0
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* *
* Welcome to the Unofficial *
* Diablo FAQ! *
* *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
....,-*'^'*-,..TABLE-OF-CONTENTS..,-*'^'*-,....
i. Introduction
ii. * New in this version
I. What is Diablo?
A. What type of game is Diablo?
B. What is so new about Diablo compared to other games? Why all
the hype?
C. Who is creating Diablo?
II. What is the story behind Diablo?
+ A. What is to be included in the storyline?
B. What character classes are available?
III. What does Diablo look like?
A. How is the interface designed?
B. What do the heroes look like?
C. What do the monsters look like?
IV. How is game play designed?
A. How is the battle system set up?
1. Hand Combat
2. Magic System
+ B. How is the computer AI designed?
+ C. How is the rest of play designed?
V. What is the setting like?
A. What is the appearance of the levels?
B. Is level layout always the same?
+ C. Do you just fight monsters, or are there subplots?
* D. Are there music and sound effects to add to the atmosphere?
VI. How is the multiplayer aspect of Diablo implemented?
A. What types of multiplayer games are available?
B. What is "battle.net"?
C. Is Warcraft's 'cloning' technology included in Diablo?
D. How does play change during multiplayer games?
VII. + What kind of hardware does Diablo require?
VIII. + When is Diablo expected to be released?
IX. + How can I find out more about Diablo?
X. + Credits / How to contact the author / Mailing list information /
Updated FAQ copy info
* = New in this version
+ = Updated since last version (1.0,1.02)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
* Introduction *
Welcome to version 1.0 of the Unofficial Diablo FAQ! Within this document I
will attempt to provide the most complete, updated, and correct information
about the game Diablo as is possible. Please keep in mind that this FAQ is
in
no way endorsed or supported by Blizzard Entertainment. Questions,
comments,
corrections, complaints or anything else are gladly accepted at the address
lchark@ma.ultranet.com, or visit the BEST Diablo web site around at
http://www.tiac.net/users/jscanlon/diablo (PLUG!). I've talked enough, now
to
the game...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
* New in this version *
Besides small updates and corrections, there are two new changes.
The first is a response to the problem viewing the FAQ in browsers such as
Netscape that do not have word-wrap. This is now (hopefully) fixed
completely. The second update involves the width of the FAQ. At resolutions
below full-screen 800x600, the text would become split-up and choppy. Now
all
resolutions should work just fine. I apologize for any inconvenience this
may have caused to the readers.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
* What is Diablo? *
"Diablo invites you to enter a world of dark gothic fantasy. Choose
your persona, and enter the labyrinth beneath the decaying town. As
you venture deeper into the catacombs, you'll discover weapons,
armor, and magical treasures, and develop your character's skills and
abilities. You might also want to bring a friend or two to help...
Built in support for battle.net, as well as modem, serial, and
network play, insures that you'll never have to go in alone."
Q. What type of game is Diablo?
A. Diablo is modeled to be an RPG (Role-Playing Game), focusing
heavily on real-time action, much in the manner Ultima 8 was created to be
but wasn't. The atmosphere is reminiscent of the Dungeons and Dragons RPG,
providing a large dose of dungeon-romping spiced up with magic, traps, and,
of course, plenty of monsters. NPC (Non-Player Character) interaction is
also
planned, along with multiplayer support, in case the action elements become
tiresome. Overall, Diablo is designed to breathe life into the faltering
computer RPG market as a fresh and innovative game.
Q. What is so new about Diablo compared to other games? Why all the
hype?
A. There are many reasons why Diablo is one of the most, if not THE
most anticipated games of the year. Foremost, the graphics and animation
are
stunning, providing a sense of realism never found before in an RPG, but
more
on that later. The programming is top-notch, including everything from
spooky
sound effects to detailed light-sourcing, yet still delivering exceptional
content beyond the eye-candy. RPG lovers and non-lovers alike will feel at
home with the game's sophisticated interface and impressive storyline,
which
will most certainly draw you into the world of the demon Diablo. And
finally,
the game includes a feature unheard of in a quality single-player RPG: full
multiplayer capability. Whether you prefer null-modem or free internet
play (see section VI for details), Diablo has got it. For these strengths
Diablo is heralded as the game which will bring mass-appeal to the CRPG
market.
