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Retired Columns

July 10, 2012

The Diablo Podcast #71: Garwulf’s Conversation

If you enjoyed the podcast but wish there was just less of Flux talking, this is the show for you. Long-time, old-time Diabloii.net columnist Garwulf, AKA Robert Marks, is the guest and my goodness does he have a lot to say. Fortunately he’s pretty good at saying it, so hear him discourse on his new book project, his place in the origins of video game journalism, the evolution of ebook publishing, and his interactions with Blizzard back in 2000, when he published the first official Blizzard ebook and the first official Diablo fiction, Demonsbane.

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By: July 10th, 2012

June 5, 2012

Brother Laz Explains What’s Wrong with Diablo III’s Legendaries

With most fans expressing dissatisfaction with the quality and quantity of legendary and set items in Diablo III, I thought it would be interesting to hear the opinion of someone who, unlike any current Blizzard employees, has actually designed full suites of Set and Unique items for Diablo II. No, not Erich Schaefer, but a mod maker and author of our one-time column, Dead Fish.

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By: June 5th, 2012

November 30, 2011

Stillman’s Slab 50: Male Demon Hunter

This month, I cover more Demon Hunter philosophy. In particular, how suitable is revenge as a motive for heroism? How much revenge can be jammed into one culture, and are there “guns” in Diablo 3 or not? Click through and find out in the ultimate act of revenge!

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By: November 30th, 2011

November 1, 2011

Stillman’s Slab 49: Two Second Zombies

Halloween: the perfect time to read about stillman’s unorthodox and profoundly disturbing views on dead bodies and what we should do with them. Citizens of Sanctuary have only started cremating their dead in defense. But what will you do with your dead? Click through below for the two part descent into madness.

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By: November 1st, 2011

September 30, 2011

Stillman’s Slab 48: Barbarism Part IV

Over the course of development, the female Barbarian went from rugged warrior to Barbie doll. This month, I cover the pros and cons of this transformation and discuss the hyper malleability of Diablo 3.

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By: September 30th, 2011

September 1, 2011

Stillman’s Slab #47: Gem Cutting

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By: September 1st, 2011

July 29, 2011

Stillman’s Slab #46: Demon Hunters! No Undead Hunting Allowed!

This month, Nekron the Necromancer covers some of the many philosophical issues with the female Demon Hunter. Nekron hosts a radio talk show in the Icy Cellar interviewing various Diablo characters until his triumphant return to fight demons someday, or so he hopes. People have been known to die in his interviews. Click through below for the whole show.

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By: July 29th, 2011

June 30, 2011

Stillman’s Slab #45: Templar’s Might

Stillman returns. Once a month, he will close his eyes and dissect another body. Click through after the first paragraph below to learn about the necessity of cutting things, especially extraneous game systems.

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By: June 30th, 2011

June 18, 2010

Stillman’s Slab #44: Drunken Idiots Part 2: Farnham

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This week, I give up drinking and begin writing completely sober for a change. I’m sure everything will turn out fine.

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By: June 18th, 2010

June 11, 2010

Stillman’s Slab #43: Ormus the One and Only Cool Cat

It’s another week of stillman hopelessly trying to find ways of killing time at work. I mean writing articles. Today’s Slab examines Ormus and town dwelling NPCs in general.

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By: June 11th, 2010

June 4, 2010

Stillman’s Slab #42: Bloodbath in the Library

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The picture here is self explanatory. What sort of problems arise from the most mysterious and long awaited fifth character class? And why has the female version not been revealed yet? Can the scroll pouch be emptied so it can carry javelins instead? Is the library equipped to handle the clean up of so much blood and carelessly flung monocles? Click through below to follow the dissection of the disgruntled librarian who plays by his own rules.

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By: June 4th, 2010

May 27, 2010

Stillman’s Slab #41: Blizzard’s Stance on the Environment

The environment must diiiiiiiieeee! Basically, you should turn the environment into the Gulf of Mexico. But this weeks discussion is really about the added variety of monsters from the environment who want you and your little sister dead. You better destroy everything in sight just to be safe. Click through below to learn what what Acid Cloud could mean for Diablo 3.

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By: May 27th, 2010

May 21, 2010

Stillman’s Slab #40: Kittens of Mass Destruction

I am an artsy guy, and this is an artsy Slab. This is one of those higher quality Slabs with pictures and possibly even good paragraph flow. This week, I challenge…your parents. The first bit is below; click through for the rest.

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By: May 21st, 2010

May 14, 2010

Stillman’s Slab #39: Pl-e-e-e-e-e-a-a-s-e! No Read! No Watch!

I am a true believer…in padded cells and straitjackets. This week I am looking into the entrails of some of those insane (but likable) characters from Diablo I you could actually interact with. From Gharbad the Weak to Zhar the Mad, do these nut cases even know which side they are on? Click through below for the secret of why these bad guys are our friends.

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By: May 14th, 2010

May 7, 2010

Stillman’s Slab #38: Act I, Andariel

Andariel issues forth a cloud of poisonous gas…but what other issues does she have? Effective gas attacks are never seen again throughout the rest of the game, along with many ideas that are introduced in Act I. Click through below to see just how many concepts introduced in Act I are aborted or abandoned.

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By: May 7th, 2010