The Diablo III health system

Today at the gamescom trade fair in Cologne, Germany, Blizzard Entertainment unveiled a brand-new gameplay feature for its highly-anticipated action role-playing game, Diablo® III. Even in single-player mode, the heroes of Sanctuary won’t have to face the hordes of the Burning Hells alone, as a persistent caravan follows them on their perilous quest. The caravan provides access to a group of unique support characters including a blacksmith, a mystic, and a jeweler, each of which offer exclusive gameplay benefits that will aid players in their epic struggle.[more] And these aren’t just static NPCs — each artisan has his or her own story and quest line, and they gradually grow in skill and learn new recipes over the course of the game as players take advantage of their services. The utility provided by these characters adds another layer of customization and depth to the Diablo III gameplay experience.

Want to experience the panel discussions, tournaments, game-related announcements, and all the excitement of BlizzCon from the comfort of your own home? The  is now available to order around the world for $39.95 USD (pricing may vary by region). In addition, new DIRECTV subscribers in the United States who sign up for DIRECTV service between now and September 24 through will receive this year’s BlizzCon Virtual Ticket coverage for free. Existing DIRECTV customers will be able to purchase the event on DIRECTV Pay Per View for $39.95 beginning October 9.

Anyone who orders the event will also receive this year’s BlizzCon-exclusive World of Warcraft in-game item. In addition, for the first time, BlizzCon 2010 Virtual Ticket holders will have access to exclusive BlizzCon merchandise.

The is now live! Check out high-quality streaming versions of our cinematics, gameplay trailers, and in-game movies, including the brand-new caravan preview video. Make sure to come back often, as we will be adding even more video content in the future.