Fan Art and Twitter Round Up: Gems, Runes, and Enchantments

@Diablo gave us a few nice bits of information today about http://diablowiki.com/Runes" class="wiki-link">

http://media-diablofans.cursecdn.com/attachments/16/736/wiki2.gif" alt="DiabloWiki.com - Runes"/> Runes, DiabloWiki.com - Gems

Gems and

Enchantments in DiabloWiki.com - Diablo III

Diablo III.

The first interesting piece of info is about a pretty substantial change in the effect of Gems in the upcoming game.

Official Blizzard Quote:

illthegreat: @Diablo Will gems give the same bonuses they did in Diablo 2?

Diablo: @illthegreat No, they're all pretty much different. Elemental damage comes from enchantments now, for instance.

It seems as though gems will function quite differently than in DiabloWiki.com - Diablo II

Diablo II. While in the past they provided elemental damage when put in a weapon, enchantments now provide this effect. Whether or not gems will even contribute to the damage done by a weapon is unknown, but in order to make your axe hit with Cold or Fire damage you will now have to turn to enchantments instead of gems. It will be very interesting to see what kind of combinations will arise when enchanting a socketed weapon or piece of gear, and the degree of customization should be impressive.

Official Blizzard Quote:

illthegreat: @Diablo since you reworked stats to benefit all classes will gems be treated in the same manner?

Diablo: @illthegreat There is a "caster gem" for weapons. Potentially two depending on your build.

In the same vein as the previous tweet, it appears as though at least two of the six gems will be viable for caster weapons. This opens up the possibility of Attack and Cast speed increases through gems, as either of those would obviously help a caster. The second gem could be for builds that focus on skills that involve weapon damage, if they exist at all, or more derivative builds such as a Battle Mage of sorts. Whatever the end result, it is nice to know that gems will be important for all classes.

Official Blizzard Quote:

Scyberdragon: @Diablo Can runes be swapped when ever or do you need an artisan to equip/swap out runes?

Diablo: @Scyberdragon Restrictions are likely for when/where you can change them.

Relating to a recent discussion on our forums, we are given a small hint as to how rune swapping will work. While many users expressed concern that ease of swapping could translate into abusing the rune system to constantly optimize your character depending on who you were fighting, this tweet makes it somewhat clear that there will be restrictions on rune swapping. These restrictions could come in the form of having to return to town every time, or even something along the lines of a time limit on how often you can swap runes. In the end, as with so many things, we will have to wait for more information to know exactly how it will work.

On a bit of an unrelated note, we also got some good news today when we found out that there is now a new Community Manager alongside DiabloWiki.com - Bashiok

Bashiok on the Diablo III forums.

Official Blizzard Quote:

Please join me in welcoming Kaivax, our newest community manager!

Kaivax brings with him a wealth of game and community experience. A self proclaimed Diablo-lover (aren't we all?) he's also eager for the 1.3 StarCraft II patch, continuing to work up the ladder, and getting those last few achievements. In addition his experience in the World of Warcraft community will surely be invaluable as we move into 4.1 and beyond. He'll be here with the rest of us, day in and day out to collect your feedback, talk about the games, shout out on Twitter and Facebook, and write up articles for the front page blog.

If taken correctly Kaivax can provide a sense of calm and euphoria. In a small number of cases Kaivax caused eye irritation and a sense of bewilderment. Taking Kaivax while raging may result in a loss of appetite and posting privileges. Consult your code of conduct before challenging Kaivax. If Kaivax posts more than four times, consult a blue tracker.

Edit: Apparently he's not a Diablo III CM, so we won't see him around that much. Pretty misleading first line though.

The Blizzard art page was also updated with some new Diablo fan art featuring three Barbarian pieces and a blood curdling drawing of the infamous http://diablowiki.com/Butcher." class="wiki-link">

http://media-diablofans.cursecdn.com/attachments/16/736/wiki2.gif" alt="DiabloWiki.com - Butcher."/> Butcher.

Official Blizzard Quote:

Check em! Four new pieces of awesome fan art are now available in our gallery.

http://us.blizzard.com/en-us/community/fanart/?ip=diablo

Click for full resolution.

Comments

ScyberDragon
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Posted Feb 28, 2011
I am interested in what the gems/effects for the caster gems. I assume one is a simple +spell damage. I wonder what the second effect is that will help out casters. I also hope that they balance out the effects so that I am conflicted on what gems are the most beneficial and can use them to help define my class.

