones, Followers, Crafting & Artisans, the Auction House, and other major parts of Diablo III that were previously unseen in the series or have been improved upon for the third installment. For the sections that have pages on the site, there are links to click through to. However, for features such as Artisans and Followers, there are no official pages yet, but we'll be sure to let you know when those pages get updated.

Good find. Looks pretty straightforward and easy to use. I just hope you can put as many items as you want at a time.

Quote from blizzard0508

So true Boss... And mostly people aren't unsatisfied; they just want to help improve them. Improving is never bad. But when it gets to arguing, they should just stick with what they got... The thing is with the Voodoo/Juju, the only people that argue against it are Blizz. :/ lol

I would definitely disagree with that. Mana itself is really the 'Voodoo/Juju' most of you are probably thinking of (its originally a South Pacific tribal concept). I especially wouldn't want them to bother calling it anything else if it was just mana with a different color, as I feel like that would simply be trying to cover up that they're using an old concept.

If they actually changed the mechanic, sure, change the name and color. But obviously the reason they've kept the mana mechanic is because it fits the WD's playstyle really well, and if thats the case I have absolutely no problem with staying with 'tired old' mana.

Not to steal Tonikor's thunder, but I figured since we now have a pretty good idea of what the final game's skills are going to be, having a thread to post what you think your Barb build would be nice. There were threads like this as far back as when skills were still divided into trees, and they were pretty popular then, so I see no reason to start a new one.

For the latest skills, check out the Barbarian page. To see the rune effects of a skill, either click on the skill or check out Doomscream's complete list of rune effects.

So without further ado, here's the high-crit, dual wielding Barbarian I've had in mind.

Active Skills:

Furious Charge - Golden Rune: Stamina - Generate Fury for each target hit while charging.
Frenzy - Crimson Rune: Maniac - Each Frenzy effect also increases the damage of the Barbarian.
Wrath of the Berserker - Crimson Rune: Insanity - While active your damage is also increased.
Hammer of the Ancients - Obsidian Rune: The Devil's Anvil - Create a tremor to rattle enemies for additional damage over time. (Would only use this if it takes both of my weapon's damage into account).
Overpower - Crimson Rune: Killing Spree - Whenever used, Overpower increases your critical hit chance for a period of time. (If I have fury problems I'd use the Golden Rune instead, which stays active for longer and gives Fury for each enemy hit).
War Cry - Golden Rune: Charge - Increases Fury generated when used. (If I have Fury issues)
If I don't have Fury issues, I'd instead use Call of the Ancients - Indigo Rune: The Council Rises - The Ancients inflict additional damage and have additional armor.

Passive Skills:

Weapons Master - Axes: Increases Critical Hit chance.
Ruthless - Critical hit chance and damage increased.
Boon of Bul-Kathos - Reduces the cooldown of Earthquake, Wrath of the Berserker, and Call of the Ancients.

Feel free to post any of your Barbarian builds in this thread. Or just make fun of mine, if you'd like.

Barbarian (probably of the dual wielding, high crit chance type), then Monk, WD, then DH/Wiz. I don't know if I'm doing Wiz or DH first, that will probably be decided on the spot.

They've said that Inferno will be all level 61 monsters. They didn't say anything specific about bosses but I'd assume its the same. Obviously certain bosses/monsters/affixes will have mechanics that are harder than others, but the idea seems to be that despite that, everything is around the same difficulty and warrants the same level drops.

I would very much doubt that those are the only things that come out of salvage. I'm sure higher level items salvage for higher level materials.