Countdown to the Launch of Diablo III with the Daily Fallen
We are drawing ever closer to May 15th, the release date of Diablo III. Blizzard is taken this time to share a fun little site.
There's only one month left until the release of Diablo III. Mark your calendars and celebrate the coming of the End of Days with the "Daily Fallen" (formerly known as "Daily Diablo") – a creative Tumblr which features a new diabolical sketch of "the best enemies in the entire Diablo universe" every day.
Check out some of the more recent daily sketches below, or view the full archive here.
“Diablo III: The Order” Novel Preview and Preorder
You may remember the preview of this book that we showed awhile back, but blizzard has got the official preview up along with some text from the second chapter of the book.
Hitting bookshelves May 15, Diablo III: The Order is the next novel in the Diablo universe, following Deckard Cain's quest to find the Horadrim, years before the events of the highly anticipated game. Check out an excerpt from the book below, and head toAmazon.com to preorder!
Deckard Cain is the last of the Horadrim, the sole surviving member of a mysterious and legendary order. As Cain searches for the lost members of his order, he is thrust into an alliance with an unlikely ally: Leah, an eight-year-old girl feared by many to carry a diabolical curse. What is her secret? How is it tied to the prophesied End of Days? And if there are other living Horadrim, will they be able to stand against oblivion? These are the questions Deckard Cain must answer . . .
. . . before it is too late.
Chapter Two - The Hidden Chamber
The air was cooler near the ruins. The reveal spell held within the looking glass had faded away by the time they reached the massive columns, but the two travelers had no need for it after they had passed the entrance.
The two columns cast deeper shadows across their path like black lines drawn in the dust. Beyond the shadows the veil gradually lifted away, and the ruins of the secret repository loomed all around them, coming into view like the rise of mountains through the mist. Broken stones thrust through the sands, swept clean in places by the wind. Ancient carvings of runes covered the sides of the larger blocks, marking this as a place of great Vizjerei power. Cain felt his heartbeat quicken, the palms of his hands growing moist. He could feel it thrumming beneath his feet, deep within the earth.
Or perhaps, he thought, he felt something else.
There was darkness here. Although the sun still touched the tops of these rocks, it did not warm them. Even the paladin sensed it now, his steps faltering as they moved deeper into the ruins. Before them lay the remains of the temple, its entrance covered in rubble, what was left of the roof all but collapsed upon itself. Massive timbers reached toward the sky like the ribs of a giant beast. This was where the ancient texts would have been kept, if they had existed at all. But it would be dangerous inside, possibly unstable.
A sound reached their ears like the rustling of leaves. Akarat stopped and drew his sword. "Do you hear it?" he asked. His voice was quiet.
Cain nodded, stepping to the young man's side. "There may be something else here with us, after all," he said.
"Like... what? An animal?"
"Perhaps," Cain said. He could tell that the paladin was both scared and excited, and trying hard not to show it. Stories of demonic attacks were one thing, but actually facing something most people thought was only a legend was another. Cain knew that all too well.
The sounds swirled faintly around them, almost fading away before returning again like waves on a beach or the hushed muttering of a crowd. A curious prickling sensation warming his skin, Cain held his staff like a talisman as he moved ahead on the broken path, Akarat close behind. "Close your ears," Cain said, "as if you were deaf. Should you hear voices, do not listen to them."
"I don't understand—"
"If something foul is present, it will try to corrupt you, find your weaknesses. Ignore anything it tries to say. Whatever it is, I promise you are not meant to hear it."
He reached the edge of the tumbled rocks at the entrance to the temple and peered around them, looking for a way in. There was a space just large enough for a man. Darkness loomed beyond the narrow passage that was the height of his shoulders. Cain swung his rucksack down again and found a crumbling spellbook, searching the brittle pages for the right words. As he said them aloud, the glass sphere at the end of his staff came to life, taking on a blue glow and lighting the space within.
Beyond the reach of the wind, where the sand began to fade, the drifts held the faint impression of a footprint. Either a man, or something that walked like one, had passed through this place not long ago.
He tucked the book away and turned to the paladin, who stared at him and the glowing staff and back again, mouth agape.
"Magic? True magic?"
"A simple spell, nothing more. Like the looking glass, held within the objects themselves. I simply have the knowledge to unlock it. This is a place of sorcery, chosen, at least in part, because of the power in the soil. A spell is more useful in a spot like this."
"Are you really the last of the Horadrim?"
