The Mog Blog

A good handful of press sites out there have already gone through the details as to what to expect from Diablo 3 and the impending beta coming up soon. So, lets just recap it all!

- The game will require an online connection much like an online game

The reasoning behind this is to stop the separation between online and offline characters of the previous game, stop cheating and to pretty much allow Blizzard to better control Battle.net and what they can offer to the player.

- Items that are dropped on your screen will be exclusive to you.

Each player online will have their own instance of items that drop. If a sword drops for you, only you can see it and only you can grab it unless you grab it and drop it on the floor. This is much like Phantasy Star Portable for those that have played it.

- There is an auction house and you can sell items on the auction house for real money.

In hopes to fix the player economy and to reduce scams from real-money trade, Blizzard is allowing players to put items up on an auction house and will allow players to buy or sell using real money. Imagine replacing your day job with this? Players can even choose to sell their characters on the Auction House!

- There are five playable classes with the ability to choose male or female.

Along with the return of the Barbarian, there’s the Monk, the Wizard, the Demon Hunter, and the Witch Doctor. Each of them will have their own type of resources, with the Witch Doctor being the only one using mana.

- Talent Trees and Skill Points are Gone

In their place are runestones which allows the player to be able to switch around specific properties of their characters and their skills to fit their playstyle. Runestones will allow players to make builds that will completely change their character’s style and let them do things that will allow more flexibility that a talent tree wouldn’t be able to provide.

- At max level, you will have access to 6 active skills and 3 passive.

Done away are the two skill limitation that the previous Diablo game had. Now instead of having to constantly switch between skills on the fly, you will now have the ability to have 6 active skills at the touch of your mouse and keyboard ready at the get go and 3 passive skills that won’t eat up any of your active skill slots. Talk about being more modernized!

- The need to return to town for inventory cleaning no more!

Players of previous Diablo games had to deal with the fact that their inventory is finite and small. Many Town Portal Scrolls were used, many visits to the NPC was required. Not any more. Carried with you at all times will be the Cauldron of Jordon, which will convert any item into gold. You will also be able to reduce items down to raw material for crafting as well.

- Battle.net integration will smooth out your online experience.

Being that Starcraft II and World of Warcraft are using Battle.Net, you will be able to keep in touch with friends from any of those games and start up a Diablo 3 game by sending out invites. You can also goad your friends into playing Diablo 3, screwing up their Starcraft game or Arena battle.

- What will the beta hold?

Most of these features won’t be in the beta. However, you get a chance to play through a part of Act I again and again… and again and again. Yippie!