Fotds: April 1999 - Revision history

82.41.176.69 at 15:41, 7 March 2009

2009-03-07T15:41:32Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:41, 7 March 2009
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	==April 5, 1999==		==April 5, 1999==
	[[Image:Fotd-kick.gif\|right]]		[[Image:Fotd-kick.gif\|right]]
	::''Kick, along with Throw and Attack, are the three abilities that all characters can use. Kick has yet to be seen in action, but the description mentions knocking monsters back several paces, which would seem to be of the most use to weaker characters, and those wielding ranged attack weapons~~. early one~~.		::''Kick, along with Throw and Attack, are the three abilities that all characters can use. Kick has yet to be seen in action, but the description mentions knocking monsters back several paces, which would seem to be of the most use to weaker characters, and those wielding ranged attack weapons.

	Kick didn't make the final game, or even the beta. It was designed to be a sort of no-damage Bash, but that any character could use. Early concepts for D2 had bows being ineffective at melee range, so kick was going to be a way to force monsters back enough that they could be shot. It proved too much trouble in testing though.		Kick didn't make the final game, or even the beta. It was designed to be a sort of no-damage Bash, but that any character could use. Early concepts for D2 had bows being ineffective at melee range, so kick was going to be a way to force monsters back enough that they could be shot. It proved too much trouble in testing though.
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	==April 5, 1999==		==April 5, 1999==
	::''Diablo II features improved random level generation. Surface wilderness and dungeons can contain large 'special' areas, such as a cemetery or a pond or a dark altar with pews, that will fit into the random levels smoothly and give a better sense of place than the familiar walls and clearings of Diablo.		::''Diablo II features improved random level generation. Surface wilderness and dungeons can contain large 'special' areas, such as a [[:Image:Fotd-1999-april05.jpg\|cemetery]] or a pond or a [[:Image:Fotd-april5-1999.jpg\|dark altar with pews]], that will fit into the random levels smoothly and give a better sense of place than the familiar walls and clearings of Diablo.

	Yes, there are two April 5th's. That's the dates they had in our old archives, probably one was elsewhere in April and mis-labeled. Also, we used to be so bursting with info that we'd put up more than one FotD a day at times, one up every 18 hours, for example.		Yes, there are two April 5th's. That's the dates they had in our old archives, probably one was elsewhere in April and mis-labeled. Also, we used to be so bursting with info that we'd put up more than one FotD a day at times, one up every 18 hours, for example.
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	The screenshot of the early inventory has to be seen to be believed.		The screenshot of the early inventory has to be seen to be believed.


	==April 9, 1999==		==April 9, 1999==
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	::''Lightning Javelin is an Amazon skill that adds a bit of lightning damage to your regular jabbing javelin attack. It is thought to be a lower level skill, probably one that is required to enable higher level lightning or other hand-to-hand javelin skills. You can see it in action here.		::''Lightning Javelin is an Amazon skill that adds a bit of lightning damage to your regular jabbing javelin attack. It is thought to be a lower level skill, probably one that is required to enable higher level lightning or other hand-to-hand javelin skills. You can see it in action here.

	The names of the Amazon spear skills changed a lot right up until the release, so likely Power Strike was once called Lightning Javelin. Or possibly we just had the wrong skill name here, from whatever preview or interview we got it. The screenie is interesting.		The names of the Amazon spear skills changed a lot right up until the release, so likely Power Strike was once called Lightning Javelin. Or possibly we just had the wrong skill name here, from whatever preview or interview we got it. [[:Image:Fotd-april9-1999b.jpg\|The screenie is interesting]].


	==April 11, 1999==		==April 11, 1999==
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	Bliz eventually turned it into an aura that looks cool but that no one ever uses. If this is an improvement is to be debated.		Bliz eventually turned it into an aura that looks cool but that no one ever uses. If this is an improvement is to be debated.


	==April 13, 1999==		==April 13, 1999==
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	One skill that looks just the same now as it did in the early screenshots. None of the three linked to here originally were really worth a look now.		One skill that looks just the same now as it did in the early screenshots. None of the three linked to here originally were really worth a look now.


	==April 15, 1999==		==April 15, 1999==
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	There was just one aura tree initially, along with a Combat skills tree and a Healing Tree. Obviously the healing tree went away, and most of the stuff in it became auras, like Prayer, Cleansing, etc, though most were combined from multiple old skill concepts. There was a cure poison skill, and also a remove curses skill, and they were combined and modified into Cleansing.		There was just one aura tree initially, along with a Combat skills tree and a Healing Tree. Obviously the healing tree went away, and most of the stuff in it became auras, like Prayer, Cleansing, etc, though most were combined from multiple old skill concepts. There was a cure poison skill, and also a remove curses skill, and they were combined and modified into Cleansing.