Q. Who is creating Diablo?
A. Diablo is the brain-child of Blizzard North, a subdivision of
Blizzard Entertainment and a division of Davidson & Associates, Inc. Best
known for their legendary productions Warcraft and Warcraft II, Blizzard is
devoted to creating only the finest-quality and full-featured games. See
http://www.blizzard.com for more information.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
* What is the story behind Diablo? *
Q. What is to be included in the storyline?
A. Blizzard is far from finalizing the prologue to Diablo at this
time, but certain aspects of the plot are known. As Blizzard puts it, "A
town
vanishes... Creatures roam the countryside... The smell of death hangs
heavy
in the air... You've been hearing the tales for weeks now. The catacombs
beneath the town are said to house long dead warriors from a forgotten age.
Some say that they have awakened. Others say that the maze leads to the
gates
of Hell itself. Whatever the source of the evil, you have sworn to destroy
it." On some unholy day, our character awakens to find its home and its
people destroyed, the work of an evil demon called Diablo. The hellspawn's
terror does not cease here, however, as legions of his dark minions are
released upon the world. In a fit of vengeance, our hero decides that the
only way to save himself and his world is to delve into the heart of
Diablo's
realm, and strike him down in his own lair. Who knows what else may pop up
along the way?
Q. What character classes are available?
A. Your hero, although confined to being human, can choose from any
of three character classes: the Sorcerer, master of magic, the Warrior,
lord
of combat, or the Rogue, a sort of mixture of the others, yet still
possessing her own unique qualities. It is not yet known if the sex of the
hero will be an option, and as of this writing, the Sorcerer and Warrior
are
male, the Rogue female. Each class of character will have certain strengths
and faults, yet each will be almost equally appealing, much in the manner
of
the Orcs vs. Humans of Warcraft. The Warrior's proficiency, obviously, will
be in hand combat, but the warrior is not restricted to this as his sole
method of battle. All spells and magic objects will be open to his use, but
he will not wield this power with the skill of the Sorcerer. Likewise, the
Sorcerer will be highly trained in the use of magic, but again will not be
restricted to only sorcery. Any weapon used by the Warrior can be bestowed
upon the Sorcerer, with the appropriate penalty for non-class use. The
Rogue,
who was created as an Archer in the early design stages, has been revamped
to
give her a more unique flavor when compared to the Warrior and Sorcerer.
She
can use all magic and all weapons, again with penalties, but she will most
likely be slightly better than the Warrior at magic, and slightly better at
battle than the wizard. She will also have a set of interesting talents at
her disposal, for example a keener eye great for detecting secrets and
traps,
and enlightened senses providing her with an extended range of sight. These
three classes should create good sense of excitement and add to the replay
value of an already deep adventure.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
* What does Diablo look like? *
Q. How is the interface designed?
A. As is the trend in adventure games these days, Diablo uses a
three-quarters isometric view. This type of view has been used recently in
games such as Druid, Relentless, and Ultima. The graphics are all 640x480
Super-VGA and 3-D rendered, heroes, monsters, and walls alike, and the view
appears much like a medieval Crusader: No Remorse. The World View of your
surroundings takes up a little over 2/3 of the screen, from the top down.
Here you see your hero in the center, and you can zoom in or out to enlarge
or shrink your surroundings. The bottom portion is the Status and Options
area, where you have buttons to access your inventory (which then
temporarily
unfolds over half of your World View), spell book, disk options, and the
like. Also included here is a status line, which updates things such as
spells cast or objects acquired, and two globes, one red, one blue. These
two
globes represent your health and mana, respectively (see section IV. C:
"How
is the rest of play designed?" for more). All interaction is done through
the
use of the mouse, including battle.
Q. What do the heroes look like?
A. The three heroes, as mentioned before, are SVGA and fully animated
with several thousand frames of animation each. The currently selected
weapon
is placed in the hero's hand, but other objects such as armor or helms are
not viewable upon the character's body.
