DIABLO THE TEACHER OF TACTICS

Diablo I & II are some of the most memorable PC games of my life time. While reflecting on the past, I realized it all stems from the asskickery found in co-op. The hours I spent with my childhood friends Drake, Steve, Tony, Sam and even into my adulthood with my best friends Todd and Drew. Those are hours I'll never forget. Yet Diablo did more than just fill hours of the day with swords and sorcery. Diablo developed essential video game tactics I have used ever since.

DIABLO TACTICS 101

1. Turn Around: If they want you to go one way go the total opposite to find whatever treasure, magic, rune, boss or portal the designers have tried to hide from you.

2. Bottleneck: Doorways are the threshold between life and death when the angry demonic mobs come charging down on you . Attack the mob, round them up like cattle and run for the nearest door so you can face them 1 on 1. This became the staple Diablo Tactic and I have used it in countless games.

3. Kite: If that boss is bigger, badder and generally more beastly than you, kite that fatty around the room so you take less damage.

4. Cattle Herd: Large mobs mean more experience so run around them in a large circle until they are all bunched up and then FIREBALL! Quick and easy experience.

5. Ninjas suck: Nothing was worse than getting a chest ninjaed from you in co-op. So don’t be that guy.

6. Chain Lighting for the win: CommanderofYomi and I just had this discussion the other day. No matter what game, lighting is usually great and if there’s chain lighting take it for the win cause that shit demands respect.

But the reason we are really here is Blizzards opening cinematic for Diablo III. Sit back and let the CGI get you all nice and tingly.

“I was an uncle like you, then I took an asteroid in the knee.”