	==April 17, 1999==		==April 17, 1999==
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	Neither screenshot link was live, so don't know which shots these were coming from. Likely the difference in appearance was between builds, rather than higher Slvl making any difference.		Neither screenshot link was live, so don't know which shots these were coming from. Likely the difference in appearance was between builds, rather than higher Slvl making any difference.


	==April 20, 1999==		==April 20, 1999==
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	This thumbnail is from [[:Image:Fotd-april20lrg-1999.jpg\|another old screenshot]] that's worth a click, just to see how much things changed during game development.		This thumbnail is from [[:Image:Fotd-april20lrg-1999.jpg\|another old screenshot]] that's worth a click, just to see how much things changed during game development.


	==April 21, 1999==		==April 21, 1999==
	[[Image:Fotd-april21-1999.gif\|left]]		[[Image:Fotd-april21-1999.gif\|left]]
	::''Blaze is a new Sorceress spell. It works like a trailing Firewall, consuming mana as the Sorceress runs and blazing up behind her. It looks like more of a fun spell than something of enormous strategic use, but if monsters are hesitant to cross the flames, it could be useful to put up a barrier to halt them, and then kill them with other spells. See Blaze here.		::''Blaze is a new Sorceress spell. It works like a trailing Firewall, consuming mana as the Sorceress runs and blazing up behind her. It looks like more of a fun spell than something of enormous strategic use, but if monsters are hesitant to cross the flames, it could be useful to put up a barrier to halt them, and then kill them with other spells. [[:Image:Fotd-april19-1999b.jpg\|See Blaze here]].

	Blaze initially worked sort of like Inferno; you would select it on the right click, and as long as you ran with the right click, you'd lay down a trail. So you could do it for two steps or fifty steps, depending on how much mana you could afford. At some point it was changed to the set amount of time by Slvl we see in the final game.		Blaze initially worked sort of like Inferno; you would select it on the right click, and as long as you ran with the right click, you'd lay down a trail. So you could do it for two steps or fifty steps, depending on how much mana you could afford. At some point it was changed to the set amount of time by Slvl we see in the final game.

	Obviously monsters have no AI to not walk into flames, as we speculated here. Bliz talked about monster AI being much smarter back in the early days, but very little of that made it into the final game, much to the delight of firewall Sasas. It was thought that Guardian (Hydra), if there were a skill like that, would be more useful due to the targeting nature of it, since monsters wouldn't be stupid enough to just stand in flame.		Obviously monsters have no AI to not walk into flames, as we speculated here. Bliz talked about monster AI being much smarter back in the early days, but very little of that made it into the final game, much to the delight of firewall Sasas. It was thought that Guardian (Hydra), if there were a skill like that, would be more useful due to the targeting nature of it, since monsters wouldn't be stupid enough to just stand in flame.


	==April 22, 1999==		==April 22, 1999==
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	::''Fallen will return in Diablo II, and they are larger, more numerous and more active this time around, though still cowardly when some other monster dies. We know of at least five colors of them so far, Red, Orange, Blue, Gray, and Silver, and they have camps and standards and seem to use the Disfigured as watch dogs.		::''Fallen will return in Diablo II, and they are larger, more numerous and more active this time around, though still cowardly when some other monster dies. We know of at least five colors of them so far, Red, Orange, Blue, Gray, and Silver, and they have camps and standards and seem to use the Disfigured as watch dogs.

	Several early shots showed Disfigured in Fallen camps, so speculation was that they spawned there with the Fallen. They might have back then, though they don't in the final game.		Several early shots ([[:Image:Fotd-1999-april22.jpg\|such as this one]])showed Disfigured in Fallen camps, so speculation was that they spawned there with the Fallen. They might have back then, though they don't in the final game.


	==April 23, 1999==		==April 23, 1999==
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	Arena Games were ruled out long ago. You can see the most collected info about them on our old page right here.		Arena Games were ruled out long ago. You can see the most collected info about them on our old page right here.


