D4 Proposal 24 - Past Epoch - Time Travel - D1 D2 D3 Resurrected

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https://i.ibb.co/tBxbkfM/diablo-4-proposal-24-past-epoch.jpg

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Past Epoch

Season
Travel through time.

The hero wakes up in a pocket dimension, called « The End of Time ».

The hero is welcomed by a mysterious journal, that introduces itself as the Gardian of the Arcane Sanctuary.

The journal informs the hero that an ancient evil has returned to alter the events of Sanctuary, by erasing the past heroes from existence, before they could vainquish evil.

The timeline has been shattered, and this Arcane Sanctuary is everything that remains of the universe.

The hero has been chosen among many to restore the original timeline. In order to seal the timeline, the journal tasks the hero to find 3 artifacts, lost in 3 epochs.

The artifacts can be acquired by defeating Diablo, Baal and Malthael. The journal activates the waypoint, and inside, the first epoch is available for travel. The hero uses the waypoint, and arrives at the beginning of the events of Diablo 1.

After subsequent battles, the hero manages to defeat Diablo.

The first artifact to be retrieved is the Armor of Bartuc. An ephemeral portal to The End of Time opens.

The journal narrates the tales of the Armor of Bartuc, through a cinematic, before activating the second epoch in the waypoint.

The hero uses the waypoint and arrives at the beginning of the events of Diablo 2.

After defeating Baal, the second artifact to be retrieved is the Helm of Bartuc.

An ephemeral portal to The End of Time opens.

The journal narrates the tales of Helm of Bartuc, through a cinematic, before activating the third epoch in the waypoint.

The hero uses the waypoint, and arrives at the beginning of the events of Diablo 3.

After banishing Malthael to the void, the third and last artifact to be retrieved is the Staff of Horizon.

An ephemeral portal to The End of Time opens.

The journal narrates the tales of Horizon, brother of Bartuc, through a cinematic.

The journal then asks the Nephalem to hand over the artifacts, in order to seal the timeline, as promised, thus restore the balance.

If the hero accepts, the journal takes the artifacts from its inventory, and says: « Thank you. You were easy to manipulate. ».

If the hero refuses, the journal insists, and says that the fate of the entire world relies on these artifacts.

If the hero still refuses, the journal says « Fine. I will take them from your corpse. ».

The waypoint and the journal disappear, the tiny platform shakes and quickly expands into a big one.

A World Boss appears, The Summoner, which summons legions of demons from many epochs, even mini-bosses, to kill the hero.

After the victory, the platforms shrinks back. The journal, the waypoint and the artifacts are returned.

The hero uses the journal, liberated from the influence of The Summoner, to seal the timeline. The artifacts are consumed.

The hero is rewarded with 1 item from every epoch, and unlocks the next level of difficulty.

