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more than meets the eye It's simply amazing how character development can go in so many directions with this game. Seven character classes are now offered, and focusing on certain options within any of the 3 different "skill trees" of each class can itself forever change the way in which you relate to the game. Characters can become so specialized that names have been attributed to them by players on the Net (where lexicons can also be found); for example, if you choose to play a character from the new Druid class, he can be differentiated into a Shifter, Summoner, Elementist, Botanist, Windbreaker, Bowling Druid, etc. [lingo used by D2:LoD addicts, these aren't terms that the game itself uses]. It could be said that choosing from these different paths renews the playability of the game, as you are forced to figure out new strategies to survive, especially in the Nightmare and Hell difficulty settings. I've been playing this expansion since its release, and can hardly believe how much I have yet to learn. The Druid class is a clever addition to original 5, and quite different from the others; the new Assassin class I cannot in good faith critique, as I have only developed one character from that class. Act 5 has a much different flavor, and disposing of Baal can be a highly frustrating task, if you don't have a plan [Hint: get his back against the wall on the runway, slow him down, and hit him without a pause]. The addition of charms and class-specific items vastly improves your chances for survival, and the new set items are geared towards the more advanced players. However, other improvements put forth in the expansion balance it out in favor of the enemy (e.g., you can no longer dominate simply by having a Level 25 Fire Wall). Multiplayer is still free (discounting the cost of your web hookup, of course). Lately I've discovered several websites devoted to the game, and features of the game that previously made little sense now are revealed as worthwhile to me. If you are getting the impression that this game can create a black hole in your weekly schedule, then I think I have gotten my point across. For example, tonite I am supposed to be reading an article titled "Parenteral Nutrition in Pregnancy," but instead I am researching new strategies to keep my Necromancer alive (can you blame me?) Finally, there is the adrenaline rush motive. When trying to stay alive during some of the more challenging moments, your heart will be racing and you might even break into a sweat. Warnings written in the other reviews (about how addiction to this game can trash your GPA and cause your girlfriend to seek out someone who has never heard of Diablo or its sequels) should be taken very seriously. As a graduate student I came close to smashing the disc on several occasions with the thought of freeing myself...that would doubtless have been a waste of money, as I would have promptly jogged down to the store to pick up another copy.