Q. What do the monsters look like?
A. The monsters are also SVGA and fully animated, like the heroes,
and each have their own distinctive sound effects. The undead stagger
slowly,
the skeletons die in a shower of bones, and the snakes slither with uncanny
realism. Unlike Crusader: No Remorse, which suffered from too little
variation in the enemy pool, Diablo has a large and diverse number, a
virtual
cornucopia of monsters. From acid beasts to withering zombies, Diablo has
it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
* How is game play designed? *
Q. How is the battle system set up?
A. To keep the action element alive in Diablo, the designers have
chosen to include real-time combat as opposed to the traditional turn-based
RPG format. Again, learning from the faults in previous games employing
real-time combat, Blizzard has placed the emphasis on skill and strategy,
rather than forcing players into a mouse-clicking contest.
As far as hand combat is concerned, the choice of weapon vs. the
specific monster will play a large role in the hero's success or failure.
Each tool of destruction has its own swinging speed, so the players must
decide if they prefer a quick dagger or a sluggish halberd. Every
left-click
of the mouse begins a swing, so the player must be certain that their
weapon
makes contact before beginning another strike.
The magic system is different, but not overly so. Right-clicking will
cast the currently selected spell, and draw from your mana reserve. A spell
catalog, accessible from the bottom portion of the screen, keeps track of
the
different magics the hero can use. Spells can be acquired through the
discovery of rings, wands, or scrolls, or by finding the occasional spell
book. Although the characters start out with only a couple of spells at
their
disposal, locations such as the Mages' Guild assist in the heroes' quest
for
knowledge and power.
Q. How is the computer AI designed?
A. Although the AI is still in a transition phase, it is evident from
the alpha version that the computer will be no joke. The monsters not only
think of themselves as an individual, but as a group, as they often attack
from all sides or come one after another in a seemingly endless assault.
Smaller creatures find safety in numbers, and skeletons attack with a
non-stop mindless rage. Evasive maneuvers are not uncommon to the
creatures,
nor is it unusual to see the AI taking advantage of the heroes' weaknesses.
Players who are about to cast a spell or make an attack will often find
themselves stumbling backwards after a monster strikes, unable to follow
through with their attempt. Though it still needs work at this stage, the
computer AI will most likely turn out to be quite a formidable opponent.
Q. How is the rest of play designed?
A. Bits and pieces of other play design factors are known. For
instance, a good portion of treasure, weapons, and armor are found on the
bodies of the deceased. After successive use, the weapons or armor may
become
worn, and require a blacksmith to restore their strength. If the heroes
choose, they may return to the surface for further discussion, to purchase
equipment, or for discussion with the few remaining NPCs of the village.
Wounds can be healed through the use of magic or physical means, but unlike
an earlier report, cannot be healed through simply waiting. This revised
feature insures that there will be nothing but non-stop action in Diablo.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
* What is the setting like? *
Q. What is the appearance of the levels?
A. Following suit with traditional RPGs, Diablo is set in a medieval
land. Most of the areas to be explored are dungeons, with brick walls,
stone
floors, high pillars, looming arches, and spiraling stairwells. Torches
line
the walls, blood is scattered over the cold stone floor, and darkness
lingers
everywhere beyond the hero's torch. Shadows are also implemented nicely,
adding to the already impressive hi-res realism. Another nice touch
involves
the use of translucent walls in the foreground which would otherwise block
creatures or items behind them. Seasoned RPG gamers recall games such as
Crusader: No Remorse or Ultima where all too often a chest or body would
sneak under one of these walls, unable to be seen or manipulated with the
set
3/4 perspective. After an all-too-long wait, this problem is corrected with
Diablo's enhanced engine.
Q. Is level layout always the same?
A. No. This is another area where Diablo will most likely shine. In
an attempt to enhance replay value and add to the excitement of multiplayer
games, Blizzard has added a dungeon randomizer. The entire level layout,
including all items and creatures, is different every new game. And if the
player finds a level which they would like to return to in a new session,
the
seed number of the level can be saved and recalled. Whether you love single
or multiplayer games, you can be assured that you'll never know where the
next turn may lead or what may lie within the coffin before you.
