Diablo, Diablo 2, and Diablo 3: The World of Sanctuary

The origal Diablo had just three character classes from which to choose: Warrior, Rogue, and Sorcerer, each with some specialized abilities.

Diablo II added some new character classes and expanded on the originals. The orignal Diablo 2 had 5 character classes: Amazon, Barbarian, Sorceress, Necromancer, and Paladin;

and the Lord of Destruction Expansion addded two more character classes Assassin and Druid.

Diablo III is scheduled to have 5 character classes initially, two of which, the barbarian and witch doctor, were revealed when the game was announced at the 2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational. The other classes will be announced at a later date.

More info on Diablo III character classes

The Diablo III story takes place two decades after the three prime evils, Diablo, Mephisto, and Baal, wandered the world of Sanctuary in a vicious rampage to shackle humanity into unholy slavery. Yet for those who battled the evils directly, the memory fades slowly and the wounds of the soul still burn.

Deckard Cain returns to the ruins of Tristram's Cathedral seeking clues to new stirrings of evil, a comet strikes the very ground where Diablo once entered the world. The comet carries a dark omen in its fiery being and it calls the heroes of Sanctuary to defend the mortal world against the rising powers of the Burning Hells--and even the failing luminaries of the High Heavens itself.

Diablo

• Adria the witch
  Sells wares of use to magic users.



• Prince Albrecht
  The young son of King Leoric.



• The Butcher
  A bloated demon, appearing like an Overlord demon with an apron and a giant meat cleaver



• Deckard Cain
  Deckard Cain first appears as "Cain the Elder" in Tristram in Diablo, where he is known as a storyteller and can identify items for the player. Towards the end of the game, he presents himself as Deckard Cain, the "last of the Horadrim", and gives vital information about the final trials awaiting the hero.



• Farnham the drunk
  Tristram's Town Drunk



• Gillian the barmaid
  While Gillian doesn't initiate any quests, she offers her take on several of the quests and is available to 'Gossip'.



• Griswold
  Griswold is the smith who sells weapons and armour and repairs items



• Inarius
  Inarius is an angel introduced in the Diablo manual as a means of explaining the origins of the Overlord demon



• Lachdanan
  Lachdanan was a pious knight and servant of King Leoric's who became cursed and presents himself in the lower depths of hell.



• Archbishop Lazarus
  The Archbishop Lazarus was an ambassador from the Zakarum Church and an advisor to King Leoric.



• King Leoric
  King Leoric, later known as the Black King and ultimately the Skeleton King, was the ruler of Khanduras just prior to the events of Diablo I.



• Ogden the tavern owner
  Ogden is one of the characters found in Tristram in Diablo I. He runs the Tavern of the Rising Sun, but serves no particular role in the game apart from giving information and quests.



• Pepin the healer
  In Diablo, Pepin is a healer in Tristram, healing the player character for free and selling mainly potions.



• Wirt
  Wirt is a young boy living in Tristram in Diablo I. He has a peg leg in place of the one he lost in the dungeons when the Arch-Bishop Lazarus led several of the townsfolk to their doom there.

Diablo II features a few characters from the first game along with the following new NPC's:

• Akara
  The High Priestess of the Sisterhood of the Sightless Eye and the spiritual leader of the Rogues.



• Alkor
  Alkor is a cranky old alchemist living in Kurast. He has a number of potions available for sale and will gamble with the player.



• The Ancients
  Three warriors that protect the entrance to the chamber of the World Stone in Lord of Destruction. They must be defeated to enter the chamber.



• Andariel
  Andariel, the Maiden of Anguish, is a demoness, one of the Lesser Evils, and employs poison-based attacks on her enemies.



• Anya
  This young alchemist is the daughter of Aust, one of the slain members of the Elder Council of Harrogath.



• Asheara
  Asheara leads the Iron Wolves, a band of mercenary mages, in the Kurast docks in Act III.



• Atma
  Atma runs a tavern in Lut Gholein in Act II.



• Bartuc
  Bartuc was the brother of Horazon and like him a significant figure among the Vizjerei mage clans, but eventually turned against them and to the side of Darkness in the Sin War.



• Bishibosh
  Bishibosh is a unique Fallen Shaman, with the ability to raise other Fallen Shamans.



• Blood Raven
  Blood Raven is one of the fallen Rogues corrupted by Andariel.



• Charsi
  Charsi is a smith of Barbarian origin who stays in the Rogue encampment and repairs and sells equipment in Act I



• Colenzo the Annihilator
  A unique Fallen Shaman and one of Baal's Minions, the player fights him at the end of Act V.



• The Countess
  The Countess is the boss of an optional quest in Act I, which involves seeking the riches hidden underneath the remains of her tower.



• The Dark Wanderer
  The hero from the first game.



• Drognan
  Merchant in the town of Lut Gholein.



• Duriel
  Duriel, also known as the Maggot Lord or the Lord of Pain, is a large maggot-like demon with mantis-like claws, and is one of the lesser evils.



• Elzix
  Elzix is an ex-bandit lord who has settled down in Lut Gholein.



• Fara
  Fara is the smith in Lut Gholein.



• Geglash
  Geglash is a resident of Lut Gholein, found in bar.



• Gheed
  Gheed is a merchant located in Act I (Rogue Encampment).



• Greiz
  Greiz is the proud captain of the mercenaries.



• Hadriel
  Hadriel is an angel who guards the entrance to Diablo's sanctum.



• Halbu
  The smith in Pandemonium Fortress in Act IV.



• Hephasto The Armorer
  Like The Smith in Act I, Hephasto is an Overlord demon that acts as a smith. Hephasto, however, is the master armorer of Hell itself.



• Hratli
  The smith in Kurast.



• Izual
  A fallen angel.



• Jamella
  A seller of magical items of all sorts in the Pandemonium Fortress in Act IV.



• Lord Jerhyn
  Lord Jerhyn is the young ruler of Lut Gholein



• Kashya
  A leader of the surviving rogues.



• Larzuk
  Larzuk is the blacksmith in Act V.



• Lilith
  Daughter of Mephisto and the sister of Lucion, Lilith is a manipulator and seductress.



• Lysander
  Lysander is a nearly deaf potion-maker found in Lut Gholein in Act II.



• Malah
  She is the healer in Act V



• Meshif
  Provides ship transport between acts two (Lut Gholein)and three (Kurast).



• Nihlathak
  Nihlathak is the only one of the elders of Harrogath to survive.



• Ormus
  Ormus is one of the main vendors and healer in Act III



• Qual-Kehk
  Commander of the barbarians.



• Radament
  A unique greater mummy found at the end of the first quest of Act II.



• Rakanishu
  Rakanishu is a lightning enchanted Carver Unique.



• The Smith
  A blue colored Overlord demon and boss



• The Summoner
  An unnamed Vizjerei mage who had fought Diablo in Tristram.



• Tal Rasha
  Tal Rasha was a powerful ancient Horadric mage in the Diablo mythology.



• Warriv
  Transport from act 1(Rogue Encampment to Lut Gholein (act 2) upon killing Andariel.