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Yo!



I see that some of you have been discussing the possibility of the mysterious poster from Blizzcon (pic attached) as a Candidate for the fifth and final class. Well, I have gone ahead and attempted to fit a character story into D3 that would look like that cool scimitar wielding dude from the pic!



I have based the back story on the guy in the pic and Abd al-Hazir's writings of Caldeum. (link and pic below)


http://www.blizzard.com/diablo3/world/environments/caldeum.xml



Please read the Caldeum backstory and look at the pic from blizzcon before reading the story as it helps to get you in the mood.

Outlaws they called them! Bah! What became of our beloved Caldeum? This great city was once the trade capital of the entire world - built on our people's independence and creativity and governed by those worthy! Now, as I roam the gloomy streets infected by mercenaries with pockets lined in blood-stained gold, I fear that the nobles struggle for power and the quarreling mages have finally brought our city too it's knees.

The quandaries first started when Kurast was over run by an evil taint and its population sought refuge in Caldeum. After a time, the hierarchies of Caldeum and Kurast clashed, throwing their riches at mercenaries to either attack a rival or defend themselves. The fighting escalated until our great emperor Hakan managed to woe the nobles and maintain the peace. That was, of course, until his untimely departure from this world. Almost immediately after his passing, feuds erupted once again between the Nobles.

Those who dared to openly resist the Kurast Nobles influence were labeled criminals and hunted relentlessly by mercenaries. Once the bounties were put on their heads there was a massacre the likes of which Caldeum had never seen before! Only a small amount of the named outlaws were adroit enough to find their way out of Caldeum. These survivors were forced to take refuge together among the sandy cliffs and caves far from the city. "Outlawed Bandits" the posters exclaimed - those of us who knew better recognized the faces drawn on the posters as the brave men and women fighting against oppression, unwilling to bow to the undeserving Kurast nobles!

Driven from their homes the outlaws found refuge in the sandy wilderness that surrounds Caldeum. Proving themselves resilient and resourceful they claimed the deserts as their new home and fought day and night to keep the horrors of sanctuary at bay. Overtime, this rough and treacherous lifestyle took its toll on their unfortunate souls and they became but a shadow of their former selves. The once proud defenders of Caldeum's independence had - evolved into one of the most perilous and feared factions in Sanctuary - A rouge society that are known as the "Nomads of Kehjistan".

Many years have passed since they were driven out of Caldeum and now their sons and daughters protect the vast desert they have claimed as their own. This new generation of bandits and rouges were trained from the time they could walk to fight and survive by any and all means necessary!

Well known for their blatant disregard of general courtesy and hostility to any who would try enforcing their ways upon them, the nomads are not to be trifled with. However, if you mean them no harm and are but a guest or a passer by in their desert realms, you should not be harmed. This is not to say that you ought to let down your guard in their presence - but it must be noted they are not a cult of murders and thieves that most think them to be.

For a time, I stayed in a cliff-side dwelling they called Surmaste and was surprised to find the inhabitants to be organized and relatively friendly, though, I did not make the folly mistake of crossing them and was mindful to follow their lead.

The Nomads are well known for their skill in archery and traps - the skills needed to ambush their opponents and deliver a quick death. Often they will kill their enemies before they even know they were attacked! However, do not make the mistake of underestimating them in close quarters as I have witnessed the Nomads skill with blades that have the look of a Scimitar. Though they lack the formal education of swordsmanship we practice in Caldeum their brazen disregard for self preservation makes them an unpredictable and perilous opponent that is fearless in combat!

While the elders of Surmaste still dwell on the past wrongs of Caldeum the new generation of bandits do not seem phased by the old stories. On the last night of my stay, there was a gathering of frenzied brethren in an uproar. Their young leader shouted across the congregation and revealed to me the focus of this new breed of fierce Nomads:
"We have lost many brethren since fire rained from the heavens! We will not sit idly by while our home is overrun by Hellish Fiends! If we are to be dragged to the depths by this evil rising from the Arreat Crater - then let us take as many of the tainted devils with us as we can!"

I had planned to write more and make it more exciting but thought i'd share with ya'll now instead. Let me know what you think :thumbsup:


Shibblicious

10.03.2010 Update - Concept Art found of a 'Caldeum Bandit City'

Thanks!

