Diablo III is an installment in the Diablo series, officially announced on June 2008 and released on May 2012. It is a fantasy and horror hack-and-slash action role playing game (ARPG) that maintains the isometric perspective from the first two games. For today’s article, we’ll be giving you an overview of the champions, gameplay, as well as the types of D3 items in the game.

Champions, Gameplay, and Diablo 3 Items: Intro

Diablo III takes place in Sanctuary, the dark fantasy world of Diablo, twenty years after the events of Diablo II. Deckard Cain, along with his niece Leah, are in Tristram Cathedral investigating ancient texts regarding an ominous prophecy, when suddenly a mysterious star from the sky strikes the Cathedral and creates a deep crater into which Deckard Cain disappears. You play as the Nephalem who arrives in New Tristram to investigate the Fallen Star.

Champions, Gameplay, and Diablo 3 Items: Become the Nephalem

• The Barbarian is the warrior archetype and a brute-force fighter, with some new abilities as well. The Champion’s mechanics are quite similar to those in the last game, with most of the moves being very close ranged. Barbarians use Fury to power their attacks.
• The Witch Doctor summons undead monsters that acts according to their will, along with possessing various spells. They can be considered to be a mix of the Necromancer and Druid classes from Diablo II. They use Mana to power their abilities.
• The Wizard is the glass cannon archetype, similar to the Sorceress. The Wizard’s abilities are focused on massive damage output and evasion. They use Arcane Power as their energy source.
• The Monk is a class with fast melee attacks, relying on fist-based weapons and daibos like the Assassin and Monk classes of previous games, along with Light-based abilities and mantras, similar to auras of Diablo II’s Paladin class. Monks use Spirit as their energy source.
• The Demon Hunter is a ranged class focused on the use of crossbows and traps, like that of the Assassin. Demon Hunters use Hatred and Discipline for their abilities.

Champions, Gameplay, and Diablo 3 Items: Gameplay Mechanics

The game applies the Havok physics engine, enabling players to utilize the environment to help in their quest. The UI is generally the same as its predecessor, save for the graphical upgrades, and will be very familiar to Diablo II players. However, there are some differences; the health and mana globes have moved more toward the center, rather than being all the way in the corners. The stamina bar has also disappeared. The experience bar is now at the bottom of the screen spanning the distance from the health globe to the mana globe. Potions have lesser importance because of Health Globes. Slain monsters have a chance to drop a health globe, which when picked up, will replenish the character’s health as well as the follower’s like how Healing Potions work. When playing co-operatively, nearby allies will also be replenished. In co-operative play, loot is dropped for individual players. So, one player cannot see what the other gets. This was done to encourage trading between players in a group and reducing thievery. Above the experience bar, where the stamina bar, experience bar, and potion belt used to be, are where the skill and scroll slots are. There is now a mini map displayed on the top of the right hand side of the screen. This replaces the translucent map overlay that was present in Diablo II.

Champions, Gameplay, and Diablo 3 Items: Item Types

Many D3 items make a return in the form of magic, rare, and unique types. The color system changed, though normal and magic items are still white and turquoise. There are purple-colored items as well. Diablo 3 Legendary items are generally sought after by most players, as they are considered top quality items. The items also have a visual background color in the inventory depending on their type. Items with magical attributes will also give a visual effect when equipped by the character.