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[IMG News]

In a new blog post, Blizzard Entertainment's Diablo III lead designer Jay Wilson outlined some of the changes coming to the beta version of the action RPG sequel. Among the changes is skill categorization, user interface improvements, and the removal of runestones as physical items.

Another thing we strive for in our games is “concentrated coolness,” and while rune quality levels made sense when we were attempting to itemize them throughout the game, they make far less sense as runes are unlocked through the UI. We didn’t want to get back into a situation where you’re clicking a button to pump points into skills. It’s far more concentrated (and cool) when your rune choices have a single and powerful benefit to your skill choice. The new skill rune system does not have ranks, and we’ve instead made each around the equivalent to what the rank 4 or 5 rune was previously. One click, you make your rune choice, and you get an explosive benefit to that skill. That feels a lot cooler.

Runes have been by far the biggest design hurdle we’ve had in the game, and as you know we’ve been continually iterating on them. We fully expect that some of you will be disappointed that runes won’t be part of the itemization system. Internally, it took us a long time to let go of that notion too and stop trying to force them into being items, and instead embrace the intent of the system. Integrating runes with the skill system directly gave us a bunch of great benefits, and even without runes we’re launching with more item types than Diablo II had. We knew we were making the right choice by letting go of runes as items and focusing on the core objective of the system: to customize your skills in awesome ways.

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[Wumpus]

Runestones weren't in the beta to begin with...at least the one I have access to. Still its interesting to play around with them now. Sadly the update wiped all my characters, so to even begin trying out skill runes you have to hit level 6 with any given class. Doesn't take that long but kind of tedious since you don't get more than 1 till level 8 +

I think it makes a lot of sense and fits right in with what they are doing with the skill system. Level based unlocks rather than skill points. Every skill has I think 5 skill runes that can be applied to it, with the higher one's not unlocking till levels 30-40.

[Thain Esh Kelch]

I'll be surprised if this game ships i first half on 2012..