‘Diablo 3’ Will Get The Necromancer And A Remastered Original ‘Diablo’ As DLC
Diablo was big talk even before BlizzCon 2016 launched, with many hoping — even expecting — that Diablo 4 would officially be launched at the event. But according to GameRant, Blizzard didn’t leave Diablo fans entirely disappointed.
It was already common knowledge that Blizzard is planning to remaster Diablo II, alongside Starcraft and Warcraft III (rather than Warcraft I and II, unfortunately,) although that remake isn’t expected for a while; right now, it looks like Starcraft HD Remastered will be the first out. What wasn’t expected was Blizzard’s announcement that Diablo fans won’t have to wait quite so long as they thought. Blizzard will be releasing the original Diablo as a free DLC for Diablo III on the game’s 20th anniversary this January, fully remastered in the Diablo III engine. They’ll also be releasing a visual filter, “The Darkening of Tristram,” which will make Diablo III look more like its progenitor — one which will subsequently return every year on Diablo‘s anniversary.
The announcement left some fans enthusiastic and others disappointed; many were at least hoping for news that fan-favorite Diablo II — probably the game that truly made the series popular, particularly with its multiplayer — would be remastered with the Diablo III engine. But others were happy to hear that they would be getting something fairly soon — and Diablo II fans weren’t entirely left out.
According to PCGamesN, Blizzard also announced a “character pack” DLC coming for the game. And while this one won’t be free, and won’t be coming soon (estimates were for a late-2017 release,) it will include something that Diablo II fans have been clamoring for since before Diablo III‘s release in 2012: the necromancer class will finally be making its triumphant return.
“The Priests of Rathma — or necromancers, as outsiders call them — have long remained shrouded in mystery. Deep within the jungles of Kehjistan, they train to preserve the delicate balance between the forces of life and death. Now Sanctuary has need of their unique power, and the Priests of Rathma will answer.”
Necromancers could be briefly glimpsed within Diablo III since its release, in an environmental mini-quest set in Caldeum, the game’s second act. The quest had players aiding Mehtan the Necromancer in putting tortured spirits to rest — a little callback to Diablo II, which was nice, but left many players disappointed that they couldn’t play the necromancer class (generally held to have been supplanted by the witch doctor class.)
According to Blizzard, the Diablo III necromancer will be a “reimagining” and not all classic skills will be returning, although perhaps the favorite, Corpse Explosion, will “definitely” be back.
Also definitely making a return are Bone Spear and Summon Skeletons, along with some new skills apparently based on blood and “life essence,” including Blood Rush and Siphon Blood.
Notably absent — thus far — are two entire Diablo II necromancer skill trees: curses and golems. And while somewhat disappointing to diehard necromancer fans, it’s not entirely unexpected or unreasonable, either; the necromancer never entirely felt like the “master of the dead” it was made out to be.
Blizzard has also indicated that the necromancer will be part of a pack, Rise of the Necromancer, which will also include an in-game pet, two additional character slots, two additional stash tabs, a portrait frame, pennant, banner, and banner sigil. That doesn’t sound like it will actually have a whole lot of meat to it, but the additional character slots are fairly important and welcome. Diablo III‘s character slots have always been a bit of a sticking point as it is.
In any case, expect the return of Diablo as free DLC this January, and the Rise of the Necromancer sometime in late 2017 for an unannounced price; and while it is currently unclear if the Reaper of Souls expansion will be required for the Diablo remaster, it definitely will be for the necromancer.
[Featured Image by Blizzard Entertainment]