Q. Do you just fight monsters, or are there subplots?
A. In the rare case that the hunt for the demon Diablo may grow
tiresome, Blizzard has included a variety of mini-quests for the player to
embark upon. A player may stumble upon one of these new paths, or they may
be
directed by an NPC. Once again, a randomizing engine is used, and each new
game Diablo chooses from a database of 30 quests to use. Anywhere from six
to
eight of these subplots are used in any one game. And once (if) you have
completed the game, you can return quite a few times, resting assured that
the plot of the game will not be the same as before.
Q. Are there music and sound effects to add to the atmosphere?
A. Most definitely yes. The music is clear and crisp, adding to the
gaming experience without becoming a nuisance. There are a variety of music
tracks, all redbook audio, and all intuitively designed. With each new area
or setting, the music automatically adjusts itself to support the ambiance.
As for the sound effects, these will be equally well-done, with examples
such
as blood-curdling screams and crackling fires. The main character and NPCs
will have voice-overs to their conversations, making full use of the
capabilities of CD-ROM media.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
* How is the multiplayer aspect of Diablo implemented? *
Q. What types of multiplayer games are available?
A. The multiplayer aspect of Diablo encompasses every form of gaming
available, short of hot-seat competition. For those of you with null-modem
cables, a serial game is possible, as is a modem game over telephone lines.
With an IPX-compatible network, larger multiplayer sessions are possible,
but
at this time only up to four players are supported in any one game. While
the
fact that Diablo is IPX-compatible suggests that the game will be
Kali-compatible, Blizzard has eliminated the need for Kali with its
innovative "battle.net". Read on for details.
Q. What is "battle.net"?
A. As an extra service to its players, Blizzard has developed a
Kali-like internet server designed specifically for Diablo. Entitled
"battle.net", all a player must do is load up Diablo and select Internet
from
the main menu to be linked to a battle.net server. From that point, players
may chat in a variety of channels, challenge other opponents, or engage in
multiplayer games. Blizzard charges no fees for this service, no startup,
hourly or monthly costs, so gamers can battle to their hearts' content.
Unfortunately, the four-player game limit is still in effect. The only
requirement is a Internet connection. Be aware that any hourly or monthly
charges from your local Internet Service Provider still apply. Battle.net
will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Allen Adham, president and
founder of Blizzard Entertainment, spoke recently to the press concerning
* *
* Welcome to the Unofficial *
* Diablo FAQ! *
* *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
....,-*'^'*-,..TABLE-OF-CONTENTS..,-*'^'*-,....
i. Introduction
ii. * New in this version
I. What is Diablo?
A. What type of game is Diablo?
B. What is so new about Diablo compared to other games? Why all
the hype?
C. Who is creating Diablo?
II. What is the story behind Diablo?
+ A. What is to be included in the storyline?
B. What character classes are available?
III. What does Diablo look like?
A. How is the interface designed?
B. What do the heroes look like?
C. What do the monsters look like?
IV. How is game play designed?
A. How is the battle system set up?
1. Hand Combat
2. Magic System
+ B. How is the computer AI designed?
+ C. How is the rest of play designed?
V. What is the setting like?
A. What is the appearance of the levels?
B. Is level layout always the same?
+ C. Do you just fight monsters, or are there subplots?
* D. Are there music and sound effects to add to the atmosphere?
VI. How is the multiplayer aspect of Diablo implemented?
A. What types of multiplayer games are available?
B. What is "battle.net"?
C. Is Warcraft's 'cloning' technology included in Diablo?
D. How does play change during multiplayer games?
VII. + What kind of hardware does Diablo require?
VIII. + When is Diablo expected to be released?
IX. + How can I find out more about Diablo?
X. + Credits / How to contact the author / Mailing list information /
Updated FAQ copy info
* = New in this version
+ = Updated since last version (1.0,1.02)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
* Introduction *
Welcome to version 1.0 of the Unofficial Diablo FAQ! Within this document I
will attempt to provide the most complete, updated, and correct information
about the game Diablo as is possible. Please keep in mind that this FAQ is
in
no way endorsed or supported by Blizzard Entertainment. Questions,
comments,
corrections, complaints or anything else are gladly accepted at the address
lchark@ma.ultranet.com, or visit the BEST Diablo web site around at
http://www.tiac.net/users/jscanlon/diablo (PLUG!). I've talked enough, now
to
the game...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
* New in this version *
Besides small updates and corrections, there are two new changes.
