Cover Story: Gaming's Greatest Mysteries

Feature

The Diablo III Survival Guide

Prepare for Hell with all the changes coming with Diablo III.

By: J. Kartje April 16, 2012

If you love to slay demons with your friends, collect loot, and level up a character to better accomplish the aforementioned tasks and somehow you don't know about Diablo III, you should probably pay attention. The game will be released on May 15 globally, meaning that the countdown has begun. Diablo III will put millions of fans' expectations to the test. We have gathered all of the significant changes and innovations that Diablo III brings to the table to help prepare you for that day.

Classes and Followers

Diablo III will launch with five different playable classes: Monk, Barbarian, Demon Hunter, Wizard, and Witch Doctor. This time around, both male and female options are available. Even though almost all of the classes are either direct ports or mash-ups from Diablo II, the wide variety of skills and customization set them apart from their predecessors. You will have three different followers to choose from depending on your preference and playstyle. Eirena the Enchantress will provide you magical damage and supportive spells. Lyndon the Scoundrel will supply you with attack bonuses while assisting with the killing from a distance. Kormac the Templar will run to the front lines and can offer you healing when you are in danger. Along with customizable equipment, your Follower now boasts a skill tree that you can control.

Skills and Runes

The completely revamped skill system brings the biggest change to the Diablo formula. Diablo III offers a wide variety of skills and different modifiers that you can attach to those skills called Runes that are unique to each class. For example, the Witch Doctor's 'Zombie Charger' skill can be augmented with runes to do bonus poison damage in its wake, resurrect other corpses upon death, summon more than one charger and do less damage, summon a fire dog in place of the zombie, or summon a pile of poison bears instead. Each skill has different runes that are unlocked at different levels; for example, the pile of poison bears requires level 54. Diablo II offered each class three skill trees and points to allocate into those trees. Once you dropped that point in, there was no going back, it was final. Since you can change your skill build and rune combinations whenever you want, Diablo III's skill structure allows for everyone to experience each facet of their selected class without penalty. The runes also add a significant amount of depth since there are countless possibilities and combinations. It is also worth noting that almost all the skills in Diablo III are based off of your weapon damage, so it is very important to keep upgrading that main weapon to do the most damage.

Combat and Difficulty

Combat in Diablo III will feel familiar to most -- point, click, and kill things. You will be able to map your skills, along with your potions, to your bar at the bottom of the screen for easy access. But potions aren't the same as they were in Diablo II. You are not forced to hoard a pile of Full Rejuvenation potions for that tough boss. As you roll through the mobs of demons, Health Orbs will drop from their corpses, which encourages you to keep the action going. The more you kill, the more you can heal up. Historically, Diablo games offered you the option to play the game again upon completion, with some things modified to make it more difficult. After finishing on Normal you can progress to Nightmare Mode, then on to Hell mode. Diablo III offers even another setting beyond that, Inferno Mode. The further you progress, the better the item drops may get. If the difficulty isn't challenging enough for you, Hardcore Mode will return in Diablo III. In this mode, if your character dies, the game is over. Your deeds of valor will be remembered, but you may not continue. Blizzard has recently announced that Hardcore Mode will be unlockable after you take a normal (or Softcore) character to level 10.

Itemization: Crafting, Finding, and Selling

One thing the Diablo series has been good at is getting you hooked on item collecting. Once you kill a swarm of skeletons, a pile of loot sprays out on the ground. You will be constantly upgrading your Hero and Follower. The game implements a personal loot system when multiple players are in the same game. You will each see different item drops on the screen, so there is no need to fight over that shiny set of armor that just dropped. Diablo III also introduces a "Shared Stash" that is upgradeable. If you store an item in your stash on one character, you will be able to find those items in your stash on another character. That being said, you won't be able to transfer between Hardcore and Softcore characters. But random drops isn't the only way to get some great gear. There are two Artisans in the game that can help you craft items and upgrades. The Blacksmith will create weapons and armor with random stat modifiers and the Jeweler will help you upgrade your gems and slot them into weapons/armor for bonuses. Allowing the Blacksmith to break down the magical items that you have no use for will supply you with more materials for crafting. You also can spend gold to level these Artisans up to allow for creation of more powerful gear. Players will also be able to buy, sell, and bid on items in the in-game auction house. This inclusion was met with a level of concern when it was also announced that accompanying the in-game gold auction house, there would be a real money auction house available as well.

Online Play

Diablo III will require an internet connection at all times. While this is disheartening to some internet-challenged gamers, it is to guarantee the integrity of the game and thwart any malicious users (especially with the real money auction house). Each game can have up to four players at a time. You will be able to jump in and out of games with your friends, and easily find other players who are in similar areas of the game. Similarly to previous Diablo games, the enemies will get stronger as more players join, and weaker as they leave. Blizzard has promised the inclusion of PvP arenas in the game, but they have been delayed to insure a timely release for the game. This feature will be added post launch. If you want to be able to hack and slash your way to victory as soon as possible, you can pre-download and install the game and it will be unlocked as soon as the servers go live. It's also worth noting that if you sign up for a year of World of Warcraft, then you can get the game for free.

