The Diablo manual provides cutesy information about the background of each of the classes, but when it comes down to it, it's the normal D&D skill set system: each one is good in a particular type of combat. Barbarians are good at fighting, but not good at magic. Sorceresses are the reverse, and so on. Each class can then further specialize in what kinds of skills he or she wants to learn. A Barbarian can learn different kinds of weapons, a Sorceress different kinds of spells. However, you wouldn't take a Barbarian and focus him on magic - it's simply not his strong point.

Here is a breakdown of a good way to run each class of character to get the most milage out of him or her. Note that these are not the only way to go - a Barbarian might end up just as happy focussing on speed weapons over giant hammers, say, but these are good guidelines to follow.

They way you choose this focus is applying your stat points and skill points. Stats points are fairly obvious - Barbarians should build up strength, spell-casters intelligence, and so on. The Skill points are more personality-based, and determine the subtle shadings of your character. The character reviews therefore focus more on the skill points and weapons choices.

The two things to keep in mind for any character is addressing 1) how the character does damage to enemies, and 2) how the character recovers from damage done to him or her. Those are the skills to focus on.

The Barbarian
The Amazon
The Necromancer
The Sorceress
The Paladin


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