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Explainer

  • Summary: Fix the timeline. Acquire items and skills from 3 epochs.
  • Fantasy: The World between Worlds (Star Wars: Ahsoka), Book of the Vishanti (Doctor Strange 2: Multiverse of Madness), Last Epoch, { D1 / D2 / D3 } Resurrected.
  • Prerequisite: Skill Matrix, in order to collect all the skills, and enable +1 to Skill, especially on D3 Skills.
  • Fresh Start: The player starts at level 1, without any skill. In higher difficulties, the level and equipment are kept.
  • Skills: D1, D2, D3, D4 skills. They can be used in any epoch. They drop from enemies. D2 synergies can apply, but no longer have dependencies (no tree). Tags preferred over synergies.
  • Items: D1, D2, D3, D4 items. They can be used in any epoch. Sometimes, items have built-in skills (Skill on item, like in Baldur’s Gate 3), which are regular or unique.
  • No class: The hero has no class. It can equip any item and changes its build as it pleases. Itemization targeting skills rather than classes defines the limits.
  • Multiverse: The waypoint network is unified between epochs (like in Last Epoch). It allows the hero to travel between all unlocked waypoints, from any epoch. D1 will need waypoints. The Arcane Sanctuary has no stair. It is a tiny platform with 1 journal and 1 waypoint, nothing else. The Arcane Sanctuary has no stair. It is a tiny platform with 1 journal and 1 waypoint, nothing else. It is referenced as « The End of Time ». It drifts into spacetime, surrounded by floating debris.
  • Engine: The rules and 3D engine of D4 are used for every epoch. Revive at Corpse, Click to Town Portal (no scroll) are available. Items are identified (Deckard Cain is only used for the story). Musics are remastered.
  • Itemization: New items (powers, transmogs) from the 3 epochs are available.
  • Artifacts: The 3 Artifacts cannot be sold, but they can be equipped. They are powerful.
  • Cross-epoch itemization: Similar skills from different epochs are available (Ex: Raise / Command Skeletons from D2, D3).
    • Proposal A (Easy): Display an icon that shows the epoch of its origin (D1, D2, D3, D4).
      Easy as it does not disrup the itemization, but problematic for the number of minions (cumulative), and lacks fun as it puts skills into silos.
    • Proposal B (Crazy): Merge every similar skill into 1 single skill, so it takes the best of every epoch, so it can benefit from the itemization of multiple epochs (D1, D2, D3, D4 items buffing Skeletons). In order to create the perfect build, the hero can pick any item from D1, D2, D3, D4. Imagine a super planner and the theorycrafting behind. To get these items, the hero time-travels and farms epochs. The resulting build is usable in any epoch. This is cross-epoch itemization.
  • Incursion: Because the hero equips items from different epochs, not necessarily in the natural order of the timeflow (Ex: Difficulty Nightmare: The hero introduces D3 items into the D2 World), it realizes the concept
    of incursion, when things from universe A invade universe B. By doing so, the hero can somehow break the timeline.
  • Altered Timeline: The events of D1, D2, D3 are slightly altered to surprise the hero and break monotony. In higher difficulties, New powers, maps, quests, waypoints, enemies, NPCs are available. Friends become
    enemies. Enemies become friends. Deckard Cain gets an honorable death, or no death at all, …etc. It is the occasion to reboot everything, and fill the holes in the lore.

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Inspiration

Star Wars: Ahsoka - The World between Worlds

The World Between Worlds, also known as the Vergence Scatter, was a mystical plane within the Force that served as a collection of doors and pathways existing between time and space, linking all moments in time together.

This mystical realm connects all of time and space

Imperial Era

Ezra Bridger discovered the world’s key, and was able to unlock and enter the World Between Worlds first.

After saving Ahsoka Tano from the past by pulling her into the realm, Bridger became adamant in also changing the fate of his master, Kanan Jarrus.

However, Tano reasoned with the Padawan that they would all be dead without Jarrus’ selfless sacrifice.

Turning away, the pair resolved to close the portal to the realm to prevent others from accessing it, only to encounter Darth Sidious, who tried to enter the realm using the Force users.

Bridger and Tano, however, were able to return to their own times, with Bridger closing the portal and causing the Lothal temple to collapse, taking Hydan with it.

Having returned to her own spot in time, Tano ventured into the depths of the temple and found another portal to the World Between Worlds

New Republic Era

Tano once again found herself in the World Between Worlds following her duel with the fallen Jedi, Baylan Skoll, on the planet Seatos.

