One of the best things about this edition is the expanded classes and class skills that really let you customize your character. Each class shares four primary attributes, strength, dexterity, vitality, and energy. These primary attributes determine secondary attributes like attack rating, defense rating, hit points, and mana points. Beyond this base, each class has a unique set of skills. Each level increase grants a new skill point that can be used to improve the rating in a skill.
Skills have level ratings and pre-requisites.
Skills themselves replace magic spells from Diablo . Rather than generic spells, skills use mana depending on the ability in each. For example, the Amazon has a Cold Arrow skill which allows the Amazon to fire a special arrow that does a little damage but also slows the target for a brief period. The higher the rating in the skill the more damage, further range, or less mana might be used when the skill is used. Skills can be assigned to hot keys which allow the player to invoke them quickly in combat.