The Wrecking Ball

The Barbarian has been my go-to character since the release of RoS.  His ability to survive nearly endless amounts of damage while dishing out his fair share makes this class a force to be reckoned with.
The only way I see my Barbarian being utilized is by generating a mass of monsters and cutting them down with whirlwind.  With Battle Rage and Into the Fray the critical chance just skyrockets.  Not to mention Rampage stacking when the killing starts......

The transmogrification also attributes to the 'badass' factor of the big bad Barbarian.  Thick plate armor and massive axes are just what these guys were born to use.

I know I am not the only person that loves beating back the forces of Hell with brute force. So tell me your experience with the Barbarian.

• What weapons do you find most fitting?
• What armor set fits best?
• How do female Barbs fair in the BA look contest?

And as always post some screenshots. Lets see some hardcore wrecking balls.

Theory Craft Thursday

Image credit: Battle.net

Theory Craft Thursday is here to give you a chance to contribute all your unique and crazy character builds.  Some people want the most efficient, some want the most fun and others just want to have fun.

This is the place to show off what you find to be an interesting build, for whatever reason you can come up with.  You can use the Skill Calculator from Blizzard to see how the skills work together.  If you are new to Diablo 3 running through the Game Guide is a great place to start with selecting a character.

Currently, I am making an attack speed Crusader.  I had unimaginable amounts of fun playing my Zealer from Diablo 2 and I am trying to replicate that experience.

This 'zeal'sader (which is a working title) is focused on the increased density of monsters in the revamped and improved Diablo 3.  I want this Crusader to be light on his feet as well as pack one helluva punch.

Some general topics of discussion:

• Gear
• Tactics
• Companion Selection
• Potential Problems
• Optional Changes

For example, I am currently looking for a way to duplicate the Zeal attack from the Diablo 2 Paladin.  It may come down to replicating this attack through the use of thorns or some other passive ability.

Which Direction? - Builds, Styles & Strategy

Image Credit: morgueFile

Choosing a character and build is one of the hardest decisions in Diablo 3.  Now with 6 classes the options for gamers in a mass of winding roads and paths, each with its own rewarding characteristics.  All paths still lead to one amazing gaming experience.

Character builds change with every patch and hotfix, thus changing the roads we follow.

What kind of roads do you follow through the world of Sanctuary?

I started my Diablo 3 journey with the calm and resilient Monk.

After many hours, the Barbarian has become my go to character for dispatching hordes of vicious monsters.

Lure and smash has been my strategy and build focus since rolling the Barbarian pre-RoS.

Pulling the mobs together to get the most damage out of Whirlwind requires the Wind Shear rune. Herioc Leap with Call of the Ancients helps to reel in any stragglers.

When a suitable size mob has accumulated, the Into the Fray rune in Battle Shout grants an increased Crit Chance for each enemy within 12 yards.

Pounding my way through the many levels and nearly endless monsters has become my favorite way to navigate through the game.

I currently have yet to take the Crusader road through the    Diablo 3.  The Crusader will be my next character to raise from level 1.

Is there a class you find more enjoyable or fun to play?
How does your particular style affect your game experience?

First impressions

I was first drawn to Blizzard Entertainment with Diablo.  Released in 1996, it was the first video game to steal my soul.

I recovered my soul just in time for Diablo 2 in 2000.  These games brought me closer to my friends.  We had something we could talk endlessly about.  Magic Find percentage, runewords and Baal runs became our language.

In 2008, Blizzard announced Diablo 3.  I was a kid all over again.

Diablo 3 gives me a connection to the past. It brings my old friends back together.  Diablo 3 is more than a game to me, its a part of my life.

I started playing Diablo 3 as soon as it came out and it seemed like a rewarding game, at first.  It quickly turned into an endless impossible hunt.

Diablo 3 was just another money making endeavor, instead of a amazing gaming experience.

Just when all hope seemed lost, an expansion.

After first look at the trailer for Reaper of Souls, I was hooked again.

Unfortunately, being 26 I have less time for video games.  School, work and girlfriend were the topics that filled my time now.  So with Diablo 3 on the back burner, the release came and went without much notice from me.

The spark has returned and returned with a vengeance.  The overwhelming desire to join the world of Sanctuary now grips me.

After neglecting Diablo 3 for the past 6 months, it strikes back......with updates.  I know updates must be done but waiting for 10 gigs of them before you can play just is annoying.

So after a pot of coffee and some Generation Kill to pass the time, the moment I have been waiting for is here.

For starters, I like the overall look of the main menu and the game setup screen is very easy to use.

Before Adventure mode becomes active, you must complete the new Campaign mode.

I decided to start with playing a previous character in the new Act V.

My barbarian would be the vessel I would choose to usher me through this new world.  Though, I quickly realized that many of my skills and abilities had changed.

After only 10 minutes, I have re-familiarized myself with the new skills and changes.  All the recent changes seem to flow well together while not being too different from the original.  Most of the changes seem to be with the mechanics of monsters and loot.

I will continue to expand on the changes to the loot system as I advance through the Adventure mode but my first impression it one of excitement.  The very first chest I opened contained a Legendary.  I have not felt this kind of excitement from a game since the days of Diablo 2.

From this initial look I am very interested in this new system Blizzard has developed.