After getting my Assassin up to Act 3, I started to really get into the game. Having found a good deal of decent items, a few of which were given generously to me by other USWest players, I could concentrate on the Assassin's skills. The Assassin is an Amazon-like melee fighter. If anything, she reminded me of a Spear-zon (an Amazon that uses a spear), but quite better in her own way. There are two major paths you can take with the Assassin (Asn). One option is to go dual-clawed, take advantage of dual-claw finishing attacks or instead go with one claw and a shield with kick-finishing moves. The style of play with an Asn is perhaps one of the coolest things in the Xpac. Most melee-fans are familiar with the Barbarian WW (whirlwind), which is pretty simple and presents little if any challange. More advanced playing styles involve leap attacks, or a more difficult melee character can be found in a Spear-zon. Never the less, the Asn goes beyond anything the original D2 characters had to offer. The core of Asn's combat lies in charged attacks. You can't just run around carelessly and hit any monster whenever you feel like it. A good Asn must take advantage of at least 2 or 3 charge up skills, before finishing the attack with a fourth skill at the right time. Fighting with an Assassin takes more strategy in and of itself than almost any other class in D2. After charging up your primary attacks on weaker monsters, you should attempt to discharge the bonus-damage/effects on a more powerful monster and that is if your charge-ups have not faded away if you took too much time. You will find yourself in countless similar situations, where you have to decide which monster to attack first and which one to attack last, from what side to approach the crowd, which minion is the greatest threat, and what skills will best control the crowd while keeping you alive - all in a limited time frame. Not quite the WW-ing through a mass of Act4 minions eh?:)

Although the Assassin and Druid are plenty in terms of new classes, the original Diablo2 characters will gain much novelty as well. I did not have the opportunity to try a high level character from the original D2 and see how he/she performs in the Xpac, but judging from the items and additions/changes in the game, many previously unpopular classes could find as much appeal as a WW Barb or Bow-zon. Spear-Zon's will get much better weaponry with amazon-only spears and helms. While the Amazon-skill of "Fend" is now un-interruptable just like "Jab". Same holds true for Java-Zon's, new javalin-class weapons have been introduced in the Xpac as well. With better damage and mods. Sorceress fans will find Fire/Lightning trees more useful along with Sorc-only items. Paladins and Necros get brand new shields, while Barbs can finally enjoy something other than Tarnhelms and Crowns as the mainstream headgear; although some classes were nerved in their skills (WW-ownage in particular), the Xpac characters including the original classes will present more fun, challenges and novelty altogether for everyone from casual players to the most experienced die-hard fans.