Blizzard has officially updated their site with any and all information regarding the
Artisans. 
Official Blizzard Quote:
As you adventure through the exotic expanses of Kehjistan and plumb the treasure-filled depths of the Tristram Cathedral, you’re going to attract the attention of townsfolk who hear of your destiny to combat the demonic invasion. Some of them will be inclined to help you in your fight for the survival of Sanctuary…and a select few will serve as long-time companions,taking to your caravan as you cross the world and ensuring you’re always well armored and supplied: the Diablo III Artisans.
The Jeweler, Blacksmith, and Mystic are equipped to provide you with unique benefits and services. Each of these gifted crafters has received their own page complete with story, images of the visual progression of their camps, recipes, and key features.
Find out about these valuable cohorts and other new Diablo III features here.
On each page, you will find a general overview of each Artisan. The Blacksmith will be handling both repairing and forging weapons and armor for your hero. The Jeweler is able to combine gems, add sockets to items, and remove gems from sockets. The Mystic can enhance your items with magical attributes.
Along with this general overview, the complete list of recipes has been added to each of the Artisans' pages. Here you will be able to find exactly what each Artisan will be able to learn, given you find the recipe, and the materials needed to craft these items. In addition to this, they have also listed the progression of each Artisan which maxes at level 10 or exalted. On the progression page you can see what level your artisan needs to be craft each item, the items they will naturally learn as they level, and the material and gold costs to gain the level for your Artisan.
Finally, images of the Artisans' wagons have been displayed to show the visual improvement as your Artisans level up.
Blacksmith will be handling both repairing and forging weapons and armor for your hero. The Jeweler is able to combine gems, add sockets to items, and remove gems from sockets. The Mystic can enhance your items with magical attributes.Along with this general overview, the complete list of recipes has been added to each of the Artisans' pages. Here you will be able to find exactly what each Artisan will be able to learn, given you find the recipe, and the materials needed to craft these items. In addition to this, they have also listed the progression of each Artisan which maxes at level 10 or exalted. On the progression page you can see what level your artisan needs to be craft each item, the items they will naturally learn as they level, and the material and gold costs to gain the level for your Artisan.
Finally, images of the Artisans' wagons have been displayed to show the visual improvement as your Artisans level up.
Beta Invites
More beta invites have gone out today. It should be noted that some people have received their access without getting an e-mail from Blizzard stating so. If you have not already, check your Battle.net account.
Psyqo72: Got my beta key today, thank the gods! #Diablo3
Diablo: @Psyqo72 Congratulations. The #AngirisCouncil see potential in you. Do them proud and protect the lands with honor. #D3Beta #D3
No Achievements
Achievements will be temporarily turned off for the next beta patch. This is being done so the team can continue working on the system. Blizzard also said to expect the next beta patch sometime next week.
In the next beta patch (currently scheduled to hit sometime next week), we will be turning off achievements to facilitate further service testing. During this time, characters will be unable to earn new achievements or complete any additional objectives of achievements already in-progress.
Please note that this will only be a temporary change, and that achievements will be available again in a later patch. We don't have an ETA for the release of the patch that re-implement achievements, but we’ll be sure to provide an update in the coming weeks.
Book of Cain
The Book of Cain is now officially available for pre-order. The Australian Blizzard Twitter also released that the book will be out on December 13.
...On a semi related note http://ow.ly/7PIs0 is coming out on the 13th December. I now know what I want for Christmas
Tomorrow, I will be interviewing Micky Neilson about the Book of Cain as well as reporting a detailed preview on what you can expect from the book.
PC Gamer Interview
PC Gamer recently sat down with Wyatt Cheng and asked some questions about Diablo III and its hardcore fans. You can check out the rest of the interview here.
PC Gamer: Did anything the players were doing in the beta surprise you? Did some guy just run around and kill stumps for an hour?
Wyatt Cheng: Some of the Skeleton King trips were pretty fast. We knew that the first time you kill the Skeleton King, you get a yellow item, and we’re not concerned, in the big picture, because later on you’ll be able to get yellow items from just about anywhere. But it definitely became the predominate way to try and farm (yellow) items. I think I saw somebody do a giant killstreak on the Jar of Souls event to get a huge XP bonus. He kited all the monsters from the entire dungeon into the Jar of Souls room, then started the JoS event and killed all the monsters from the level AND the JoS to get a huge killstreak bonus. That was pretty ridiculous.
More beta invites have gone out today. It should be noted that some people have received their access without getting an e-mail from Blizzard stating so. If you have not already, check your Battle.net account.
Official Blizzard Quote:
Psyqo72: Got my beta key today, thank the gods! #Diablo3
Diablo: @Psyqo72 Congratulations. The #AngirisCouncil see potential in you. Do them proud and protect the lands with honor. #D3Beta #D3
No Achievements
Achievements will be temporarily turned off for the next beta patch. This is being done so the team can continue working on the system. Blizzard also said to expect the next beta patch sometime next week.
