I got my copy for Christmas today (12/22/2011). Sadly I am being told I cannot open it till Christmas Eve so I gotta hold back on the amazing Diablo lore for one more day.
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I don't always burn. But when I do, I use hellfire.
I'm savoring mine...only now getting into the bits about the creation of Sanctuary. I'm spending as much time studying the elaborate artwork as I am reading the actual text.
I got mine!! Horray! Didn't expect it to arrive before Christmas but it did and I'm super happy. I'm gonna start reading right away and hopefully be able to contribute to the wiki when I'm done :)!
I got my copy of the Book of Cain yesterday. I have to admit, I was disappointed. I was expecting a lot more in the way of exposition, but it's basically a review of all the events up to Diablo 3. It provided a few retcons that I was not displeased with, adding some more information on the membership of the Horadrim when it was first founded. It also elaborated on the realms of Hell, which were only hinted at in the Diablo 2 manual. It's also interesting that Mephisto is firmly established as the leader of Hell, his realm more or less its capital.
Everything else basically summarizes the books.
In terms of craftmanship, though... well, from an artist's perspective, I can say it's masterfully put together. =D
I'd gladly field any questions. Besides a few tidbits, what you see in the Diablo wiki is what you get from the book.
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Be it through hallowed grounds or lands of sorrow
All in the Forger's wake is left bereft and fallow
Is the residuum worth the cost of destruction and maiming;
Or is the shaping a culling and exercise in taming?
The road's goal is the dark Origin of Being
But be wary through what thickets it winds.
-Excerpt from the Litany of Residuum;
As Translated by He Who Brings Order
It's also interesting that Mephisto is firmly established as the leader of Hell, his realm more or less its capital.
There's definitely more to it than that. Mephisto isn't outright called the leader, and while his realm does seem the capital, I wouldn't say that's nearly as important an indicator of strength as it would perhaps be in a human nation. After all, Mephisto's and Azmodan's realms are the only ones that could really contend for the position, the other realms are just more primal in their nature.
PlugY for Diablo II allows you to reset skills and stats, transfer items between characters in singleplayer, obtain all ladder runewords and do all Uberquests while offline. It is the only way to do all of the above. Please use it.
Supporting big shoulderpads and flashy armor since 2004.
We need to get a list of all what is retconned and stuff cause I'm learning in D3 story forums like Inarius wasn't part of the Angris Council and important stuff like that.
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www.myspace.com/mpotatoes for all your Trans Siberian Orchestra listening pleasure
If you want to arrange it
This world you can change it
If we could somehow make this
Christmas thing last
By helping a neighbor
Or even a stranger
And to know who needs help
You need only just ask
It's also interesting that Mephisto is firmly established as the leader of Hell, his realm more or less its capital.
There's definitely more to it than that. Mephisto isn't outright called the leader, and while his realm does seem the capital, I wouldn't say that's nearly as important an indicator of strength as it would perhaps be in a human nation. After all, Mephisto's and Azmodan's realms are the only ones that could really contend for the position, the other realms are just more primal in their nature.
Interestingly, not only did the book go to great lengths to say "leader" is a very poor term for Mephisto, as the three work together only as they see fit, and so it's more of a group of equals, but Cain repeatedly said that being labeled a "lesser evil" doesn't make azmodan and belial any less dangerous than the prime three.
See, I read it differently. Cain seemed to emphasize Mephisto's role as First among Equals, which effectively puts him in charge. Moreover, he's the most political of all the Lords, as well as most manipulative, so it's my opinion that, while he may have no official recognition, he more or less pulls the strings.
"Prime Evil" only applied to the Three Brothers, as they and their powers were so inextricably bound together. They fed on and off one another, a veritable machine in three components. This fueled their continued supremacy; it was only through the combined efforts of the other Evils that they were defeated. It's Brothers' unity that makes them so dangerous.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Be it through hallowed grounds or lands of sorrow
All in the Forger's wake is left bereft and fallow
Is the residuum worth the cost of destruction and maiming;
Or is the shaping a culling and exercise in taming?
The road's goal is the dark Origin of Being
But be wary through what thickets it winds.
-Excerpt from the Litany of Residuum;
As Translated by He Who Brings Order
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I'm savoring mine...only now getting into the bits about the creation of Sanctuary. I'm spending as much time studying the elaborate artwork as I am reading the actual text.
Everything else basically summarizes the books.
In terms of craftmanship, though... well, from an artist's perspective, I can say it's masterfully put together. =D
I'd gladly field any questions. Besides a few tidbits, what you see in the Diablo wiki is what you get from the book.
All in the Forger's wake is left bereft and fallow-Excerpt from the Litany of Residuum;
As Translated by He Who Brings Order
If you want to arrange it
This world you can change it
If we could somehow make this
Christmas thing last
By helping a neighbor
Or even a stranger
And to know who needs help
You need only just ask
Interestingly, not only did the book go to great lengths to say "leader" is a very poor term for Mephisto, as the three work together only as they see fit, and so it's more of a group of equals, but Cain repeatedly said that being labeled a "lesser evil" doesn't make azmodan and belial any less dangerous than the prime three.
"Prime Evil" only applied to the Three Brothers, as they and their powers were so inextricably bound together. They fed on and off one another, a veritable machine in three components. This fueled their continued supremacy; it was only through the combined efforts of the other Evils that they were defeated. It's Brothers' unity that makes them so dangerous.
All in the Forger's wake is left bereft and fallow-Excerpt from the Litany of Residuum;
As Translated by He Who Brings Order