CommunityDiablo

Wizard

Written by Steven

Thursday, 08 January 2009 00:18

Stebo88's Wizard Review

NOTE: stebo88 has played Diablo 3 at BlizzCon 08… here are his thoughts about the Wizard.

Much like the fellow Sorcerer, the Wizard’s quest for glory is completed through the adapt training of Arcane magic. While a Sorcerer relies on Elemental magic, the Wizard’s powers are much more satisfying. Take a glance at the three major Wizard Skills.

-Storm Skills

-Arcane Skills

-Conjure Skills

If there anything to be noted about the performance of the Wizard’s gameplay, is that they are very destructive, yet very agile, just like the Sorceress in Diablo 2. Wizard’s major function is a ranged spell caster. In other uses though, the Wizard may prove useful as a deadly melee fighter, giving the Wizard enhanced weaponry by her powers.

The Wizard has a wide variety of powers to choose from as they confront their enemies. Either staff or sword, hotkeys are always valuable while in combat.

From my experience, here are some valuable defensive skills that I used:

-Storm Armor (Storm Skills)

-Power Armory (Storm Skills)

-Slow Time (Arcane Skills)

-Stone Skin (Conjure Skills)

From my experience, here are some valuable offensive ranged skills that I used:

-Charged Bolt (Storm Skills)

-Blizzard (Storm Skills)

-Magic Missile (Arcane Skills)

-Wave of Force (Arcane Skills)

-Meteor Storm (Conjure Skills)

From my experience, here are some valuable offensive melee skills that I used:

-Spectral Blade (Arcane Skills)

-Magic Weapon (Conjure Skills)

All of these skills proved very useful, no doubt about it. I was unable to die, nor be harmed quickly by any of my foes. In my opinion, the Wizard can be untouchable during combat if the Wizard has the proper skills, mana, and endurance.

My rating of the Wizard’s Lore: 10/10

My rating of the Wizard’s Skills: 6.5/10

My rating of the Wizard’s Gameplay: 9/10

-Steven, stebo88

Diablo 3 Wizard Summary

Owing to my lack of tolerance for those who would use magic towards their own nefarious ends, many have assumed that I am averse to the practice of the magical arts on a philosophical level. Nothing could be farther from the truth. My quarrel is with those sorcerers who dismiss the ancient traditions and teachings – teachings that have been honed over millennia in order to preserve respect for authority and the rule of law.

Recently the youth of Caldeum have fallen prey to the overblown stories of just such a delinquent wizard. That is correct: I used the uncouth term wizard, not sorcerer. It seems that even the title of a civilized magic wielder is too restrictive for this young upstart. Through my contacts at the Yshari Sanctum of the mage clans, I am one of the few who actually know the truth behind the rumors now sweeping our streets regarding this hellion who flaunts her magic irresponsibly.

This wizard was sent here to spend her formative years under the tutelage of the best mages in the world. Well, it seems they neglected to teach our wizard manners on her native island of Xiansai, for she was a rude and uncooperative student from the very beginning. Originally under the guidance of the Zann Esu mage clan, she was eventually handed over to the Vizjerei in the hopes that their strict and unbending discipline would break her anarchic spirit. Yet even the esteemed Vizjerei instructors were unable to rein her in. She was continually being caught seeking out dangerous and forbidden magics, heedless of the consequences to herself or anyone around her.

Although there is no truth to the tales that she actually ventured into the infamous Bitter Depths below the Sanctum, she was caught in the Ancient Repositories, where the most dangerous incantations are housed for the safety of the public. When confronted by the great Vizjerei mage Valthek and demanded to account for herself, she brazenly attacked him rather than face the punishment merited by her acts. Exaggerated stories of the battle are already being inflated to mythic proportions by the more rebellious of our city's youth, but suffice it to say that she did not actually best Yshari's most powerful mage in single, honorable combat. The details of the encounter remain unclear, as Valthek has yet to regain consciousness, but it has been verified by reliable sources that she relied on trickery and deceit to bring the great man low. I have also been assured that the extensive property damage was chiefly the result of Valthek's magical prowess, not the upstart wizard's. As to where she is now, no one rightly knows, for she fled the city immediately after the encounter.

It is not my goal to alarm, but I find this situation disturbing. We now have a rebellious wizard, young and inexperienced, wandering the world, dabbling in powerful magics she does not understand. Those wiser than you or I determined long ago that certain schools of magic were too dangerous and forbade their practice. It is those magics that this wizard seems determined to explore – magics centered on manipulating the primal forces from which reality is constructed. Imagine, a headstrong nineteen-year-old youth, able to warp time itself to her will! The thought is truly terrifying. It is my honest hope that this self-styled wizard chooses never to return to Caldeum.

From the writings of Abd al-Hazir