Blue Posts
WIth Bashiok on vacation from last week, we don't seem to have to many blue posts. One interesting post however was on Multiboxing in Diablo 3. However without a direct answer, the debate if its allowed or not is yet to be answered.
A New Class Before Launch?
There will be five heroes in the game for you to play, come May 15. Those will be the five hero classes that you've seen, and played, and that we've been developing for years. There will not be a sixth, secret class sprung on you in the next month.
Beta Screenshots
Today, we would like to showcase some of the carnage right outside on New Tristram. Zombies, dead burning bodies, meat wagons, and bloodied operating tables. For all of those wanting the dark gore look for Diablo, here is just a sample.
That awkward moment when no one cares about the 'Daily Fallen'--may get the book though. However, I was a bit underwhelmed by the writing found in the Book of Cain, but the illustrations and the overall design of the book was really stunning.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"I believe in the sand beneath my toes. The beach gives a feeling, an earthy feeling. I believe in the faith that grows, And the four right chords can make me cry. When I'm with you I feel like I could die, and that would be alright"
fucking daily fallen. that whole hype from blizz make me sick.
I had Javascript off, and couldn't see the in-panel art, so I gave it a click.
What I was expecting: Book of Cain style artwork. Highly detailed renditions of The Fallen in glorious pen/pencil.
What I got: 3rd grader artwork done in MS Paint.
Lol, I'm amazed by your power to degrade someone's talent using the most flagrant lack of arguments.
I have the Oh book of cain, and let me tell you, there's more talent in a single page of Daily Diablo than in that whole damn uninspiring and boring book.
Well I'm sorry, but the art on Book of Cain is underwhelming.
I mean, honestly, there's only one or two pieces that are actually well composed, but that doens't save the rest of the book's art from being mediocre.
Yes, I call it mediocre, for the people who worked on it are geniuses of the arts, and their underperformance on this book is outrageous.
Maybe they had a very short deadline, maybe they were under paid, or maybe the project itself was uninspiring, call it whatever you like.
Sure, it's supposed to be text book and not an "Art of Diablo 3" full quality compendium, but that still doesn't make the inside art any better.
Maybe I'm being somewhat rude? yeah, totally.
I just dislike when someone uses it's free creative time for almost a year to make a perpetuous, free, selfless gift to the community (much more important and crative than the paid, underperformed artists on the book), and get's gratuitely insulted for no reason.
If stating that I disagree with someone who's being hurtful and insultive for no reason, and then giving a reasonable explanation of my point of view is immature, then I have nothing else to do here.
Just in case you missed it. The Official Monk spotlight video was released today. Make sure to check it out. Also keep in mind this means tomorrow you will be able to unlock the Monk sigil on the promotional website.
Countdown to the Launch of Diablo III with the Daily Fallen
We are drawing ever closer to May 15th, the release date of Diablo III. Blizzard is taken this time to share a fun little site.
Originally Posted by Blizzard (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)
Check out some of the more recent daily sketches below, or view the full archive here.
“Diablo III: The Order” Novel Preview and Preorder
You may remember the preview of this book that we showed awhile back, but blizzard has got the official preview up along with some text from the second chapter of the book.
Originally Posted by Blizzard (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)
Deckard Cain is the last of the Horadrim, the sole surviving member of a mysterious and legendary order. As Cain searches for the lost members of his order, he is thrust into an alliance with an unlikely ally: Leah, an eight-year-old girl feared by many to carry a diabolical curse. What is her secret? How is it tied to the prophesied End of Days? And if there are other living Horadrim, will they be able to stand against oblivion? These are the questions Deckard Cain must answer . . .
. . . before it is too late.
Chapter Two - The Hidden Chamber
The air was cooler near the ruins. The reveal spell held within the looking glass had faded away by the time they reached the massive columns, but the two travelers had no need for it after they had passed the entrance.
The two columns cast deeper shadows across their path like black lines drawn in the dust. Beyond the shadows the veil gradually lifted away, and the ruins of the secret repository loomed all around them, coming into view like the rise of mountains through the mist. Broken stones thrust through the sands, swept clean in places by the wind. Ancient carvings of runes covered the sides of the larger blocks, marking this as a place of great Vizjerei power. Cain felt his heartbeat quicken, the palms of his hands growing moist. He could feel it thrumming beneath his feet, deep within the earth.
Or perhaps, he thought, he felt something else.
