Diablo III Beta

Grats, let us know what you can about the game.

The client download was about 3.5 gb. Not nearly as bad as I suspected. Initially I had some technical issues with installing the launcher. Kept telling me that the configuration options were invalid. The only option was the directory. I played with it and after the 4th try, it worked.

The install works much like WoW. The basic launcher installs, then it patches everything else. There is a bar just like wow that starts out red for critical patches, then turns yellow/green for less important patches that you can skip and play, or wait.

I created my toon. Initially I was taken back by the total lack of character customization, then then I remembered that this is Diablo, not WoW. I chose a male wizard, named him, and entered the game.

The game works exactly the same as Diable I and II. you have a fixed overhead view. you use the mouse to move around and target enemies. 4 key hotbar for spells.

You pick up quests then proceed to do them. As you progress through the game, waypoints open up so that you can get back to New Tristram.

The first main quest chain is to rescue Decard Cane.

All this probably sounds like Diablo II. I've seen three main differences so far.

1. The graphics are significantly better
2. Crafting has been added. I haven't had a chance to try any of it yet.
3. Achievements

I manged to get to level 8, and almost 9. It looks like the Beta is capped at 13.

Nice, congratulations on getting in

Really looking forwards to this game since you won't have to find a decent raid to experience all the content ;)

The Beta is a little frustrating in that the servers are not yet stable. They are constantly finding problems and going into emergency maintenance mode to install patches and stuff. They also are limiting how many people can be in at once. This means that it's sometimes difficult to even play.

That being said, when you can get on and don't get DC'd, the game is fun. I figured out this weekend that most of the game is account based and not character based. Basically, all of your achievemts, Stash, and gold are shared with all of your toons. This means that if your hunter is out questing and finds a really nice Barbian axe, you can have the hunter drop in in your Stash and then the Barbie can take it.

Your gold is always account gold, regardless of the toon you are playing. And similarly, achievements are earned for your account, regardless if which toon gets it.

The Beta test is limited to Act I, and character level of 13. This changes the dynamic of your playing based on the actual release version in that you can finish Act I by level 9 or 10, but still have 3-4 levels to go before you are max level. Consequently, you have to play Act I over and over about 4-5 times before you are fully leveled. There are achievemts for reaching max level, as well as getting all classes to max level.

Wizard
The wizard, like WoW's Mage, is a powerful class for large DPS, and not able to take a lot of physical abuse. The goal is to burn down the mob before they can reach you. Around level 8 you can get a tank (templar) to party up with you and then it becomes a lot easier. So far, this is Fav class

Barbarian
This class can dish out a lot of damage, and take a pounding at the same time. This is also a Fav class.

Demon Hunter
Basically a Hunter class. As you would expect, they are geared with Bows, Single hand and dual, and do a lot of damage. Unlike WoW's hunter, the Demon Hunter does not have a pet to run blocker. They do, however, give you options for getting out of the thick of things using acrobatics and such. The hunter can do a nice DPS as long as they can stay ranged. Consequently, this is a more difficult class to play until you get the Templar to run blocker. This is a Fav class too.

Witch Doctor
Haven't tried yet.

Monk
Haven't tried yet

Templar
An NPC for hire. After your toon meets him in one of the dungeons, you have the option to have him join your group. He's a holy knight that thrives on killing the undead that infests the land. You can update some of his equipment as you go to help him be more devistating in combat. The Templar is NOT account based. You have to find him for each toon and equip him for each toon.

Group Play
By default, your games are private (invite only), but you have the option to open them up to the public so that others can join, OR make then friends only so that only people on your friends list can join. I tried one public game and found some good and some bad.

The good is that the monsters get harder the more people are in game, and thus the better treasure that drops. If you want the REALLY good loot, you need several people in your game. Also, the loot that drops for you, only you can see and pick up. No need to find or roll for loot.

The bad is that you end up with something similar to PUGs in WoW: Everyone is hell-bent on getting through to the boss and if you don't run to keep up, you will fall behind. Also, if you want to go to a bos level and someone isn't ready or doesn't want to answer to go in, the game has to wait for a minute or so until they either answer ready or time out.

Auction House
There is an auction house, but I haven't yet found my way into it yet.

Crafting
You get to learn crafting. The first one (and the only one I've seen in Beta) is Blacksmithing. As you find things you don't need, you can scrap them for components and make other items with them. You can also help the blacksmith level his crafting skill so that he can learn to make more powerful equipment and in turn teach you. The crafted weapons and armor are generally superior to what you can find.

Stash
Your stash starts out as 14 slots on the first tab. Each tab has 5 sets of 14 slots. You can open up additional sets of slots for 2,500 gold each. Once you fill a tab, you can pay to open the next tab (which comes with the first 14 slots).

So far, I've opened up all slots on tab 1 for 10,000 gold, opened the second tab for another 10,000 gold, opened up all the slots on tab 2 for another 10,000 gold. I'm working on the 50,000 gold to open the 3rd tab. There are 5 tabs total.