Diablo 2 just turned 20

[KeAShizuku]

Stay awhile and listen!

 

[octavius]

If I understand it correctly, though, there's no "unlimited" stash space mod option for Resurrected, right?
D2 Plugy remains the only option for that. Or am I missing something?

I haven't tried D2R myself, so I don't know how exstensive the shared stash is.

 

[mastroego]

Thanks anyway, I'll investigate further.
It'll probably be Project Diablo 2, if I do "upgrade"... I'm used to PlugY's features by now.

 

[Gargaune]

I'll check the available mods for it and ponder on a possible jump...

I'd thought about Resurrected too (even though covering up Andariel's butt is a crime against the arts), but what killed it for me was the new Battle.Net requirement. I see no reason to bend over for a live service account in a game I have no interest in playing online.

 

[mastroego]

I completely agree.
Then, I just confirmed that there's no option for limitless storage in Resurrected. There's an external app, but I'm used to PlugY by now, and its comfortable, in-game accessible limitless stash.

This too is a deal-breaker for me.
I think I'll try Project Diablo 2, even though the idea of losing the pool of my characters isn't nice. Especially the 89 level Hybridazon, and associated equipment...

 

[minipete]

I played D2 only with PlugY and do "holy grail" runs. Good game, nearing 25 years and still played, but for me, at least, it becomes really boring, really fast.

 

[mastroego]

So I've set up a second installation with Project Diablo 2 + PlugY.
There's lots of changes and I've already seen a few I don't like. Hopefully they'll prove tolerable.

On the other hand:

• Fully equippable mercenaries (except for jewelry). This opens up a whole new game inside the game and it's so far the most welcome addition, for me. Probably a "deal maker".
• Rebalanced uniques, sets, and runewords. Of course, singular changes might prove questionable. BUT, it is indeed weird finding all of those wondrous items, and regularly having to acknowledge that they don't make the cut compared to runewords or even a luckily rolled and socketed rare. A finer balance was certainly needed.
• Higher resolutions and all kinds of UI and QoL additions.
• The maps system I suppose it's a good thing, new endgame options and levels.

I think if one gets used to all of these things then it'll be hard to go back...

 

[Gargaune]

Average Manatee, to confirm, yes, just hosting a new TCP session on each character rerolled their maps, so I've got them all split up again. Problem sorted, thanks!

I think if one gets used to all of these things then it'll be hard to go back...

Dunno about Project Diablo, but you were right about PlugY. I've had a chance to play a bit with it now and yeah, there's no going back, the shared stash is a game-changer. I should've made the jump ages ago.

 

[minipete]

Just finished diablo (the OG) and want to get D2. I have the serial keys, where do I get the installer? I don't want to download blizz launcher to play D2, are there any standalone D2 installers on blizzard's site? Because I sure as shit can't find any.

 

[Melcar]

If you don't have the original discs or an image already, I think the only way is with the Blizzard installers (converting your serial to their new format). Unless you want to fish for the original installers. You don't need the Blizzard launcher to run the game by the way. The new installers simply convert your serial key and download the install files. I converted my original serials a long time ago and run the game just fine under WINE without the Blizzard launcher even installed.

The standalone installers for classic D2 are kind of hidden (I think they don't want you to keep playing original D2).

https://us.battle.net/support/en/article/13867

Keep in mind that once you install this way, this will be the only way you can keep playing and your old original serial key won't be valid anymore.

 

[minipete]

If you don't have the original discs or an image already, I think the only way is with the Blizzard installers (converting your serial to their new format). Unless you want to fish for the original installers. You don't need the Blizzard launcher to run the game by the way. The new installers simply convert your serial key and download the install files. I converted my original serials a long time ago and run the game just fine under WINE without the Blizzard launcher even installed.

Nevermind, I found a 1.13c installer and got the LoD patch, my old keys still work. Thanks anyways and sorry for the mess.

 

[mastroego]

Dunno about Project Diablo, but you were right about PlugY. I've had a chance to play a bit with it now and yeah, there's no going back, the shared stash is a game-changer. I should've made the jump ages ago.

