Though Diablo 3 no longer has that new game smell, it may still be a bit premature to start looking toward next expansion in the battle for Sanctuary. A shame for fans of the series because when it comes to the rich lore and history of the franchise, the narrative never really delivers on that hopelessness of impending annihilation by evil incarnate.
The plot of Diablo 3, like a long stretch of highway, got us where we needed to go despite the lack of exciting twists or turns. Unfortunately, once we got there it became apparent that we had to turn around and start all over again. Same strip of road, even less excitement.
Those that tried to scour the game for narrative density know there are a number of plot pieces missing from the overall puzzle of Diablo 3. Characters that literally vanish, agendas that have yet to be resolved and hidden canonical references in the dialogue all point to the obvious conclusion that there is bound to be more road stretching out into the horizon. Let’s hope it’s a bumpier, memorable ride.
While Blizzard has acknowledged the idea of supporting Diablo 3 with expansions, the number of offerings, their possible content and the projected release dates all remain officially unconfirmed. With at least one expansion almost certainly guaranteed, what can we expect to see?
Well, it could be something like…
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5 Comments
You make a point on some of them, but I think you are greatly overestimating diablo’s team of story doers.
I really liked some of the first few points you made, but I disagree with the last one about Belial. I’m fairly certain it was mentioned or imlplied within the game that Diablo was more cunning than Belial and Azmodan and it was his plan with Adria to be temporarily imprisoned within the stone: “We all agree that the end times are upon us. But do you truly believe that Belial and Azmodan could have engineered these events?” – Zoltun Kulle.
A few expansion ideas you missed were the stories of all the followers. Kormac is left looking to confron the Templar order abou it’s bad practices. Lyndon is still looking to free his brother in Kingsport (his home city which he talks about endlessly about throughout the game). Then there’s Eirena who’s still trying to discover information about the Profit and what happened to him and her sisters.
Combined with Shen’s backstory, these all seemed like obvious loose ends that were going to be touched on later. I just wish the main story was more carefully crafted than these side plots that never got finished.
One little tid-bit I just thought to add, it was mentioned in the game that the Black Soul Stone was designed to trap both Angels and Demons. I don’t suppose any angels have been trapped within the soul stone? Imperius? Maybe Leah is inside there somewhere as well?
Great points. I agree, there’s a ton more that could be explored, especially concerning the followers, Malthael (who’s constantly mentioned) or Adria.
You’re right about the Black Soulstone. Kulle does mention somewhere in Act II that it was created to trap both species, so Blizzard could effectively go anywhere they wanted with that thing.
Hopefully D3 really comes into its own through the expansions. The way Diablo II did with Lord of Destruction. We’ll have to wait and see…
the ideea with Belial is interesting but i doubt he could manipulated absolutely everyone all this time, so im sure no Belial in expansion. My toughs are these: 7 lords of hell are trappen within the stone, the stone fall when diablo died, wich means all the seven lords of hell are free. They will take back they possition on hell and this time work togheder to destroy Heavens and Sanctuary (even Tyrael said that heaven always won becouse the lord of hell always fought against each other). All lords of hell now unite starts theyr assault to unleash darkness and destroy absolutly everything, but the difference is that this time angels will fight alongside humans. This could be the Final Battle and the end of hell forever, as well end of diablo story. But they cant make that in 1 expansion so there will be more, or even a Diablo 4 who knows…
Comments about lilith are false, you kill her in d2 lod 1.10 patch on a quest for a hellfire torch, and the simple fact that now we can open infernal machines that res the dead foes we have slain doesn’t help there story. Also you kill leoric in diablo 1 which people seem to forget when they talk about the butcher being back.
Lastly 3 characters that have not been touched on are, imperious, we hardely see him. Inarus the lover of lilith and exiled angel who created the world. He got locked away in the sin wars after clshing with uldyssian a nephliam turned god that re-made the world who may not be dead. In the book it never says he dies. There is also trang-oul the dragon which has not shown up yet. Tal Rasha is also still alive since in diablo 2 he never died, the soul stone which houses baal was just removed from him and baal was set free. With the 3 prime evils gone, and the 3 lesser evils gone ( assuming belial was killed/trapped in d3 ) Andiral, Lilith, Durell, killed in diablo 2 there is no one left in hell to run it. This opens up the door for Inarus to Lead his war against heaven and sanctuary while Inarus leads a war against hell and sanctuary. This leaves the nephlim right smack in the middle of another great war. This would also open up lore to bring back the characters from the sin war/great war such as Trang-oul, Uldyissan the leader of the Edyrm (nephlim army). Now stuck in the middle just like it started is sanctuary being attacked from both fronts. Now they must battle both sides and recover the blacksoul stone to stop heaven and hell from destroying sanctuary. You can also bring in shen as the angel of wisdom, and adria… she is old, she is from diablo 1 and doesnt look a day older than when she was just a mage who sold spell books. I am not sure what her role would be, maybe she is really belial, or another fallen angle that we have not heared about in lore yet.