Yeah, i'm not saying that the nomad will be the last class - just a slight possibility.

In fact, if I had to guess i'd say that the pic is most likely an enemy. Not gonna stop me from speculating and having a bit of fun putting my own spin on things. :rolleyes:

Cheers

What's up with all this obsession for Desert Nomads?

Quote from "Elyk" »

I wouldn't really call it an obsession, but an idea that clicks with a lot of people. I personally don't like the "nomad" idea. Maybe it's the name... I'd rather keep the concept and call it a wanderer. Better yet, let it have a western influence. I don't everybody coming from the desert.

I hate the Bard idea. Thanks, but no thanks. A musician cannot take down the lord of terror and his ilk with his... lute?

I agree with you completely, I hate the name "Nomad" to the core. It doesn't strike me as a heroic archetype at all, as they're just people who choose not to cope with the whims of urban society right? Wanderer would be a great name, or even Outcast.

As for the story, I liked it a lot. Though, I have a few minor plot issues with it, it proved to be all the while quite an entertaining read.

Quote from "The_Engineer" »

What's up with all this obsession for Desert Nomads?

Well the appeal for me came because a Nomad character can encompass the best parts of a Rouge/Ranger/Outlaw to make a really interesting and kick ass player. I confess that I didn't like the idea until after I had seen the pic from blizzcon and read the Caldeum back story.


But yeah - seeing as you are sick of hearing "Nomad/Bandit/Wander" ideas I thought it worthwhile to mention I'm thinking of doing a few back stories on a few of my other ideas...see how they turn out though! Only got a few foot notes so far...

Dhampir (I particularly like this one!)
- conflicted half-human half-vampires that have struggled to find their place in the world - not entirely good and not entirely evil they are repulsed by the thought of themselves.
- Strong and fast they have the cursed gifts of the vampires but are able to walk in sunlight and congregate with humans with out going into a blood frenzy.
- Hungry for revenge and willing to kill all in there way to taste the hot blood of the demons that made them what they are today.

Shapeshifter/Guardian
-Resilient race that is on the brink of extinction as they have been hunted as deformed and dirty - no better than the animals they copy.
-Change into forms he/she has seen for a limited time
-When not transformed he/she is skilled with the bow and arrow
-A formidable warrior when not transformed but as you need to be very strong and fit to shift forms.

Sentinel
-The sentinels are an elite group of proud warriors sworn to defend the peoples of Sanctuary. The group was formed after the flame from the heavens fell from the sky and destroyed Mount Arreat. The greatest of Caledum's guards formed the Sentinels. Armed with the bravest of hearts and sturdiest of minds - they now strive for nothing but the blood of demons - and they will get it with sword, pole or arrow!
-Trained and skilled in close quarter combat and ranged weaponry. (choice from skill tree)

Quote from "The_Engineer" »

As for the story, I liked it a lot. Though, I have a few minor plot issues with it, it proved to be all the while quite an entertaining read.

Thanks :thumbsup:

Didn't notice that picture before, hmm... I see a bow on his back! Could be an enemy though.

Good job on the ideas folks.

Quote from "Elyk" »

My ideas:

Deathsayer: A close range warrior with demonic qualities. Feeds off the life force of his victims and can shift into various demons.
Guardian: A toned down version of the barbarian. Can also shapeshift.

I like really like "Guardian" as the name for the Shapeshifter! If you don't mind I will use it when/if I do a back story on the class.

He looks like an older Desert Merc right down to the sash and pants color.

The Mercenary class could be an interesting concept. For namesake though, I think the term Legionnaire would be a better fit. I had to use a thesaurus to find a cool sounding synonym for that one; hireling was just too retro.




*edit*
Upon closer inspection, there appears to be a bow on his back. Thanks cyanide!

*edit again*
Could this be the returning class the folks at blizzard may have mentioned off-hand?

Haha, I Thought it was brilliant that this picture was even seen however long ago it was found.

To be honest, it looks like an early version of the monk, but I'm fairly certain that is a bow on it's back, which makes it difficult to say since the playstyle and idea of the monk would have had to have evolved a long way from that to where it is now since the current representation of the monk just isn't anything remotely like a ranged using class. However, the monk is already from the desert. I feel like they wouldn't give us another desert class.

