BlizzCon 2019 Liveblog Diablo IV: World & Lore

Blizzard Geposted 02.11.2019 um 17:17 von Serrinne

PanelistsLiveblog 2019Jesse McCree:

We've been working on this game for a while and we're excited to tell you about it!

Sanctuary is a large world, although we didn't start off knowing that.

We've looked at lots of references and get influenced by a lot of things. Looked at comic books, movies, TV shows, horror, RPGs through a Diablo lens.

We think of making this game as inviting you to our RPG table.

When we see cute stuff through a Diablo lens, it comes out horrible!

One thing that inspires us a lot is music - I'd put on metal music to get inspired, and it permeated the office. Metal was a way we described things in the game.

Sebastian Stepien:

We really wanted to focus on a dark tone, a really specific vibe that makes Diablo unique.

This impacts every layer of the game.

Focus on simple stories, it's not about big heroes or politics, no high fantasy things, it's about the individuals. Think about Wint or Marius from DI and DII.

The essence of Diablo - somewhere alone outside, you are a wanderer in this game, worrying about what awaits in the darkness.

Visual storytelling is very important - not about spectacular big scenes, it's about claustrophobic scenes. Many small things combine together to give you this mood - inspired by religious and occult themes but noticing the small things is up to you. Use your imagination based on those small things.

Blood Bishop - in life, he was a Bishop who did bad things. We wanted to focus on how people imagined hell in the middle ages - a gnostic way of thinking - Sanctuary is a place of misery, decay, and suffering.

Simple set up gives us a chance to focus on details and to enhance the dark gnostic mad mood with a bit of blood and gore, dark sense of humor.

There will be bigger themes but they are a frame for the grounded story.

Sean Copeland:

D3 lore summary: Diablo has acquired the Black Soulstone - essences within it powered him to be the Prime Evil.

As the Prime Evil, he went to heaven and tore down the Diamond Gates.

We had to rescue some angels there. Black Soulstone was freed from Diablo and Tyrael had it. He knew it wasn't safe to keep in heaven, he brought it to Sanctuary to keep it safe.

Maltheal decided to confiscate it. Maltheal started slaughtering humans and we had to stop that from happening.

When the Black Soulstone was shattered by Malthael and its essences consumed, those essences rocketed back into reality.

D4: Lilith - Daughter of Mephisto the Lord of Hatred.

She formed a relationship with Inarius, with whom she created Sanctuary and the Nephalem.

Sanctuary: Malthael really wrecked our world which lead to massive power vacuums -- they are being filled with religion i.e. Temple of the Triune.

Jesse McCree:

In DI all we really knew was Tristram. In DI manual there was a lot of stuff included that wasn't in the actual game.

DII added a map with the manual. Things were separated, connected by waypoints.

DIII had more areas but was still unconnected. Still had waypoints but more places to explore.

DIV is adding more contiguous spaces to get from place to place. Map is more detailed in terms of space and more whole and real, not abbreviated.

Harrison Pink:

For the first time, Sanctuary gets to be its own character.

We'll be travelling across Sanctuary for real - no loading screens etc.

Finally get to see all the places together.

Scosglen: Ancestral home of the Druids. Their secrets are hidden through this untameable rugged land. Rocky, wild highlands. Constant gloomy rain and fog. People who live there are pushing back against this encroaching wilderness. People huddle together in their huts to keep them safe but the moment they leave town, feral nightmares abound.

Dry Steppes: War ravaged region of amber salt flats. Live here, you're either predator or prey. Lots of warring factions in this area to win the hearts and minds of people in these regions. With Lilith's return, people give into the dark powers like cannibalism.

Fractured Peaks: Snowy mountain area with victorian gothic architecture. People there are anxious and paranoid, feeling as though they feel watch. When it's night time, darkness descends, and you lock yourself in. Home to religious zealots whose belief gives them warmth but leaves them ignorant of the dangers in the area.

Hawezar: Swamp lands. Poison, disease, despair coat the whole region. Deadly fauna, poisonous flora, place of madness and black magic. What's real what's a fever dream? Bad people come here to be forgotten to do things out of reach of order. Also has swamp witches who worship massive snakes.

Kehjistan: Was a larger empire of forests and jungles now only a border lands. Now the last bastion of Zakkarum faith but years of corruption left people with a lack of faith. Lots of historical lore in this zone. People in this zone have no hope of rescue.

Candace Thomas:

Use the story and lore to turn it into a combat experience.

The Drowned: new race in D4. Monsters of legend in Sanctuary who haven't been seen in generations - the terrors in the night who will kidnap you and drag you into the water and drown you. Villagers use these stories to scare their children. Their effect is real. Bloated bodies of their victims wash ashore, ships wash away at sea. Sanctuary must now face it. The Drowned infect the shores like a disease. The tolling of the bells signals their return.

Concept piece of the Drowned used to inspire their combat effects. Character has a flail in the image so how do we tell that story? That felt wrong, Character now attacks you with a mast of a ship. They bring the sea with them to shore. Their combat really reflects their themes.

Ashava: can pop up from ground anywhere in world as a constant reminder that Lilith is watching.

Duriel, Lord of Pain returning to D4 - Wanted to honor his D2 legacy but elevate it. In addition to being Lord of Pain he's the Lord of Maggots, so he burrows. They reduce the space for the fight, a legacy of D2.