The first is a response to the problem viewing the FAQ in browsers such as
Netscape that do not have word-wrap. This is now (hopefully) fixed
completely. The second update involves the width of the FAQ. At resolutions
below full-screen 800x600, the text would become split-up and choppy. Now
all
resolutions should work just fine. I apologize for any inconvenience this
may have caused to the readers.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
* What is Diablo? *
"Diablo invites you to enter a world of dark gothic fantasy. Choose
your persona, and enter the labyrinth beneath the decaying town. As
you venture deeper into the catacombs, you'll discover weapons,
armor, and magical treasures, and develop your character's skills and
abilities. You might also want to bring a friend or two to help...
Built in support for battle.net, as well as modem, serial, and
network play, insures that you'll never have to go in alone."
Q. What type of game is Diablo?
A. Diablo is modeled to be an RPG (Role-Playing Game), focusing
heavily on real-time action, much in the manner Ultima 8 was created to be
but wasn't. The atmosphere is reminiscent of the Dungeons and Dragons RPG,
providing a large dose of dungeon-romping spiced up with magic, traps, and,
of course, plenty of monsters. NPC (Non-Player Character) interaction is
also
planned, along with multiplayer support, in case the action elements become
tiresome. Overall, Diablo is designed to breathe life into the faltering
computer RPG market as a fresh and innovative game.
Q. What is so new about Diablo compared to other games? Why all the
hype?
A. There are many reasons why Diablo is one of the most, if not THE
most anticipated games of the year. Foremost, the graphics and animation
are
stunning, providing a sense of realism never found before in an RPG, but
more
on that later. The programming is top-notch, including everything from
spooky
sound effects to detailed light-sourcing, yet still delivering exceptional
content beyond the eye-candy. RPG lovers and non-lovers alike will feel at
home with the game's sophisticated interface and impressive storyline,
which
will most certainly draw you into the world of the demon Diablo. And
finally,
the game includes a feature unheard of in a quality single-player RPG: full
multiplayer capability. Whether you prefer null-modem or free internet
play (see section VI for details), Diablo has got it. For these strengths
Diablo is heralded as the game which will bring mass-appeal to the CRPG
market.
Q. Who is creating Diablo?
A. Diablo is the brain-child of Blizzard North, a subdivision of
Blizzard Entertainment and a division of Davidson & Associates, Inc. Best
known for their legendary productions Warcraft and Warcraft II, Blizzard is
devoted to creating only the finest-quality and full-featured games. See
http://www.blizzard.com for more information.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
* What is the story behind Diablo? *
Q. What is to be included in the storyline?
A. Blizzard is far from finalizing the prologue to Diablo at this
time, but certain aspects of the plot are known. As Blizzard puts it, "A
town
vanishes... Creatures roam the countryside... The smell of death hangs
heavy
in the air... You've been hearing the tales for weeks now. The catacombs
beneath the town are said to house long dead warriors from a forgotten age.
Some say that they have awakened. Others say that the maze leads to the
gates
of Hell itself. Whatever the source of the evil, you have sworn to destroy
it." On some unholy day, our character awakens to find its home and its
people destroyed, the work of an evil demon called Diablo. The hellspawn's
terror does not cease here, however, as legions of his dark minions are
released upon the world. In a fit of vengeance, our hero decides that the
only way to save himself and his world is to delve into the heart of
Diablo's
realm, and strike him down in his own lair. Who knows what else may pop up
along the way?
Q. What character classes are available?
A. Your hero, although confined to being human, can choose from any
of three character classes: the Sorcerer, master of magic, the Warrior,
lord
of combat, or the Rogue, a sort of mixture of the others, yet still
possessing her own unique qualities. It is not yet known if the sex of the
hero will be an option, and as of this writing, the Sorcerer and Warrior
are
male, the Rogue female. Each class of character will have certain strengths
and faults, yet each will be almost equally appealing, much in the manner
of
the Orcs vs. Humans of Warcraft. The Warrior's proficiency, obviously, will
be in hand combat, but the warrior is not restricted to this as his sole
method of battle. All spells and magic objects will be open to his use, but
he will not wield this power with the skill of the Sorcerer. Likewise, the
Sorcerer will be highly trained in the use of magic, but again will not be
restricted to only sorcery. Any weapon used by the Warrior can be bestowed
upon the Sorcerer, with the appropriate penalty for non-class use. The
Rogue,
who was created as an Archer in the early design stages, has been revamped
to
give her a more unique flavor when compared to the Warrior and Sorcerer.
