Blizzcon impressions of the Witch Doctor

[Naja]

We've heard a little bit about how the Witch Doctor played as a class from those who were fortunate enough to attend Blizzcon.

But I'm curious about the storyline presentation of the character. What kind of character was the Witch Doctor? What did he/she sound like when he/she spoke? Was there ever any NPC dialogue with the Witch Doctor like there was between the Barbarian and Cain in the original gameplay video?

Was there anything else that stuck out about the Witch Doctor that you would like to share?

[Jodaus]

There was an NPC in town that gave a quest called "Burning the Corpses" (or something similar) that spoke to your character, and in turn your character speaks back. It looks like conversations with most NPCs are exactly that: whole conversations! The Witch Doctor has a very Rastafarian personality and voice, not unlike the trolls in WoW. It isn't the same voice as the trolls, though. I only played a male character so I'm not sure what the female WD sounds like, although I'd assume it is very similar.

Whenever you cast an area effect buff (such as the mind controlling Mass Confusion) a really cool voodoo doll animation hovers over the Witch Doctor's head throughout its duration.

I was able to use daggers, swords, axes, staves, maces and wands. I didn't get any 2-hander drops while playing a WD so not sure if they can use those (other than staves, obviously).

[Mad Mantis]

The Witch Doctor has a very Rastafarian personality and voice, not unlike the trolls in WoW. It isn't the same voice as the trolls, though.

Did the WD give off the impression of being a goofy character (like the Trolls in WC3), or is it the accent used to cement a more dark and foreign image?

[Naja]

Did the WD give off the impression of being a goofy character (like the Trolls in WC3), or is it the accent used to cement a more dark and foreign image?

Yeah, what Mad Mantis said. This is a very important question.

[Jodaus]

No, there wasn't anything goofy about his tone or accent. He seemed (much like the barbarian) to be a very brooding character, the kind of guy who has one hand in his pocket holding a needle over a voodoo doll's heart in case he hears something he doesn't like. Perhaps that was a bad comparison to the trolls in WoW, but it seemed a convenient one; the witch doctor doesn't have the same sense of comic relief about him as the trolls do.

[Naja]

Thank you for your invaluable perspective, Jodaus.

I read in the most recent D3 preview that the Witch Doctor is actually quite spiritualistic, and...sort of a good guy. Interesting that a caster whose spells deal "black magic damage" is a bit more pious and morally convicted than his predecessor, the Necromancer.

Did you get a sense of his moral ambiguity at all, or was he pretty straightforward in his brooding Rastafarianism (first and last time I'll ever use that phrase)?

[Mad Mantis]

Perhaps that was a bad comparison to the trolls in WoW, but it seemed a convenient one; the witch doctor doesn't have the same sense of comic relief about him as the trolls do.

The fact that he is not comic relief is good. The comparison to the Trolls does make it instantly clear what kind of voice acting you can expect. Since I've seen examples for both comic relief and a brooding character with that accent I just wanted to make sure. There is nothing wrong with a bit of humor here and there, but I don't want to be playing a slapstick character.


Interesting that a caster whose spells deal "black magic damage" is a bit more pious and morally convicted than his predecessor, the Necromancer.

According to the lore the Necromancers were also very zealous in their beliefs to uphold balance. It just never really showed in the game. I think that was a missed chance. I'm really hoping they will go the extra mile with the WD.

[konfeta]

But the Necromancers had the most badass quotes in D2.

"Lord Diablo, I have bested you."

[Mad Mantis]

Don't forget; "Ahh, the slow torture of caged starvation."

Most badass quote, IMO.

[Naja]

Don't forget how Abd Al Azir mentioned that his Witch Doctor hosts laughed frighteningly when he asked about their ritualistic human sacrifices and holy tribal wars.

The Witch Doctor is one death-affirming mother-****er.

[Mizantrop]

The "intro" dialogue of the demo is really good RPG-wise. The captain interacts very differently depends on the class you play. While playing the WD He'll get scared at first because he thinks you are a walking dead. Later he'll see you as another yahoo that comes to die for fame and fortune. But the WD debunks his statment with a very heroic line that I don't remember. But I do remember it made the WD look like a very serious character and not goofy at all.

[psuedoenviro]

Check out the the "Lore Panel" recently posted. At 6:00 you can hear a female WD. She sounds very much like Calypso from Pirates of the Carribean.

[Naja]

Any character we can compare the male Witch Doctor's voice to?

[psuedoenviro]

Apparently the witch doctor has a cajun (http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/14/blizzcon-2008-in-depth-diablo-3-hands-on/) accent. I bet the author couldn't tell the difference between cajun and creole/island dialect, which from previous articles is the most likely accent for the WD.

However, I'm gonna break a rib laughing if the witch doctor says "cher...", talks about sauce picante, and tells Boudreaux and Thibodeaux jokes.

[knightmawko]

hearing this I am even more excited to play the WD, I didnt want him to be a goofball, I was hoping for a Necro personallity, cool headed, kindof a lonewolf, with some fun diolouge but without bieng a goof or a D-bag

"Lord Diablo, I have bested you."
"You were a sad little man Nilalathak" Did I get that one right?
"My my, what a messy little Demon"
and my personl favorite "Baal, never doubt my power."

[AxlStrife]

Apparently the witch doctor has a cajun (http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/14/blizzcon-2008-in-depth-diablo-3-hands-on/) accent. I bet the author couldn't tell the difference between cajun and creole/island dialect, which from previous articles is the most likely accent for the WD.

However, I'm gonna break a rib laughing if the witch doctor says "cher...", talks about sauce picante, and tells Boudreaux and Thibodeaux jokes.

LMAO, that's the li'l slice of home I needed for quite some time. Remy LeBeau used cher a lot, though it was well-fitting for him.

[FreshMeat]

this is looking brighter. hm. I hope they keep this up.

macbre evil things pimp

[JonoLith]

I must admit that I am somewhat relieved to here this about the Witch Doctor. It seems that it would have been very easy to make him an odd little shell of a character, but Blizzard seems to have gone out of its way to make him less loony, and more an actual character.

Here's Hoping!

[Needlecraft]

I hope at some stage he goes, "Tastingo!! Yea-hahah!!".

But maybe I'm getting my hopes up a bit.

[trollslayer]

I would personally chop off the nuts of whoever directs WoW if that happens, Needlecraft.

Edit: (sorry if you like WoW, but I would!) :mua: