Diablo III Options

[Crushinator]

I was suprised we don't have a thread for this yet, but I guess since blizzard is so stingy with the news its not unexpected.

Anyways, straight outta GamesCom we have details on the crafting system!



Looks fast, slick, and unobtrusive. I love how you can break down the "big loot" into crafting shit so you don't have to TP to town constantly to sell big things like armor.

Update with some details on the caravan:

Diablo III Caravan FAQ
Q: What is the caravan?
A: The caravan is a persistent group that follows the heroes across Sanctuary, providing a centralized hub for players to find quest givers, crafters, and other important NPCs. As your character moves through the world so too will your loyal band, setting up in specific locations to remain close by should you need them.

Q: Who are the artisans?
A: In order to access the professions in Diablo III, you’ll need to gain the loyalty of various artisans through your travels in Sanctuary. The blacksmith, mystic, and jeweler will each provide unique services over the course of the game.

Q: What do the artisans offer?
A: Skilling up your artisans will unlock unique recipes, granting your character access to benefits that may not be found anywhere else in the world. The blacksmith crafts weapons and armor, and can add sockets to some items. The mystic creates scrolls, potions, magical weapons, spell runes, and charms, and can also enchant items. The jeweler crafts gems , amulets, and rings. The jeweler can also remove gems from socketed items and can combine gems to improve their quality.

Q: How do I find the artisans?
A: Finding the artisans will be part of the main quest. Each artisan has been fleshed out to include their own story and quest line.

Q: How do I use the artisans?
A: You’ll collect loot as a reward for slaughtering the forces of the Burning Hells. Unwanted items can be salvaged in your inventory, converting these goods into raw crafting materials—higher-level items are salvaged into higher-level materials. You’ll then take those raw materials and hand them over to the artisans, putting them to work crafting or enchanting for you. Upon returning to the caravan after a lengthy foray, you may also find that the artisans have been hard at work plying their trade for your benefit.

Q: How do I salvage my items?
A: Players will find an item while progressing through the main quest that will allow them to convert unwanted gear into crafting materials from the inventory. This item will not take up any inventory space. This should be a more satisfying option for offloading unwanted loot than the alternative—dropping things on the ground or making frequent trips to a vendor.

Q: Why are you including crafting professions in an action game?
A: Professions add depth to the item collection gameplay that drives the action of Diablo III. We want to provide players with an alternative way to acquire gear, potions, and other randomly found items. We also want to provide additional forms of customization for players—adding jewels, enchants, or sockets to existing gear allows players to further tailor their characters. Many rare crafting recipes and materials are only found as world drops, enhancing the item acquisition process by increasing the diversity of items dropped by monsters.

[Scan_Man]

Its that polished UI I have come to expect from Blizzard. Can't wait.

[Crushinator]

Final class revealed, DEMON HUNTER!

http://us.blizzard.com/diablo3/characters/demonhunter.xml

A ranged class like most of us had predicted, looks incredibly badass and fun.






Trailer:

http://us.blizzard.com/diablo3/media/movies/demonhunter.xml

[Crushinator]

http://www.giantbomb.com/news/diablo-iii-b...d-updated/3155/



BETA TIME IN Q3?! 2011 RELEASE?!

I JUST CAME!

[Knightsword]

Watch they pull a star craft and only release a 3rd of the game

[Crushinator]

If that leaked Blizzard doc is true they already have 2 Diablo 3 expansions coming anyways.

And I think we can all agree at this point that SC2 is nowhere near "1/3rd" of a game.

[Crushinator]

Updated details on the Runstone system for modifying your skills. Features an old barbarian favorite... whirlwind!

http://us.blizzard.com/diablo3/world/systems/runestones.xml

[Crushinator]

http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2011/06/22/...iplayer+Blog%29

OH SHIT

After 3 years, "Diablo 3" fans have likely learned that expecting a release date anytime soon is purely self-torture and that the game will be finished "when it's done." After all, this is Blizzard we're talking about. Those same fans do have something to look forward to, though: the "Diablo 3" external beta, which we first reported on back in May. At that time, the beta was targeting the third quarter of 2011, which officially starts in just over a week. So will the world will get its first taste of "Diablo 3" in July? Absolutely, 100% not.


How do I know this? It's simple, really. Seems that Blizzard is holding a July press event dedicated to the "Diablo 3" beta at their campus in California. Information and assets from that event are embargoed until August 1, which means the beta won't be out before then...unless Blizzard really wants to screw over those in attendance of the event, which seems unlikely.