She
can use all magic and all weapons, again with penalties, but she will most
likely be slightly better than the Warrior at magic, and slightly better at
battle than the wizard. She will also have a set of interesting talents at
her disposal, for example a keener eye great for detecting secrets and
traps,
and enlightened senses providing her with an extended range of sight. These
three classes should create good sense of excitement and add to the replay
value of an already deep adventure.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
* What does Diablo look like? *
Q. How is the interface designed?
A. As is the trend in adventure games these days, Diablo uses a
three-quarters isometric view. This type of view has been used recently in
games such as Druid, Relentless, and Ultima. The graphics are all 640x480
Super-VGA and 3-D rendered, heroes, monsters, and walls alike, and the view
appears much like a medieval Crusader: No Remorse. The World View of your
surroundings takes up a little over 2/3 of the screen, from the top down.
Here you see your hero in the center, and you can zoom in or out to enlarge
or shrink your surroundings. The bottom portion is the Status and Options
area, where you have buttons to access your inventory (which then
temporarily
unfolds over half of your World View), spell book, disk options, and the
like. Also included here is a status line, which updates things such as
spells cast or objects acquired, and two globes, one red, one blue. These
two
globes represent your health and mana, respectively (see section IV. C:
"How
is the rest of play designed?" for more). All interaction is done through
the
use of the mouse, including battle.
Q. What do the heroes look like?
A. The three heroes, as mentioned before, are SVGA and fully animated
with several thousand frames of animation each. The currently selected
weapon
is placed in the hero's hand, but other objects such as armor or helms are
not viewable upon the character's body.
Q. What do the monsters look like?
A. The monsters are also SVGA and fully animated, like the heroes,
and each have their own distinctive sound effects. The undead stagger
slowly,
the skeletons die in a shower of bones, and the snakes slither with uncanny
realism. Unlike Crusader: No Remorse, which suffered from too little
variation in the enemy pool, Diablo has a large and diverse number, a
virtual
cornucopia of monsters. From acid beasts to withering zombies, Diablo has
it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
* How is game play designed? *
Q. How is the battle system set up?
A. To keep the action element alive in Diablo, the designers have
chosen to include real-time combat as opposed to the traditional turn-based
RPG format. Again, learning from the faults in previous games employing
real-time combat, Blizzard has placed the emphasis on skill and strategy,
rather than forcing players into a mouse-clicking contest.
As far as hand combat is concerned, the choice of weapon vs. the
specific monster will play a large role in the hero's success or failure.
Each tool of destruction has its own swinging speed, so the players must
decide if they prefer a quick dagger or a sluggish halberd. Every
left-click
of the mouse begins a swing, so the player must be certain that their
weapon
makes contact before beginning another strike.
The magic system is different, but not overly so. Right-clicking will
cast the currently selected spell, and draw from your mana reserve. A spell
catalog, accessible from the bottom portion of the screen, keeps track of
the
different magics the hero can use. Spells can be acquired through the
discovery of rings, wands, or scrolls, or by finding the occasional spell
book. Although the characters start out with only a couple of spells at
their
disposal, locations such as the Mages' Guild assist in the heroes' quest
for
knowledge and power.
Q. How is the computer AI designed?
A. Although the AI is still in a transition phase, it is evident from
the alpha version that the computer will be no joke. The monsters not only
think of themselves as an individual, but as a group, as they often attack
from all sides or come one after another in a seemingly endless assault.
Smaller creatures find safety in numbers, and skeletons attack with a
non-stop mindless rage. Evasive maneuvers are not uncommon to the
creatures,
nor is it unusual to see the AI taking advantage of the heroes' weaknesses.
Players who are about to cast a spell or make an attack will often find
themselves stumbling backwards after a monster strikes, unable to follow
through with their attempt. Though it still needs work at this stage, the
computer AI will most likely turn out to be quite a formidable opponent.