There was darkness here. Although the sun still touched the tops of these rocks, it did not warm them. Even the paladin sensed it now, his steps faltering as they moved deeper into the ruins. Before them lay the remains of the temple, its entrance covered in rubble, what was left of the roof all but collapsed upon itself. Massive timbers reached toward the sky like the ribs of a giant beast. This was where the ancient texts would have been kept, if they had existed at all. But it would be dangerous inside, possibly unstable.
A sound reached their ears like the rustling of leaves. Akarat stopped and drew his sword. "Do you hear it?" he asked. His voice was quiet.
Cain nodded, stepping to the young man's side. "There may be something else here with us, after all," he said.
"Like... what? An animal?"
"Perhaps," Cain said. He could tell that the paladin was both scared and excited, and trying hard not to show it. Stories of demonic attacks were one thing, but actually facing something most people thought was only a legend was another. Cain knew that all too well.
The sounds swirled faintly around them, almost fading away before returning again like waves on a beach or the hushed muttering of a crowd. A curious prickling sensation warming his skin, Cain held his staff like a talisman as he moved ahead on the broken path, Akarat close behind. "Close your ears," Cain said, "as if you were deaf. Should you hear voices, do not listen to them."
"I don't understand—"
"If something foul is present, it will try to corrupt you, find your weaknesses. Ignore anything it tries to say. Whatever it is, I promise you are not meant to hear it."
He reached the edge of the tumbled rocks at the entrance to the temple and peered around them, looking for a way in. There was a space just large enough for a man. Darkness loomed beyond the narrow passage that was the height of his shoulders. Cain swung his rucksack down again and found a crumbling spellbook, searching the brittle pages for the right words. As he said them aloud, the glass sphere at the end of his staff came to life, taking on a blue glow and lighting the space within.
Beyond the reach of the wind, where the sand began to fade, the drifts held the faint impression of a footprint. Either a man, or something that walked like one, had passed through this place not long ago.
He tucked the book away and turned to the paladin, who stared at him and the glowing staff and back again, mouth agape.
"Magic? True magic?"
"A simple spell, nothing more. Like the looking glass, held within the objects themselves. I simply have the knowledge to unlock it. This is a place of sorcery, chosen, at least in part, because of the power in the soil. A spell is more useful in a spot like this."
"Are you really the last of the Horadrim?"
Blue Posts
WIth Bashiok on vacation from last week, we don't seem to have to many blue posts. One interesting post however was on Multiboxing in Diablo 3. However without a direct answer, the debate if its allowed or not is yet to be answered.
Originally Posted by Blizzard (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)
There will be five heroes in the game for you to play, come May 15. Those will be the five hero classes that you've seen, and played, and that we've been developing for years. There will not be a sixth, secret class sprung on you in the next month.
I promise. (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)
Multiboxing
The latest/updated terms of use are here.
This...
Go read the new terms and services agreement.
... is very good advice. (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)
Beta Screenshots
Today, we would like to showcase some of the carnage right outside on New Tristram. Zombies, dead burning bodies, meat wagons, and bloodied operating tables. For all of those wanting the dark gore look for Diablo, here is just a sample.
Thanks for sharing!
I had Javascript off, and couldn't see the in-panel art, so I gave it a click.
What I was expecting: Book of Cain style artwork. Highly detailed renditions of The Fallen in glorious pen/pencil.
What I got: 3rd grader artwork done in MS Paint.
Sorry, it's just not my style.
I liked this one:
Lol, I'm amazed by your power to degrade someone's talent using the most flagrant lack of arguments.
I have the Oh book of cain, and let me tell you, there's more talent in a single page of Daily Diablo than in that whole damn uninspiring and boring book.
I mean, honestly, there's only one or two pieces that are actually well composed, but that doens't save the rest of the book's art from being mediocre.
Yes, I call it mediocre, for the people who worked on it are geniuses of the arts, and their underperformance on this book is outrageous.
Maybe they had a very short deadline, maybe they were under paid, or maybe the project itself was uninspiring, call it whatever you like.
Sure, it's supposed to be text book and not an "Art of Diablo 3" full quality compendium, but that still doesn't make the inside art any better.
Maybe I'm being somewhat rude? yeah, totally.
I just dislike when someone uses it's free creative time for almost a year to make a perpetuous, free, selfless gift to the community (much more important and crative than the paid, underperformed artists on the book), and get's gratuitely insulted for no reason.
Especially when he's a friend of mine.
If stating that I disagree with someone who's being hurtful and insultive for no reason, and then giving a reasonable explanation of my point of view is immature, then I have nothing else to do here.
I read Kaivax's response right when it got posted, and I have to say that my first thought was, "this guy is being asinine". And I have read the ToS.