Helpful Links

IGN's Diablo III Wiki - Be sure to beef this up with your latest character builds and strategies.
The Diablo III 1UP Club - Share your latest adventures with the 1UP Community
Battle.net Game Guide - For a full list of skills, runes, and items. There's a skill calculator also to plan your character.
Pre-Download and Install - To play as soon as the servers go live.

The only question that remains is how are you going to play Diablo III?

Comments (28)

Was it worth the wait? A wicked short review...
Posted: May 26, 2012 12:00AM PST by guymonkey

Yes. The wait was long and overdue, and in the end it is an amazing piece of gaming. At first I was not overly impressed, but when it came down to details I was blown away. I think the game is a little too similar to WoW, but in the end it made me feel even more comfertable with the layout than I thought was possible. This game is lots of fun.

Flag | Reply
- Indeed!
  Posted: Jun 04, 2012 12:00AM PST by Dain Q Gore
  
  The combinations of rune skills that don't unlock until Nightmare make it a deceptively deep game. As I'm concurrently playing D2, the difficulty easing actually made the game more fun and less frustrating in the first playthrough (unlike some D2 moments).
  
  Flag

Decade + of waiting.
Posted: May 06, 2012 12:00AM PST by wiachy

9 days and counting...

Flag | Reply

o chooodooooooooooo.............
Posted: Apr 24, 2012 12:00AM PST by dalas

Money makeing place for all is (http://lazycash23). Huge income from home. It is very easy to make $2000 in a month.

Flag | Reply
- Warning!
  Posted: May 26, 2012 12:00AM PST by guymonkey
  
  2k a month is good money, but lazy cash is all about male prostituion. I agree it is great money, but most guys ask that you swallow for no extra charge! I demand a bonus for anal creampie. Plus most of the guys are wicked old gamers that have strange Zork fetishes and think the Amiga is the pinnacle of graphics. Bottom line (no pun) is you gotta work your ass off for "lazycash".
  
  Flag

Great way to pump you up for this:
Posted: Apr 21, 2012 12:00AM PST by Porkchopsamwich

Go play through Diablo 2 untwinked.
With a few friends and just doing an act every other night or so, you can really scratch that itch of wanting some Diablo. Not to mention, those cut scenes are still awesome and the dialogue and voice acting is top notch. If nothing else go watch the scene following Act 3. It's a doozy.

Flag | Reply

nice write up
Posted: Apr 20, 2012 12:00AM PST by xWhackoJacko

I mean....
a pile of zombie bears. I'm even more sold then I ever was.
Witch Doc is def my class pick. Got the CE and my semester ends the DAY BEFORE the release, meaning I get the midnight launch AND I TOOK OFF WORK FOR 2 WEEKS starting on the 15th.

It's gonna be a gamingasm.
I'm pulling out all the gaming stereotypes for this release. Gonna not regularly shower, drink a lot of mountain dew, grow a really unkept neckbeard, and sleep very little. And because I also have a bunch of friends doing the same exact thing....It's literally going to be the most fun I've had with gaming since Ulduar.

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Flag | Reply
- LOL
  Posted: Apr 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by PaulMC
  
  Neckbeard commence in T-minus 21 days.
  
  Flag

Oh dear Im so jealous of the casual gamers D3 excitement
Posted: Apr 18, 2012 12:00AM PST by Marschiee

Guys I have a problem. I am so jealous of how fricking stoked you all are. I, on the other hand, will not pick up this game because of the exclusion of D2 based PVP which I think is one of the best implementations in a game I have ever seen if you also play in HC mode. Sigh...Blizzard forgot about me and all the other grownups who at their older days need some gamble with their games...

Flag | Reply
- Do you not remember...
  Posted: Apr 19, 2012 12:00AM PST by Galdon2004
  
  Diablo II's PVP was HORRIBLE. Not only were there so many hackers out there you couldn't hardly trust anybody to be fighting fair, back then the general strategies were 'crash the game with a billion skeletons' and 'take cheap shots then run off screen constantly to secretly use potions' then you also had a lot of hackers who could loot your corpse even with corpse looting turned off, just to screw with you.
  
  Having an actual arena where people have to play by the rules, and fight fair isn't ruining the game, its protecting the game from turning into the hacker infested cespit that Diablo II's multiplayer quickly degraded into.
  