Q. How is the rest of play designed?
A. Bits and pieces of other play design factors are known. For
instance, a good portion of treasure, weapons, and armor are found on the
bodies of the deceased. After successive use, the weapons or armor may
become
worn, and require a blacksmith to restore their strength. If the heroes
choose, they may return to the surface for further discussion, to purchase
equipment, or for discussion with the few remaining NPCs of the village.
Wounds can be healed through the use of magic or physical means, but unlike
an earlier report, cannot be healed through simply waiting. This revised
feature insures that there will be nothing but non-stop action in Diablo.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
* What is the setting like? *
Q. What is the appearance of the levels?
A. Following suit with traditional RPGs, Diablo is set in a medieval
land. Most of the areas to be explored are dungeons, with brick walls,
stone
floors, high pillars, looming arches, and spiraling stairwells. Torches
line
the walls, blood is scattered over the cold stone floor, and darkness
lingers
everywhere beyond the hero's torch. Shadows are also implemented nicely,
adding to the already impressive hi-res realism. Another nice touch
involves
the use of translucent walls in the foreground which would otherwise block
creatures or items behind them. Seasoned RPG gamers recall games such as
Crusader: No Remorse or Ultima where all too often a chest or body would
sneak under one of these walls, unable to be seen or manipulated with the
set
3/4 perspective. After an all-too-long wait, this problem is corrected with
Diablo's enhanced engine.
Q. Is level layout always the same?
A. No. This is another area where Diablo will most likely shine. In
an attempt to enhance replay value and add to the excitement of multiplayer
games, Blizzard has added a dungeon randomizer. The entire level layout,
including all items and creatures, is different every new game. And if the
player finds a level which they would like to return to in a new session,
the
seed number of the level can be saved and recalled. Whether you love single
or multiplayer games, you can be assured that you'll never know where the
next turn may lead or what may lie within the coffin before you.
Q. Do you just fight monsters, or are there subplots?
A. In the rare case that the hunt for the demon Diablo may grow
tiresome, Blizzard has included a variety of mini-quests for the player to
embark upon. A player may stumble upon one of these new paths, or they may
be
directed by an NPC. Once again, a randomizing engine is used, and each new
game Diablo chooses from a database of 30 quests to use. Anywhere from six
to
eight of these subplots are used in any one game. And once (if) you have
completed the game, you can return quite a few times, resting assured that
the plot of the game will not be the same as before.
Q. Are there music and sound effects to add to the atmosphere?
A. Most definitely yes. The music is clear and crisp, adding to the
gaming experience without becoming a nuisance. There are a variety of music
tracks, all redbook audio, and all intuitively designed. With each new area
or setting, the music automatically adjusts itself to support the ambiance.
As for the sound effects, these will be equally well-done, with examples
such
as blood-curdling screams and crackling fires. The main character and NPCs
will have voice-overs to their conversations, making full use of the
capabilities of CD-ROM media.
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* How is the multiplayer aspect of Diablo implemented? *
Q. What types of multiplayer games are available?
A. The multiplayer aspect of Diablo encompasses every form of gaming
available, short of hot-seat competition. For those of you with null-modem
cables, a serial game is possible, as is a modem game over telephone lines.
With an IPX-compatible network, larger multiplayer sessions are possible,
but
at this time only up to four players are supported in any one game. While
the
fact that Diablo is IPX-compatible suggests that the game will be
Kali-compatible, Blizzard has eliminated the need for Kali with its
innovative "battle.net". Read on for details.
Q. What is "battle.net"?
A. As an extra service to its players, Blizzard has developed a
Kali-like internet server designed specifically for Diablo. Entitled
"battle.net", all a player must do is load up Diablo and select Internet
from
the main menu to be linked to a battle.net server. From that point, players
may chat in a variety of channels, challenge other opponents, or engage in
multiplayer games. Blizzard charges no fees for this service, no startup,
hourly or monthly costs, so gamers can battle to their hearts' content.
Unfortunately, the four-player game limit is still in effect. The only
requirement is a Internet connection. Be aware that any hourly or monthly
charges from your local Internet Service Provider still apply. Battle.net
will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Allen Adham, president and
founder of Blizzard Entertainment, spoke recently to the press concerning