I am also glad that there is some form of restriction to swapping out runes. I didn't want to have to worry about keeping different sets depending on what I was doing. Hopefully, they balance it so its not a huge hindrance but deters people from having different runes sets for multiple occasions.

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Jackzor
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Posted Feb 28, 2011
Yea my initial thoughts were damage and cast rate, but there could also be things like penetration against resistances and the like. The main thing is that multiple different caster related things could also work in armor sockets, so I really have no idea what will end up being tied to weapons alone. And yea, some system to make it so you're not constantly changing runes is definitely needed. Even though respeccing is an option, there should still be something of a sense of permanency to your skill/rune combos.

The only bad news is that, once again, casters are being crapped on when it comes to weapons. ONE (maybe two) weapon gem that is useful to casters?
Well if it divides up for two for casters, two for melee, and two for weapon based ranged (aka the DH), then that would be reasonable. What it could also mean is that there are two that are specifically for casters, then one thats an attack speed and applies to all characters, which would really be three options (out of 6 gems) that apply to casters.

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SuperMantaMan
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Posted Feb 28, 2011
One thing I am interested in is, will higher leveled gems have additional effects, or change effects entirely (ie a gem that provided additional Xp would become useless once you are 60. For alts I know, but it would be nice that a gem doesn't become obsolete just because you hit 60) If a gem gives more Fcr are we really just going to have 14 levels of fcr increases? (Granted it is an awesome stat but, it would be nice to think that there will be a little variation with the collection of thousands of gems.

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Jackzor
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Posted Feb 28, 2011
How so? He was talking specifically about casters, and from what we know it seems like they're trying to make it so that casters and physical characters use similar statistics. Its not unreasonable to think they'd make it so that theres a universal modifier that increases all attack rates (or something of that sort,) and he could have not included that while answering a question caster specific gems. In the end we don't know, but I think theres a reasonable case for either side.

Also, even if there is only two for casters, its:
1. Only weapons, so casters could still get a lot of use out of gems in other sockets.
2. The six gems could be divided into 2 per archetype (melee, caster, ranged), which would fit with this description.

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Irrational
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Posted Feb 28, 2011
Anyone else lovin' the picture of the butcher? God I wish I could draw like that

But I love the new additions and how nothing is the same in this game. I was seriously scared that we were going to get a Diablo 2 with better graphics.

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AcidReign
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Posted Feb 28, 2011
Quote from Irrational
I was seriously scared that we were going to get a Diablo 2 with better graphics.

I'd still play it!

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BarlowEnter
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Posted Mar 1, 2011
The first pic on the right is a barb that is proud of having christmas experienced, lion facial hair, all three of these Barbs had more scorn facial design, reminds me of Ariel's father. Or a Norse mythology character, Odin perhaps?

Well actually I'm saying I prefer this look.

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DesmondTiny
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Posted Mar 1, 2011
Quote from Irrational

Anyone else lovin' the picture of the butcher? God I wish I could draw like that

But I love the new additions and how nothing is the same in this game. I was seriously scared that we were going to get a Diablo 2 with better graphics.

Yea he looks awesome!!

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Biokon
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Posted Mar 1, 2011
Quote from DesmondTiny

Quote from Irrational

Anyone else lovin' the picture of the butcher? God I wish I could draw like that

But I love the new additions and how nothing is the same in this game. I was seriously scared that we were going to get a Diablo 2 with better graphics.

Yea he looks awesome!!

Damn Right, I think the butcher has to be one of the most badass monsters in any videogame!

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TheBlueWanderer
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Posted Mar 2, 2011
Some of these articles are becoming increasingly tedious to read. Usually a one-liner quote being excessively over-analyzed. And a whole lot of stating-the-obvious - 'it seems that...', 'it appears that...'. Yeah, I know. I just read the quote. Anyway. The whole new gem/runes/ revamp seems quite cool. Can't wait to experience it for myself soon.

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Jackzor
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Posted Mar 2, 2011
Lol. If you want a list use a blue tracker.

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Umpa
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Posted Mar 2, 2011
Holy cow I'm glad I clicked on this thread! I think we should edit the title to include an art update. Those pieces are so fucking brutalllll!!!!

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Jackzor
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Posted Mar 2, 2011
Yea I thought I had included the fan art in the title once it was added. My bad

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Magistrate
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Posted Mar 2, 2011
That Butcher interpretation would certainly have some very big om-noms.

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