There, she was reunited with her former master, Anakin Skywalker.

https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/World_Between_Worlds

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Doctor Strange 2: Multiverse of Madness - Book of the Vishanti

Page of animated Webp from the movie, showing the book and its glowing effect:

  • https://doctorstrangedaily.tumblr.com/post/692366019877076992/thelostsmiles-the-book-of-vishanti-contains-the

Individual gifs, in case the page is put offile:

  • https://i.ibb.co/zSvPdTC/tumblr-c17dc7edab7a751012416dea95f1a870-64e77446-540.webp
  • https://i.ibb.co/mHRjDzr/tumblr-79340d2083a66abb0975bb810335ecc4-cd05d9e8-540.webp
  • https://i.ibb.co/mb0LwWH/tumblr-03468ca3155170479deb19851cdd36b0-4ab91953-540.webp
  • https://i.ibb.co/G922drp/tumblr-a21d43900f55f46e2201bddef96e52e4-e8e92c66-540.webp
  • https://i.ibb.co/XXBhf8y/tumblr-dc3594e8d8b624d9e6ef6c04df0741f0-1cc9dc96-540.webp
  • https://i.ibb.co/r5WwbHt/tumblr-28beebe2bfbb551370ab5de127c8b24b-86d7bae3-540.gif
  • https://i.ibb.co/RHLn5b1/tumblr-c8c84764a5a67698d0e2a2e4690cc16d-2de071de-540.webp

Image with a broader view:

  • https://i.ibb.co/vvdLjjF/Book-of-Vishanti-Infobox.webp

The Book of the Vishanti contains the most powerful light/order magic spells known, many of them being counterspells to other magic disciplines. It seems to have an endless number of pages, which seemingly materialise from nothing. The book itself can be used to deflect magic.[6] In addition, its spells can never be used for offense, only for defense.[8] The Book is marked with the Seal of the Vishanti. It also contains extensive knowledge introduced by several powerful magicians, such as the information collected by Agamotto regarding his discovery and mastery of the “Three Paths to Enlightenment”

Given the vast knowledge present in its pages, the book was presumably dictated by the Vishanti to the first practitioners of white magic.

the Book of Vishanti is mystical book of pure good that is the light counterpart of the Darkhold, it also grants sorcerers the power and knowledge to defeat their enemies.

https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Book_of_the_Vishanti

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Doctor Strange 2: Multiverse of Madness - Gap Junction

Images:

  • https://i.ibb.co/0Gc78v2/Gap-Junction.webp
  • https://i.ibb.co/4WbPpHJ/Temple-of-Vishanti.webp
  • https://i.ibb.co/613TJJN/Gap-Junction-Vishanti-Temple.webp

The Gap Junction is a plane outside space-time where the Book of Vishanti was hidden.

https://marvelcinematicuniverse.fandom.com/wiki/Gap_Junction

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Marvel - Superflow

The Superflow is the informational space between universes.

The Superflow is the space between universes that connects and separates universes, and it allows multiversal travel.

https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Superflow

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Last Epoch: End of Time

The End of Time is the absolute endpoint in history, where all existing timelines converge. Every timeline shares the same past: the Void has consumed all existence, but a shard of humanity survived due to the Traveler’s interference.

Due to the nature of time, Eterra’s event flow is replayed and repeated countless times, resulting in many Travelers to end up in the End of Time

The surviving Elder Gaspar realizes how this can be used to help Travelers untap their potential and thus alter history

https://lastepoch.fandom.com/wiki/The_End_of_Time

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Diablo2: Arcane Sanctuary

The Arcane Sanctuary is a dimension created by the mage Horazon

When the player enters the sanctuary, there are four possible paths to choose from.

In terms of sheer size, the Arcane Sanctuary is by far the largest dungeon in the game.

This place actually distorts reality. Fascinating.

Summoner, the dark magics have corrupted you.

https://diablo-archive.fandom.com/wiki/Arcane_Sanctuary_(Diablo_II)

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Diablo 2 Act 2 Arcane Sanctuary Fan Art

https://stiff-north.artstation.com/projects/D5W9Ne

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Diablo2: Bartuc and Horizon

https://diablo.fandom.com/wiki/Bartuc
https://diablo.fandom.com/wiki/Horazon

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Other proposals:
https://diablo-proposals.web.app/

Skill Matrix:
https://diablo-proposals.web.app/#skill-matrix-skill-loot