It does, however, bode well for the progress of the beta, which will likely launch in a relatively short span of time after the August 1 date. Granted, that's a big assumption to make, given that this is Blizzard, but we're an optimistic bunch and there's no point in promoting a beta that's still months away. (Then again, there's no point in promoting a game that's three years away, but hey, what do I know?)

Since the event is dedicated solely to the "Diablo 3" beta, we expect to learn some of the more pertinent details about its release, including the release date, contents and how folks will be able to register to participate. If I were to guess, I'd say it'll at least include some PvP elements, as a wide-scale beta is the best way to put class balancing through the ringer.

So, "Diablo 3" fans: Mark your calendars for August 1. Should be a doozie of a day.

[Scan_Man]

http://www.mmo-champion.com/content/2397-D...Real-Life-Money!


You will be able to sell items for real life money on the auction house. This takes micro transactions to the next level. I think it is genius on Blizzard's part. What a great way to keep people playing Diablo 3. And then when their next MMO comes out you can use your battle.net funds to pay for the subscription (very advantageous if one also plays WoW, not to mention premium mods for Star Craft 2 that is in the works too).

[Knightsword]

Blizzard is also requiring an alway on internet connection to prevent cheating and the like

The other substantial, but perhaps not unexpected, game changer is the requirement that all Diablo III players be online to play Blizzard's next game, even if they plan on slaying demons solo. Blizzard says it's implementing the internet connection requirement to combat cheating and improve the overall multiplayer experience—plus keep its new, player-run economy stable. That may prove a controversial stipulation, not being able to play a game of Diablo without an internet connection, but it's the new Auction House, the eBay-like market that enables players to exchange virtual goods for in-game gold or real money that is perhaps Blizzard's most surprising change.

http://kotaku.com/5825580/blizzard-will-le...-for-real-money

[HC82]

This is what I am thinking...

I buy a Robe of Epic Purple Awesomeness for $5 or 1000 Gold.

I say "fuck it, I spend more on drinks, lemme buy the damn thing with cash"

Blizzard takes a 50 cent fee from the player as their "broker fee" in REAL LIFE currency, not some bullshit MMO gold like on most online auction houses.

Blizzard profits x 9000 billion micro transactions. Diablo is now free to play 4 lyfe. LOLOLZ, MAD CA$H!1!

Blizzard creates a real supply and demand economy, and "if" they wanted to they can increase their profit by manipulating the money supply (ie. drop rates and gold supply).
Blizzard's been learning a thing or two from EA. If I were a game developer, I think it's great for the developer because it allows free to play models to work. As a gamer, game currency to real cash always bothered me. Maybe because developers could totally exploit it to the max.

I honestly think it will work out well for Blizzard from a profitability stand point.

[Scan_Man]

"The beta test approaches! We’ve just updated our System Check program and would like everyone to update their Battle.net Beta Profile information by running the new one. You should do this regardless of whether there have been hardware changes made to your system. "

http://forums.battle.net/thread.html?topic...04&sid=3000

Oh snap!

[Crushinator]

Yeah, this RM AH thing basically turns every Diablo player into a slave labor for Blizzard. Even if you're the type who balks at the idea of buying a virtual item for your character, who can resist the idea of selling a rare that you got that you won't use for real life money? Blizz skims a few cents off each transaction as someone inevitably buys your Erect Hammer of Boning +3 and continues to rake in the dough.

[Knightsword]

I got invited to the beta yesterday and spent enough time with it to play through the entire area that they had available. It looks and feels very much like what it's suppose to be, Diablo. The graphics are nice the music is right, it uses the classic sound effects and what not. I played the monk, and yes it is very much assassin 2.0. The monk can dual wield any one handed weapon, including spears. There isn't any auto attacking, left click for spirit building attack and right click for special attack, there is also a hot bar where you can place abilities or on use items such as potions (which finally stack). As you play through you get access to one of the companions, the black smith, access to I think level 30 and the skills up to that level, save Deckard Cain yet again and visit Tristam and the Cathedral, and others. There were no cinimatics and some story elements were not included.

[Scan_Man]

I did the free copy thing since I play WoW and don't plan to stop playing in the next year. So awesome of Blizzard to offer such a deal. Still kinda looking more forward to Torchlight II than this though.

Seems they can't get the skills system right, I think is the reason it is taking them so long to release it. It's been changed a ton of times this year and even recently.