	==April 26, 1999==		==April 26, 1999==
	[[Image:Fotd-april26-1999.gif\|left]]		[[Image:Fotd-april26-1999.gif\|left]]
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	We meant "works like Chain Lightning" in terms of the D1 Chain Lightning, which sent a bolt out from your character towards every monster in range. Basically like the bolts from a Lightning Fury impact, rather than the target hopping Chain Lightning we see in D2.		We meant "works like Chain Lightning" in terms of the D1 Chain Lightning, which sent a bolt out from your character towards every monster in range. Basically like the bolts from a Lightning Fury impact, rather than the target hopping Chain Lightning we see in D2.


	==April 27, 1999==		==April 27, 1999==
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	That Act Four was Hell was a very closely-guarded secret for the entire pre-game time. Rumors of it being Hell (as well as many other things, often inside a volcano, or in an icy land) were around, but there were never any screenshots or confirmations of that from Blizzard. We saw it during our Blizzard North visit in December 2000, but couldn't say anything about it at the time.		That Act Four was Hell was a very closely-guarded secret for the entire pre-game time. Rumors of it being Hell (as well as many other things, often inside a volcano, or in an icy land) were around, but there were never any screenshots or confirmations of that from Blizzard. We saw it during our Blizzard North visit in December 2000, but couldn't say anything about it at the time.


	==April 30, 1999==		==April 30, 1999==

82.41.176.69: /* April 30, 1999 */

2009-03-07T15:15:24Z

April 30, 1999

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:15, 7 March 2009
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	==April 30, 1999==		==April 30, 1999==
			[[Image:Fotd-april30-1999.gif\|left]]
	::''Inferno returns in Diablo II, but it is much improved. It now works like a flame thrower, burning in the direction you target, (and burning mana all the while) and doing actual damage, or so Blizzard promises us. You can see it at work in this new screenshot.		::''Inferno returns in Diablo II, but it is much improved. It now works like a flame thrower, burning in the direction you target, (and burning mana all the while) and doing actual damage, or so Blizzard promises us. You can see it at work in this new screenshot.

82.41.176.69: /* April 29, 1999 */

2009-03-07T15:14:38Z

April 29, 1999

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:14, 7 March 2009
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	==April 29, 1999==		==April 29, 1999==
			[[Image:Fotd-april29-1999.gif\|frame]]
	::''Diablo II will feature very different areas in each of its four sections. Act One is set in an area near and much like Tristram in Diablo. Act Two is set in a desert, and Act Three is set in a jungle/tropical rainforest, with large Mayan-style temples and pyramids, the insides of which will look something like this. The setting for "The Finale" (Act Four) has not yet been revealed.		::''Diablo II will feature very different areas in each of its four sections. Act One is set in an area near and much like Tristram in Diablo. Act Two is set in a desert, and Act Three is set in a jungle/tropical rainforest, with large Mayan-style temples and pyramids, the insides of which will look something like this. The setting for "The Finale" (Act Four) has not yet been revealed.

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	That Act Four was Hell was a very closely-guarded secret for the entire pre-game time. Rumors of it being Hell (as well as many other things, often inside a volcano, or in an icy land) were around, but there were never any screenshots or confirmations of that from Blizzard. We saw it during our Blizzard North visit in December 2000, but couldn't say anything about it at the time.		That Act Four was Hell was a very closely-guarded secret for the entire pre-game time. Rumors of it being Hell (as well as many other things, often inside a volcano, or in an icy land) were around, but there were never any screenshots or confirmations of that from Blizzard. We saw it during our Blizzard North visit in December 2000, but couldn't say anything about it at the time.


	==April 30, 1999==		==April 30, 1999==
	::''Inferno returns in Diablo II, but it is much improved. It now works like a flame thrower, burning in the direction you target, (and burning mana all the while) and doing actual damage, or so Blizzard promises us. You can see it at work in this new screenshot.		::''Inferno returns in Diablo II, but it is much improved. It now works like a flame thrower, burning in the direction you target, (and burning mana all the while) and doing actual damage, or so Blizzard promises us. You can see it at work in this new screenshot.

82.41.176.69: /* April 26, 1999 */

2009-03-07T15:13:55Z

April 26, 1999

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:13, 7 March 2009
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	==April 26, 1999==		==April 26, 1999==
			[[Image:Fotd-april26-1999.gif\|left]]
	::''Strafing Arrow is a powerful new Amazon skill that allows you to fire multiple arrows in very rapid succession, each one automatically targeting a different monster. It works something like Chain Lightning, and you can see it used in our report on the Amazon AVI Blizzard recently released.		::''Strafing Arrow is a powerful new Amazon skill that allows you to fire multiple arrows in very rapid succession, each one automatically targeting a different monster. It works something like Chain Lightning, and you can see it used in our report on the Amazon AVI Blizzard recently released.

