8/12 Fansite Chat Transcript
With Analysis

A very interesting chat, to be sure.  Unfortunately many people seemed dead-set on asking questions that had already been answered.  No matter, below is the transcript with analysis of certain parts by the ShadowSpiral Diablo II staff.

<BillR> Welcome everyone to our Diablo II fansite chat. as usual we will be taking questions from all of you and try to get to as many as possible in the next hour. We have the Diablo II Development team here from Blizzard North and Bill Roper, so let's start.

Good news for everyone wanting a non-English copy of Diablo II.  I would say the rush to get the additional language copies out the door is due to Blizzard´s newfound advertising blitz in Europe and Asia.

<BillR> We are always working to tighten this time up, though =).

One of the questions that has been asked to death, almost.  It seems like people are definately not getting the information when it comes to the point of 3D in Diablo II.  It is also worth note to say that Diablo will not require 3D acceleration, it only increases the visual quality of the game.  The game is assured to work, and work well, without any kind of 3D acceleration.

<Bridenbecker> When do you expect the D2 beta to start?

A very good piece of information to hear, as many people (including us) were becoming a little pessimistic about the Beta Test´s date.  It seems that the Beta may indeed be happening this month after all.

<Bridenbecker> Which language will the game be translated to?

Also new information, another good thing to hear for non-American Diablo II fanatics.

<Bridenbecker> Can a player change his relationship settings (hostile, friendly, or neutral) in mid-game?

A little ambiguous, but it answers the question plain.  I wonder what it meant through a "cheatable" change in the relationship setting.  This is probably brought about when a PK kills a character then tries to become Friendly in order to loot the victim´s corpse.  Hmmm, we will have to find out more on this one.

<Bridenbecker> Can a player join more than one guild in Diablo 2?

Another gray area of the game, and something it looks like the Beta Test will address.  I know many Guilds have a vested interest in this, as it applies to loyalty factors in the guild, as well as to turncoats and double-agents.

<Bridenbecker> How many golems and summoned creatures can be in play at once?

A very interesting questions, it´s a shame that more information couldn´t be had from the reply.  How many Golems, summoned skeletons, and other NPC´s can a character have working for him or her?  This will probably be hashed out in the Beta Test.

<Diablo2DevTeam> This is also a balance issue that we are always addressing.

Hmmm, I wonder if we have attained VIP status?  Most likely not, but we all have our fingers crossed for landing one of the Beta Tests.

<Bridenbecker> Can you give us additional information on how gems will be used?

Gems, one of the newer systems of item enchantment, are a big draw in Diablo II.  The ability to customize weapons and armors with gems is very interesting, and there´s a lot of possible combinations inventive gamers could create.  The shrines to upgrade them are very appealing as well, I wonder what some of these gems could do?

<Bridenbecker> Do you plan to do a Warcraft II Battle.net Edition beta?

This I didn´t understand in the least.  This was a Diablo II Fansite chat, and here is a question about WarCraft II: BNE.  I am always happy to get any information from Blizzard, but given the time constraints of the chat it would have been nice if some people could have stayed on subject.

<BillR> So, while we will not be doing an external beta, we will be getting the finished game into players hands sooner than expected.

Common Beta Test practices, the addressing of bugs and balancing will all play an important role in the test.

<Bridenbecker> Is there going to be a new product announcement at ECTS?

I wonder what they have up their sleeves this time?  Rumors about, everything from StarCraft II to a 3D first-person shooter.

<BillR> ...hehehe

We have heard of the Skeletal Masteries, new skills for the Necromancer, so this is probably where this questions comes from.  But it appears the base power of the summonings all come from the level of the spell used.

<Bridenbecker> Does Blizzard actually read the Diablo 2 suggestion forum?

A strange questions that always seems to find its way into any Fansite chat.  Any regular forum-goer knows Blizzard reads their Suggestions Forum, and you can often find their responses on the board.  I don´t understand why people keep saying that they don´t read it.

<Bridenbecker> Can you name and describe the Necromancer spell in the latest SSOTW?

This question bothered me.  If the person truly meant the SSOTW for  August 3rd then I can´t help but wonder.  However, some debate has been cast over the SSOTW for August 10th, as the glowing, skeletal apparitions have been said to Bone Spirits cast by the Necromancer.  Perhaps this was a mistake on Blizzard´s side, or maybe since there is no Necromancer involvement in the shot for August 10th they assumed it was the earlier one.

