Blizzard Reveals Diablo III Class Resource Mechanics
Blizzard’s Diablo III blog has been updated to detail the ability resources unique to each of the game’s five classes, giving a good look at each of the characters’ own personal playstyle.
While both Diablo I and II have simply used the old RPG standby of mana to power characters’ special abilities, the developers have decided to make the classes in Diablo III feel more individual by personalizing the manner in which they are able to activate their spells and attacks.
Diablo III’s melee combatants, the monk and barbarian, generate “fury” and “spirit” respectively by doling out close-range damage and utilize these resources for their more powerful moves. However, while the barbarian also gains fury from taking damage, the monk’s spirit comes only from dishing it out through combos of precise strikes. As a tradeoff, fury depletes rapidly outside of combat, while spirit sticks around until used.
Mana still exists in the game, and is the exclusive purview of the witch doctor. A slowly regenerating resource similar to its Diablo II incarnation, it is used for the methodical summoning of minions and casting of diabolical hexes. By contrast, the wizard fills in the roll of the more explosive caster, using bursts fast-regenerating “arcane power” to fire off quick, volatile spells.
The newest class, the demon hunter, balances two resources: “hatred” and “discipline.” Hatred acts as a quickly regenerating pool, fueling the ranged attacker’s quick and damaging combat maneuvers. For more tactical abilities, the demon hunter relies on the slowly-accumulating discipline resource, which must be used with greater care but allows for such trickery as a smoke screen to vanish from sight.
It’s great to see that each of the classes are getting such individual attention, and these unique resource methods seem like they’ll add a good bit of individuality to the characters. Besides, let’s be honest: how much sense did it make for a barbarian to be using mana anyway?
Which Diablo III class are you looking forward to the most? Let us know in the comments!
They were sick of people arguing over whether it’s pronounced “Mannuh” or “Maw-na”
Isn’t this straight from WOW? Nothing unique here.
The concept of class resource mechanics is similar to WoW, but they are different in the way they are functioning in Diablo 3 with the exception of mana and rage. Arcane power, Spirit and the hatred/discipline resources are unique to D3 in the way they function.
Blizzard has always done a great job of making balanced but truly different races/classes in their games. I’m glad we have a wide variety of mechanics to choose from. Barbarians and Wizards seem “bursty,” Witch Doctors seem like smooth, efficient machines, and the Demon Hunter and Monk have lots of utility.
These differences in mechanics will inevitably make certain classes excel in certain situations or versus certain enemies. Hopefully, they will all be expertly balanced overall.
I wrote a quick article making the case for each of the five Diablo 3 classes as the most efficient monster-killer and treasure hunter:
Great article. I’m very excited for Diablo 3′s release, but I believe the delay is due to class balancing. Because Diablo 3 treasure can now be sold for real money, we underestimate the importance of making sure all five classes are equally efficient treasure hunters.
If they’re not balanced, people will be strongly compelled to all choose whichever class is the best bounty hunter.