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	We meant "works like Chain Lightning" in terms of the D1 Chain Lightning, which sent a bolt out from your character towards every monster in range. Basically like the bolts from a Lightning Fury impact, rather than the target hopping Chain Lightning we see in D2.		We meant "works like Chain Lightning" in terms of the D1 Chain Lightning, which sent a bolt out from your character towards every monster in range. Basically like the bolts from a Lightning Fury impact, rather than the target hopping Chain Lightning we see in D2.


	==April 27, 1999==		==April 27, 1999==
	::''There will be "closed" or Battle.net-only characters for Diablo II, that have the highest level of anti-cheat assurance. These characters will be stored on the Bnet servers, and will only be playable over Bnet, with other "closed" characters. There are also "open" characters, that can be played over Bnet, or Kali, or a LAN or modem, and they will be not much more cheat free than Diablo chars are now.		::''There will be "closed" or Battle.net-only characters for Diablo II, that have the highest level of anti-cheat assurance. These characters will be stored on the Bnet servers, and will only be playable over Bnet, with other "closed" characters. There are also "open" characters, that can be played over Bnet, or Kali, or a LAN or modem, and they will be not much more cheat free than Diablo chars are now.

82.41.176.69: /* April 22, 1999 */

2009-03-07T15:13:15Z

April 22, 1999

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:13, 7 March 2009
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	==April 22, 1999==		==April 22, 1999==
			[[Image:Fotd-april22-1999.jpg\|left]]
	::''Fallen will return in Diablo II, and they are larger, more numerous and more active this time around, though still cowardly when some other monster dies. We know of at least five colors of them so far, Red, Orange, Blue, Gray, and Silver, and they have camps and standards and seem to use the Disfigured as watch dogs.		::''Fallen will return in Diablo II, and they are larger, more numerous and more active this time around, though still cowardly when some other monster dies. We know of at least five colors of them so far, Red, Orange, Blue, Gray, and Silver, and they have camps and standards and seem to use the Disfigured as watch dogs.

	Several early shots showed Disfigured in Fallen camps, so speculation was that they spawned there with the Fallen. They might have back then, though they don't in the final game.		Several early shots showed Disfigured in Fallen camps, so speculation was that they spawned there with the Fallen. They might have back then, though they don't in the final game.


	==April 23, 1999==		==April 23, 1999==
	::''As part of the many new battle.net enhancements for Diablo II, there will be special "Arena" games, which are solely for dueling, either one on one or in larger groups. There will be custom arena tile sets, and player rankings from duels will be recorded and used to form the worldwide character ranking system. Wagers, starting positions, losing equipment upon defeat and many other possibly features have not been announced yet.		::''As part of the many new battle.net enhancements for Diablo II, there will be special "Arena" games, which are solely for dueling, either one on one or in larger groups. There will be custom arena tile sets, and player rankings from duels will be recorded and used to form the worldwide character ranking system. Wagers, starting positions, losing equipment upon defeat and many other possibly features have not been announced yet.

82.41.176.69: /* April 21, 1999 */

2009-03-07T15:11:45Z

April 21, 1999

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:11, 7 March 2009
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	==April 21, 1999==		==April 21, 1999==
			[[Image:Fotd-april21-1999.gif\|left]]
	::''Blaze is a new Sorceress spell. It works like a trailing Firewall, consuming mana as the Sorceress runs and blazing up behind her. It looks like more of a fun spell than something of enormous strategic use, but if monsters are hesitant to cross the flames, it could be useful to put up a barrier to halt them, and then kill them with other spells. See Blaze here.		::''Blaze is a new Sorceress spell. It works like a trailing Firewall, consuming mana as the Sorceress runs and blazing up behind her. It looks like more of a fun spell than something of enormous strategic use, but if monsters are hesitant to cross the flames, it could be useful to put up a barrier to halt them, and then kill them with other spells. See Blaze here.