<Bridenbecker> Can you tell us how the novels are progressing?

The novels have been in the works for some time now.  Many novels wil come out, all grounded in Blizzard´s worlds of WarCraft, StarCraft, and Diablo.

<Bridenbecker> Is Diablo 2 taking more or less time than you estimated?

Blizzard has stuck to their guns: "it´s done when it´s done" they maintain.  Very good philosophy in my opinion.  While it can be maddening at times, it ensures a high quality game as the result.

<Bridenbecker> Have you decided how much a guild hall will cost?

Very good information here.  It appears as though the purchasing of a Guild Hall will be a team event, many members of the guild pouring their finances together to buy the Hall.  As a rule, individuals won´t be buying Guild Halls for themselves.

<Bridenbecker> What do the Barbarian's combat masteries do?

A general question with a very general answer.  If the question had been a little more specific we could have possibly gotten more out of this.

<Bridenbecker> Do boots affect your speed?

Also some good info.  It looks like Gloves, Belts, and Boots will have minor benefits to AC and perhaps some minor magical effects. 

<Bridenbecker> Have you finalized the number of players in multiplayer?

Eight players in a game has been maintained for a while now.  However, the ability for the game creator to set the max number in a game is new information.  Personally, I would like to see this implemented as well.

<Bridenbecker> How many people will be in the Diablo 2 beta?

In other words, a standard Blizzard Beta Test.

<Bridenbecker> Will the Sorceress be able to kill all monster types using magic?

A change from Diablo it seems.  In Diablo (in the deeper Hell levels), there were some creatures who were immune to all magics.  The Soul Burners were among the most dangerous of these, in my experience.

<swooley> Hey everybody: Can we tone down the colorful language. We expect a certain level of decorum in these chats. Check your potty-mouths at the door. :)

A good price for a game such as Diablo II.

<BillR> er, that is available -- :)

The Amazon´s bow skills have always been a little vague, and information on them is always helpful.  The Strafe skill sounds highly interesting to me.

<Bridenbecker> Are you satisfied with how the fan site program has run over this past year?

The Fansite program is a very unique and wonderful effort by Blizzard to bring the gaming community closer to game.  For all of it´s faults, I think Blizzard has some of the best relations with the gaming market, all due to the Fansite program and the Diablo II Community.

<Bridenbecker> What is Blizzard North's favorite spell?

Which won my vote as well.

<Bridenbecker> Any plans for a Diablo 2 add-on?

No official word, but I could swear that Bill Roper was smiling as he typed this.

<Bridenbecker> Can you describe the Sorceress skill Thunderstorm?

This will be interesting to see in effect, and multiple castings could be dangerous as well.  Nice to get a description of this spell.

<Diablo2DevTeam> We were creative with that skill name!

Earlier on there was talk of allowing cheat codes in the single player mode.  Apparently this has been removed in order to prevent possible security loopholes for hackers to exploit.

<Bridenbecker> How will cold spells affect other players?

This means that skills that freeze you could be deadly in a skilled Amazon´s or Sorceress´s hands. 

<Bridenbecker> What do gloves do?

Covered in the question about Boots, besides the humorous response their isn´t much to be had here.  We were hoping for some special effects from Gloves, but perhaps Blizzard is keeping some of the cards close to their chest.

<Bridenbecker> Do you have a total number of weapon and armor types?

This is a postively huge amount of weapons and items, far more than Diablo ever had, including Uniques.  It will be great to see some of these items in action.

<Bridenbecker> Will Diablo 2 function with Windows NT 4.0 or Windows 2000?

Standard fare, as Windows 2000 in based on the NT kernel and we knew Diablo II would support Windows NT.

<Bridenbecker> Can the Paladin cast Aura on other players?

I what some of the other Auras can target other players?  The Paladin is quickly finding a niche in the game as a team coordinator and booster.

<Bridenbecker> Who is representing Blizzard on this chat?

All in all a pretty good chat with a surprising amount of new information.  If you feel we´ve left something out, or there is something you would like to add, please e-mail us. 

- Darkk (WebMaster)