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'''Instability''' is the new [[resource pool]] of the [[Wizard]], replacing [[mana]], which is only used by the [[Witch Doctor]], in Diablo 3.
Very little information has been released about Instability, and what we did know was reversed in August 2010, with a promise of much more information come Blizzcon in October. [http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/updates-on-fury-instability-and-other-resources/
Wizards used mana when first introduced at Blizzcon 2008 and also in the Blizzcon 2009 demo, but shortly after the 2009 show Blizzard announced that all classes except for the [[Witch Doctor]] would use something other than mana for their resource. The only non-mana resource yet fully explained is the [[Barbarian]]'s [[Fury]], so while we know the [[Monk]], [[Wizard]], and unnamed [[Other classes|fifth class]] will all use something other than mana, details are lacking.
==Instability Design TheoryKnown Details==
The concept behind instability, in terms of what type of gameplay it's meant to encourage and support, was related by Jay Wilson during an October 2009 interview. [http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/jay-wilson-exclusive-full-transcript/]
The logic behind the change to Instability is that mana did not work as a limiting resource in Diablo 1 or Diablo 2. The play style of mage characters in the Diablo series is one of constant spell-casting. Therefore a resource that tries to limit spell casting is flawed, since players will always work to circumvent it, or else be crippled by it. As Jay Wilson said, a Wizard that can't cast spells is no fun.
In other words, <u>Instability will make the Wizard cast spells more effectively while increasing the danger to themselves</u>. [http://diablo.incgamers.com/forums/showthread.php?p=7479890]
The details of this; what buffs will increase the "blasty" and what debuffs will increase the "vulnerability" have not yet been revealed, and will surely remain under development and balancing for the remainder of the game's development. Common suggestions for buffs (blasty) include faster casting rate, higher spell damage, larger spell radius, and longer spell duration. Common suggestions for debuffs (vulnerable) include reduced movement speed, reduced spell casting rate, lowered hit points, lowered resistances, and lowered defense.
The key change to a Wizard in Diablo 3 though, is clear. The character will never be unable to cast a spell, due to a loss of mana or instability. The gun is always loaded. The key to playing successfully then, will be to harness the use of instability to make the character's spells more effective. To kill the monsters before they can reach the [[glass cannon]] Wizard.
But the key is that we don’t necessarily want to... we don’t want to cannibalize an existing gameplay mechanic. So when you take health globes that are already important, and you make them even more important, then that doesn’t really create gameplay. For the WD, the health globes weren’t that important a lot of times, since he very rarely took damage with his pets, so for him by enhancing his desire for health globes, we’re really putting gameplay where it wasn’t. So whatever we’re designing a class that’s what we look at.
==Instability Speculation==
* [http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/monk-resource-system-complete/ Monk Mana Resource System Progressing]
* [http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/jay-wilson-exclusive-full-transcript/ Jay Wilson interview]
* [http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/updates-on-fury-instability-and-other-resources/ Instability all changed], more details at BlizzCon 2010.