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	Obviously monsters have no AI to not walk into flames, as we speculated here. Bliz talked about monster AI being much smarter back in the early days, but very little of that made it into the final game, much to the delight of firewall Sasas. It was thought that Guardian (Hydra), if there were a skill like that, would be more useful due to the targeting nature of it, since monsters wouldn't be stupid enough to just stand in flame.		Obviously monsters have no AI to not walk into flames, as we speculated here. Bliz talked about monster AI being much smarter back in the early days, but very little of that made it into the final game, much to the delight of firewall Sasas. It was thought that Guardian (Hydra), if there were a skill like that, would be more useful due to the targeting nature of it, since monsters wouldn't be stupid enough to just stand in flame.


	==April 22, 1999==		==April 22, 1999==
	::''Fallen will return in Diablo II, and they are larger, more numerous and more active this time around, though still cowardly when some other monster dies. We know of at least five colors of them so far, Red, Orange, Blue, Gray, and Silver, and they have camps and standards and seem to use the Disfigured as watch dogs.		::''Fallen will return in Diablo II, and they are larger, more numerous and more active this time around, though still cowardly when some other monster dies. We know of at least five colors of them so far, Red, Orange, Blue, Gray, and Silver, and they have camps and standards and seem to use the Disfigured as watch dogs.

82.41.176.69: /* April 20, 1999 */

2009-03-07T15:10:53Z

April 20, 1999

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:10, 7 March 2009
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	==April 20, 1999==		==April 20, 1999==
			[[Image:Fotd-april20-1999.jpg\|left]]
	::''There are a great many things in Diablo II that are much larger and much smaller than your character. Walls stretch up several stories, there are tiny rats and bats, and many of the monsters are substantially larger than you. A good example is the Blunderbore, seen here in mid-smite as he looms over the Sorceress.		::''There are a great many things in Diablo II that are much larger and much smaller than your character. Walls stretch up several stories, there are tiny rats and bats, and many of the monsters are substantially larger than you. A good example is the Blunderbore, seen here in mid-smite as he looms over the Sorceress.

	Just having monsters be different sizes was a departure from Diablo, where everything was from Fallen to Balrog size. Even Diablo wasn't that much taller than your character. People hoped for really large monsters in D2, like building-sized, though this didn't come to pass.		Just having monsters be different sizes was a departure from Diablo, where everything was from Fallen to Balrog size. Even Diablo wasn't that much taller than your character. People hoped for really large monsters in D2, like building-sized, though this didn't come to pass.

			This thumbnail is from [[:Image:Fotd-april20lrg-1999.jpg\|another old screenshot]] that's worth a click, just to see how much things changed during game development.

	==April 21, 1999==		==April 21, 1999==
	::''Blaze is a new Sorceress spell. It works like a trailing Firewall, consuming mana as the Sorceress runs and blazing up behind her. It looks like more of a fun spell than something of enormous strategic use, but if monsters are hesitant to cross the flames, it could be useful to put up a barrier to halt them, and then kill them with other spells. See Blaze here.		::''Blaze is a new Sorceress spell. It works like a trailing Firewall, consuming mana as the Sorceress runs and blazing up behind her. It looks like more of a fun spell than something of enormous strategic use, but if monsters are hesitant to cross the flames, it could be useful to put up a barrier to halt them, and then kill them with other spells. See Blaze here.

82.41.176.69: /* April 19, 1999 */

2009-03-07T15:01:44Z

April 19, 1999

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:01, 7 March 2009
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	==April 19, 1999==		==April 19, 1999==
			[[Image:Fotd-april19-1999.gif\|left]]
	::''Charged Bolt is also returning from Diablo, appearing in the Sorceress' Lightning Spells Skill Tree. We've seen it in several screenshots, such as this one, but also it appears to be here, though the "bolts" look a bit different. Possibly a higher level of it, or just a new animation. Speculation is permitted.		::''Charged Bolt is also returning from Diablo, appearing in the Sorceress' Lightning Spells Skill Tree. We've seen it in several screenshots, such as this one, but also it appears to be here, though the "bolts" look a bit different. Possibly a higher level of it, or just a new animation. Speculation is permitted.

	Neither screenshot link was live, so don't know which shots these were coming from. Likely the difference in appearance was between builds, rather than higher Slvl making any difference.		Neither screenshot link was live, so don't know which shots these were coming from. Likely the difference in appearance was between builds, rather than higher Slvl making any difference.


	==April 20, 1999==		==April 20, 1999==
	::''There are a great many things in Diablo II that are much larger and much smaller than your character. Walls stretch up several stories, there are tiny rats and bats, and many of the monsters are substantially larger than you. A good example is the Blunderbore, seen here in mid-smite as he looms over the Sorceress.		::''There are a great many things in Diablo II that are much larger and much smaller than your character. Walls stretch up several stories, there are tiny rats and bats, and many of the monsters are substantially larger than you. A good example is the Blunderbore, seen here in mid-smite as he looms over the Sorceress.

