EPT![[image loading]](http://img.qj.net/uploads/articles_module/122953/diablo-2-classes-banner.jpg)
Ten years ago, I brought home the game I'd been waiting years to own. Bought
from a small, family owned games store, with a cool 7% discount, Diablo 2 still
clocked in at nearly $90. The box folded out several times, showing beautiful
images of the classes, towns and mobs I would soon have access to.
The install took far too long. Three CD's worth of content, and a manual that
was nowhere near long enough to occupy me in the interim. Save for one poem that
I can still vaguely remember.
I have walked the path; the shadowed roads
that led to terror's breast. I have plumbed the depths of
Hatred's womb and scaled Destruction's crest.
For every secret left unveiled, for every power learned.
I'd sell the remmants of my soul, regardless how it burned.
And still I sought a higher wisdom few could have attained.
'Though I found it, it would leave me - broken, dammed and drained.
For now I find this power gained is more unto a curse.
My spirit burns with every spell and each irreverent verse.
Despite this strength and knowledge earned, I have paid a heavy toll.
Never should've traded power for my own immortal soul.
that led to terror's breast. I have plumbed the depths of
Hatred's womb and scaled Destruction's crest.
For every secret left unveiled, for every power learned.
I'd sell the remmants of my soul, regardless how it burned.
And still I sought a higher wisdom few could have attained.
'Though I found it, it would leave me - broken, dammed and drained.
For now I find this power gained is more unto a curse.
My spirit burns with every spell and each irreverent verse.
Despite this strength and knowledge earned, I have paid a heavy toll.
Never should've traded power for my own immortal soul.
Eventually, it was ready. I clicked the play button, beneath the picture of the
Amazon facing a Greater Mummy. The blizzard logo appeared, and I got the
familiar shiver up my spine that always accompanies a new blizzard game.
![[image loading]](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4123/4748298730_52289abb9a.jpg)
The Barbarian was my first character, for one simple reason. I read a review in
a computer magazine, and it had the line "...and a set of skills that would send
a Diablo 1 warrior crying home to his mummy." I knew I had to play that. Soon I
was hewing my way through legions of demons, retaking the rogue monastery, and
hoping Charsi would give me some. Double axes where my weapon of choice, and
they served me well.
I spent long hours playing my barbarian. At that time, I didn't know anyone else
that owned the game, and I had no internet, so I did it all solo. I never even
used the minions that I picked up along the way, because it cost too much to
resurrect them when they died. After weeks of work I finally found Diablo in
his temple, and he fell beneath the fury of my axes. (And three beltfuls of
healing potions.)
Soon after I brought my computer to work one day, and "worked late". The instant
everyone else had left, I logged on to battle.net for the first time. I joined
a game at random, with two other players in it. Although they were a full act
ahead of me, they both instantly offered to come back and help me through.
The other barbarian in the game traded me some armour he'd found, that was
significantly better than anything I'd ever seen. They put up with my stupid
questions with good grace, and we spent an fun evening slaughtering monsters
and taking their stuff.
My next character was a sorceress. Fire became my plaything, with a smattering
of frost to help keep me alive. I had great fun dropping meteors and hydras on
things, and kiting them around, back when I didn't even know what kiting meant.
She became my highest level character, getting to level 42.
A short time later, some friends started to pick up the game. My best friend and
I used to play it from friday night to sunday evening. Arguing who's character
would beat who in a duel, and if the Fallen where in fact yelling "Rakanishu" or
not.
![[image loading]](http://brysonburke.com/diablo2_fallen.gif)
Then a whole bunch of friends grabbed the game, and I was invited to a Diablo II
lan party. Six or eight of us in the game, brand new characters. I chose the class
that I played in almost every other game, the Paladin. I also remembered why I
hadn't played him for very long previously. He ran like a prat.
I went to many Diablo lans over the next few years. Chaotic, loud, fast-moving gameplay,
often lasting well into the next morning. I remember mentioning that you could chase
the chickens around in the rogue encampment, and finding out that one of my friends
didn't know this. He spent the next ten minutes running back and forth after chickens,
just like a kid at the beach. By this time, I'd completed the game several times over,
so there was not much new for me. But playing co-op with a group, or even just
a single other person was enough to make the game interesting and exhilarating.
I've picked up the game at various intervals over the years. I found out the
overpoweredness that was the Hammerdin, and played through as one. The latest playthrough
was just last year, when I discovered that my girlfriend, despite being a gamer, had
never played it. Trigger another playthrough, this time being able to see everything
through a new players eyes. Everything is new and exciting, and small details that
I glossed over were amazing to her.
![[image loading]](http://diablo2.diablowiki.net/images/2/2e/Quests-act2-020lrg.jpg)
How many of you died instantly to what came next?
Happy birthday, Diablo II. You've occupied uncountable hours of my life, and I
begrude you none of them. You've given me some incredible experiences and great
memories.
Now release Diablo III already!