Official Blizzard Quote:
In the next beta patch (currently scheduled to hit sometime next week), we will be turning off achievements to facilitate further service testing. During this time, characters will be unable to earn new achievements or complete any additional objectives of achievements already in-progress.
Please note that this will only be a temporary change, and that achievements will be available again in a later patch. We don't have an ETA for the release of the patch that re-implement achievements, but we’ll be sure to provide an update in the coming weeks.
Book of Cain
The Book of Cain is now officially available for pre-order. The Australian Blizzard Twitter also released that the book will be out on December 13.
Official Blizzard Quote:
...On a semi related note http://ow.ly/7PIs0 is coming out on the 13th December. I now know what I want for Christmas
PC Gamer Interview
PC Gamer recently sat down with Wyatt Cheng and asked some questions about Diablo III and its hardcore fans. You can check out the rest of the interview here.
Official Blizzard Quote:
PC Gamer: Did anything the players were doing in the beta surprise you? Did some guy just run around and kill stumps for an hour?
Wyatt Cheng: Some of the Skeleton King trips were pretty fast. We knew that the first time you kill the Skeleton King, you get a yellow item, and we’re not concerned, in the big picture, because later on you’ll be able to get yellow items from just about anywhere. But it definitely became the predominate way to try and farm (yellow) items. I think I saw somebody do a giant killstreak on the Jar of Souls event to get a huge XP bonus. He kited all the monsters from the entire dungeon into the Jar of Souls room, then started the JoS event and killed all the monsters from the level AND the JoS to get a huge killstreak bonus. That was pretty ridiculous.
-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted Dec 6, 2011-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted Dec 7, 2011-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted Dec 7, 2011-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted Dec 7, 2011I just thought that in order to have this the #1 10 years worth of developing, they'd make the "crafting" part of the game more unique. No disrespect, it's cool to have the crafter's home evolve.
-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted Dec 7, 2011-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted Dec 7, 2011So, what's left to be told?
*dear Santa, I've been well behaved and kind so would you please sneak in Blizzard and tell me D3 release date? Thanks! p.s. Beware of Bashiok!*
-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted Dec 7, 2011-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted Dec 7, 2011-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted Dec 7, 2011The artisan's look cool - I shall reserve judgment on their abilities however until I get to play. Looks like some great recipes but I find it hard to crunch numbers etc in my mind in regards to the improved stats they may offer on crafting.
-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted Dec 7, 2011The original runestone solution (where normal ranked colored runestones drop from mobs which don't get locked to skills) had the problem of the market being flooded with runestones.
People would only need a handful of runestones for their char and everything else they would find would go to other players. But all other players would be in the same situation causing runestones to be worthless.
However, if you look at the Mystic recipe list now, you can see that all enchantments require a material that is produced by salvaging runestones. Voila, everyone will need a continuous stream of runestones to be able to afford enchantments on their new shiny gear. Problem solved.
-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted Dec 7, 2011You may be right but...
If you click on the View all enhanceable item types you can see Runestones are active as well.
If we have to take it literally that should mean the Mystic has the ability to enhance runestones.
It could also be referring to the fact that the Mystic can use salvaged runestones materials to enhance other items, but crafting materials already appear in that list.
We'll know soontm
-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted Dec 7, 2011Imbued Rune Dust, obtained from salvinging rank 1 runestones, difficulty Normal
Glinting Rune Dust, rank 2, Normal
Purified Rune Dust, rank 3, Normal
Haunting Rune Dust, rank 4, Nightmare
Dreaded Rune Dust, rank 5, Nightmare
Forceful Rune Dust, rank 6, Hell
Transcendent Rune Dust, rank 7, Inferno
Runestone Core, legendary crafting material, sometimes found when salvaging rank 5, 6 or 7 runestones
-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted Dec 7, 2011I got the BETA!!! AHAHA
I'm from Brazil, and I've just been invited to play the beta!!!
cheers mate!
-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted Dec 7, 2011-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted Dec 7, 2011EDIT: Also I'm not sure what everyone wants from crafting professions to be *unique*. It's functional... that's what I want from my profession is it to be functional and worthwhile. Or they could have it where the blacksmith crafts you the "husk" of an item and then you have to go temper it with monster X's blood come back and the cool it in the river XX in act XXY... that would be unique. Could also have it work similar to the golems in Ogre Battle where he makes the basic version but to unlock the full potential you need to have this new armor hit with a petrify spell to harden it... or a combination fire/wind spell to make it the super tempered version! Both of these are unique and different but are they good ideas? No, they're overly complicated and make crafting a chore as opposed to "Hey, I spent the last 4 runs salvaging my items now let me craft that new weapon I wanted to get!" *ding done and you may get crappy rolls on your random properties so you're going to have to re craft it. Simple to the point and a splash of randomness to give it that Diablo feeling <3's all around imo.
-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted Dec 7, 2011-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted Dec 7, 2011-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted Dec 7, 2011-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted Dec 10, 2011