  Flag
- Get a load of this guy!
  Posted: Apr 21, 2012 12:00AM PST by Porkchopsamwich
  
  Boy it sure is nice to be a casual gamer, or else I'd be upset that there's no PvP with the Diablo 3 release!
  That sentence was retarded, but paraphrases the words that this guy/gal are putting into peoples' mouths.
  Other than buying the best gear anyone has ever seen off of the JSP trading forum, how do you think a solid PvP player would get their gear? You have to PLAY THE GAME to acquire items. Once someone has some gear they should be able to either find better gear or trade for what they want. This is if one was purely focused on decking out a PvP character, which you should know will require expensive and specialized gear.
  Anyone who has their eyes set on enjoying their first playthrough then chasing after their Inferno-ready character has the right idea for what Diablo is all about.
  PvP will be a nice way to put your characters to the test, but there is no point in dueling if you don't even have good equipment.
  
  Flag
- So anyone
  Posted: Apr 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by PaulMC
  
  Who is excited for D3 is just a "casual gamer"? I like how you use that as an insult. I'm sorry that since our tastes differ, we are inferior to your refined gaming tastes. Pshhh. Whatevs.
  
  Flag

The Time Is Near!
Posted: Apr 17, 2012 12:00AM PST by BlueDrgn_XZA

Got myself a Collector's Edition, can't wait for release date! This is a great starters guide to an awesome game to follow... Demon Hunter will be my class of choice.

Flag | Reply

Buy torchlight 2
Posted: Apr 16, 2012 12:00AM PST by NinjaKaos

buy torchlight 2 and wait for a good hacked copy of diablo 3.
1. online only
2.A game balanced constantly around the fact that you can mke real money from virtual items, so expect constant nerfs and buffs.
3. Paid farmers from china cosntantly stealing accounts.
4. No mods ( as in never, unlike d2)

Flag | Reply
- I'll be getting both!
  Posted: Apr 17, 2012 12:00AM PST by Vanyght
  
  It seems like the gameplay will be a bit different between the two. Torchlight 2 will feed my Diablo 2 itch while Diablo 3 will be somewhat of a new experience. I really hope Torchlight 2 gets released soon though. I've been anticipating it ever since I beat the first one.
  
  Flag
- Excited for
  Posted: Apr 17, 2012 12:00AM PST by jsauce
  
  Torchlight 2, but ... constant nerfs and buffs is good!? right? I love a game that is constantly supported/updated. The d2 patch came out years after original launch and added skill synergies. Blizz has a good track record for keeping their games relevant. Torchlight and Diablo aren't mutually exclusive.
  
  Flag

buy torchlight 2
Posted: Apr 16, 2012 12:00AM PST by NinjaKaos

buy torchlight 2 and wait for a good hacked copy of diablo 3.
1. online only
2.A game balanced constantly around the fact that youc an mke real money from virtual items, so expect constant nerfs and buffs.
3. Paid farmers from china cosntantly stealing accounts.
4. No mods

Flag | Reply
- Tard Bucket
  Posted: May 14, 2012 12:00AM PST by PvtShifty
  
  Stop being a retard. Torchlight 2 isn't that great.
  
  Flag

I Am Excited
Posted: Apr 16, 2012 12:00AM PST by Alf_Alfa

as well. I bought the collectors edition and can not wait to revisit the dark realm.

Flag | Reply

D3 Concern
Posted: Apr 16, 2012 12:00AM PST by Bigbudd45

Been waiting for this game for a decade, my only concern is that by being able to respec at any time i can see myself only making 5 characters.

Flag | Reply
- I agree
  Posted: Apr 16, 2012 12:00AM PST by jsauce
  
  I made countless characters in D2. That being said, it's kind of cool that I'll be able to only have the 5 characters and work on getting those perfect. I'll probably be playing lots of hardcore though, so.... I'll probably die lots.
  
  Flag
- Big concern for the distant future
  Posted: Apr 21, 2012 12:00AM PST by Porkchopsamwich
  
  People will be able to stash their X build gear for that barbarian and have their Y build gear equipped and swap out whenever they want that different character.
  What's the keep someone from just having 2 seperate level 60 barbarians for build X and Y? nothing, but the only point in it is probably for nostalgia and boredom and maybe convenience after that whole leveling up process.
  
  Flag

aw yeah!
Posted: Apr 16, 2012 12:00AM PST by soulsaver

Can't wait! I kinda wish PvP was there too, but oh well, hopefully it comes soon. It will give me time to get used to the game.

Flag | Reply

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Posted: Apr 16, 2012 12:00AM PST by PaulMC

That is all.

Flag | Reply

Typo
Posted: Apr 16, 2012 12:00AM PST by Bangers_McMullen

Yeah, I wish it was released on April 15th.

Flag | Reply

wrong date..
Posted: Apr 16, 2012 12:00AM PST by Vincent_Murdock1

The release is May 15th, not April. You totally made my heart skip a beat, thinking I'd missed a whole day of Diablo.

Flag | Reply
- You're right
  Posted: Apr 16, 2012 12:00AM PST by jsauce
  
  I am way too excited I can't even write about the game logically. Thanks for calling that out :)
  
  Flag
- ...
  Posted: Apr 17, 2012 12:00AM PST by Vincent_Murdock1
  
  No Problem! It was a good read, and now I'm having an even harder time waiting for the release date!
  
  Flag