I enjoyed the story for the Nomad. A lot of work was put into it and that really came out in the product. :-)

I'm 90% positive that the next character is going to be a primarily ranged class that deals melee damage. If that were the character I don't understand why it wouldn't be wielding it's bow, but maybe that's what Blizzard's intent was. To cause some sort of speculation like this :-)

I sure hope you're right. I'm also very interested in this 5th class.

Am I the only one who feels uninterested with the current 4 classes? I sure hope for a ranged type class.

I am too uninterested in the Monk. He does not strike me as fun to play as.

Really?

Man - I am hell excited about the Monk...I was hoping it would be a playable class...in fact i even wrote a story similar to the Nomad one about the monk for the Blizzcon Contest before they announced it at Blizzcon lol.

Link is below for those of you that liked the Nomad story - you'll prob like the Monk one I wrote aswell.

http://www.diablofans.com/forums/showpost.php?p=441700&postcount=19

Anyway, i'm really not worried about the fifth class - I know whatever blizz choose they are going to make it kick ass like the other 4 classes.

Out of the Barbarian, Witch Doctor, Wizard and Monk I have a hard time choosing my favorite - the barbarian art and in game design appeals to me the most. So Frakin cool... I'll prob make a female barb as a start char

HMMMM - I don't see how you could say that it doesn't look like a nomad and then say that it looks like a bandit.....

The reason why I called the char in the story a Nomad is because it is such a BROAD term - A nomad - someone who wanders/traveler. In today's Sanctuary you would have to be a deadset BADASS to roam around at will and survive!!

A Nomadic society can take on (and in our history it has) a brutal take-no-shit-from-anyone form.

Indians, Mongols & Huns was the concept i was going for in the story. They have their own rules and therefore you are able to apply so many ideas to them. A Nomad in D3 would be battle hardened and very skilled in archery - traps - sneaking - endurance etc.

It doesn't have to be an Arab looking character or eastern looking character either like some of you think - all depends on how you apply their back story. ie. how did they come to be? Possibilities are endless really..

I truly believe that Blizzard could make a really cool Nomadic warrior and that it would fit perfectly into the fifth class slot as a mix of ranger/rouge/hunter.

P.S - I was right about the Monk

lol it's cool - i like to argue/discuss stuff...

First of all that is not the definition of a Nomad - that is your or someone elses loose interpretation of a Nomad. There is a difference.

A Nomad doesn't equal anything definite except that they have no permanent home... That's what i'm saying - over history so many Nomadic tirbes have come together to form a horde of Bandits - Raiders - Barbarians. Go read more about the Mongols and Huns.

It all comes down to how they can fit the Nomadic people into the storyline and whether it would fit into the remaining class. If you make them goat herding harmless nomads then that's what they will be. But if you make them a tribe of scarred battle hardened warriors looking to kick some Diablo ass - then that's what they'll be. When thinking of D3, I personally prefer to think of Nomads as the latter.

All the current characters names are a broad term like Nomad..

Barbarian
Wizard
Witch Doctor
Monk

There is so many different avenues they could have taken with these characters. Everyone interprets things differently - all i'm saying really is that Nomad - if designed and implemented properly would fit into the missing pieces that is the fifth class and we would all druel at it's awesomeness! :cool:

Yeah, I guess Nomad may be too broad of a term for a playable class but if anyone could pull it off it would be Blizz..

I did initially write the story as 'Bandits of Kejhistan' but changed it right before i submitted as Nomad struck me as fitting lol.

Anyway - whatever they call it - it would be cool imo

I like the idea but one question.. How exactly will this character match up in awesomeness in terms of design and skills. Look at the other 4?

Quote from "Scipio" »

We can't know how exactly this class will match up in awesomeness, because we can only speculate about the skills that will be at his/hers disposal. But I think Blizzard can manage to make the class as awesome as the other four.

True. But I wonder what weapons he'll use other than Scimitars. Since the Barbarian can use any melee weapon and dual wield too. But he can't use a bow unlike the nomad. One question.. Who thinks Blizzard may release info on the last class by Christmas? While we may have a beastiary update on Holloween? Seems likely to me..

Yeah, but its just that last class is the longest class. Its just been through a lot of redesign.

Concept I found of a 'Bandit City' - Surmaste in my story haha