82.41.176.69: /* April 15, 1999 */

2009-03-07T15:00:59Z

April 15, 1999

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:00, 7 March 2009
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	::''The Paladin has a full skill tree of Auras. Protective fields that he persist around him until they have absorbed or dealt all of the damage that they are able to. Their powers increase with the level of the skill, and known auras include Fire Resistance, Lightning (seen here on the left), Cold Resistance, and Thorn (seen on the right.) Both pics from the Paladin.avi.		::''The Paladin has a full skill tree of Auras. Protective fields that he persist around him until they have absorbed or dealt all of the damage that they are able to. Their powers increase with the level of the skill, and known auras include Fire Resistance, Lightning (seen here on the left), Cold Resistance, and Thorn (seen on the right.) Both pics from the Paladin.avi.

	You see how auras used to look here, full body ringing things, in various colors and shapes. There were very few screenies released showing this, so most of the evidence is in the old Paladin AVI, which you can still download from Blizzard, if you are so inclined. The left one is Holy Shock, apparently, rather than Lightning Resistance. Not that it really matters at this point.		You see how auras used to look here, full body ringing things, in various colors and shapes. There were very few screenies released showing this, so most of the evidence is in the old Paladin AVI, which you can still [http://www.blizzard.com/us/diablo2/gameplay.html download from Blizzard], if you are so inclined. The left one is Holy Shock, apparently, rather than Lightning Resistance. Not that it really matters at this point.

	There was just one aura tree initially, along with a Combat skills tree and a Healing Tree. Obviously the healing tree went away, and most of the stuff in it became auras, like Prayer, Cleansing, etc, though most were combined from multiple old skill concepts. There was a cure poison skill, and also a remove curses skill, and they were combined and modified into Cleansing.		There was just one aura tree initially, along with a Combat skills tree and a Healing Tree. Obviously the healing tree went away, and most of the stuff in it became auras, like Prayer, Cleansing, etc, though most were combined from multiple old skill concepts. There was a cure poison skill, and also a remove curses skill, and they were combined and modified into Cleansing.

82.41.176.69: /* April 15, 1999 */

2009-03-07T14:59:31Z

April 15, 1999

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:59, 7 March 2009
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	==April 15, 1999==		==April 15, 1999==
			[[Image:Fotd-april15-1999.jpg\|left]]
			[[Image:Fotd-april15-1999b.jpg\|right]]
	::''The Paladin has a full skill tree of Auras. Protective fields that he persist around him until they have absorbed or dealt all of the damage that they are able to. Their powers increase with the level of the skill, and known auras include Fire Resistance, Lightning (seen here on the left), Cold Resistance, and Thorn (seen on the right.) Both pics from the Paladin.avi.		::''The Paladin has a full skill tree of Auras. Protective fields that he persist around him until they have absorbed or dealt all of the damage that they are able to. Their powers increase with the level of the skill, and known auras include Fire Resistance, Lightning (seen here on the left), Cold Resistance, and Thorn (seen on the right.) Both pics from the Paladin.avi.

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	There was just one aura tree initially, along with a Combat skills tree and a Healing Tree. Obviously the healing tree went away, and most of the stuff in it became auras, like Prayer, Cleansing, etc, though most were combined from multiple old skill concepts. There was a cure poison skill, and also a remove curses skill, and they were combined and modified into Cleansing.		There was just one aura tree initially, along with a Combat skills tree and a Healing Tree. Obviously the healing tree went away, and most of the stuff in it became auras, like Prayer, Cleansing, etc, though most were combined from multiple old skill concepts. There was a cure poison skill, and also a remove curses skill, and they were combined and modified into Cleansing.


	==April 17, 1999==		==April 17, 1999==
	::''Diablo II will feature normal, magical, and unique items much like they were in Diablo, but will also add a larger variety of weapon types, including crossbows, pikes, spears, and numerous throwing weapons as well. Additionally, there will be various class-specific items, and also extremely rare items that might only be spawned once every 80,000 games.		::''Diablo II will feature normal, magical, and unique items much like they were in Diablo, but will also add a larger variety of weapon types, including crossbows, pikes, spears, and numerous throwing weapons as well. Additionally, there will be various class-specific items, and also extremely rare items that might only be spawned once every 80,000 games.