Then allow me to suggest to make another jump, it's even bigger imho.
At least consider doing it before filling your shared stash with items... it's the problem I'm having now.
I've been playing with Project Diablo 2 and yeah, it's the new standard for me.

Reasons:

• "Fully"Equippable mercenaries, as stated above.

• Class items for mercenaries.

• Rebalanced mercenaries so that all options are viable (instead of the usual Act 2 Holy Freeze merc and the other couple of abused options).

• A new class of mercenaries added in Act IV.

• Rebalanced items.

• Rebalanced skills. For instance, the Valkyrie summon is much less sturdy now... but at level 20 of the skill you can summon TWO at the same time, three at 30. Also there's the armor Runeword for Amazons... not a very powerful one, still, but it has +1 summonable Valkyrie as well. It's cool.

• QoL changes. Can't do without them already. The inventory is even bigger. It has a dedicated section for charms (you must put them there for them to work). Yes you'll have more space for +skill charms and the like. Too much? Who cares, it's not like Hell isn't lethal. And it allows further tuning of the builds.

• QoL changes again. Did I mentions quick cast hotkeys? You assign them to skills you use only now and then, like buffs. In regular D2, you have to click the Hotkey to activate the power, cast it with the mouse button, then hotkey back to your regular attack skill. With the quick cast hotkey you just press that one, the UI casts the power for you and immediately switches back to the attack skill you'd been using.

• QoL changes. Plenty of little additions like the Unique key I just found, the Skeleton Key: it opens any chest.

• More QoL changes. Yes you still need regular keys for the Rune upgrade recipes... now uniformly of the form "lower grade runes + standard key". No nonsense with all the different kinds of gems anymore.

• New items and Runewords, but not too many, just to better cover some areas.

• Enchanted arrows. Why weren't there enchanted arrows in D2?

• Seamless presentations. There are new icons when required, they don't look out of place.

• It looks great. I never tried higher resolutions before as I didn't want to delve into technical messes I couldn't handle. But it does it for you, the texts are crisp and all. It also fixed a problem I had with the sound in the old version of the game + PlugY.

Now, there is one thing I don't like, which is melee splash damage.
I think it's meant to rebalance melee classes, which couldn't clear mobs as fast as caster classes... It doesn't change the game too much and perhaps it even succeeds in its goal, but I would have made it at least less universal. Perhaps tied to special skills or item effects, I don't know.
It's the one thing I don't really like and I think it's fair to mention it.
But definitely not going back regardless.

I'll keep the old version installed for now to have a memo of the items I did find so far: I fully intend to "cheat" some of them back... or close versions of them (of course I'm playing with PlugY offline, I'm not using an online account).
I mean, I had this Diadem for the Amazon:
+2 Amazon skills level
+20% Faster Run/Walk
+22% Enhanced damage
+19 Dexterity
+27 to Life
+15 to all Resistances
...which of course I socketed to add a +15% Increased Attack Speed jewel.
Am I supposed to roll/find one such again?

 

[minipete]

For me, it's D2+PlugY+D2DX. Everything else, to me at least, make the game a breeze which isn't that fun (a merc can carry your ass), plus that I know by heart most of the runewords. The only one that seems to be of any use is the expanded inventory for the charms.

 

[octavius]

For me, it's D2+PlugY+D2DX.

Same here.

Everything else, to me at least, make the game a breeze which isn't that fun (a merc can carry your ass), plus that I know by heart most of the runewords. The only one that seems to be of any use is the expanded inventory for the charms.

I prefer playing without Runewords, at least when I'm not playing HC and playing several character at the same time.
Some of the Runewords are so OP that it feels like cheating to use them, like "Insight" on the merc.
D2 is a great game for testing out various challenges and house rules.

 

[mastroego]

As I said, in Project Diablo 2 some of them have been toned down, to let uniques and sets reclaim a place.
Bosses have been reworked too, and there's also new Ubers.
And the endgame maps/superlevels (haven't tried them yet).

Oh, come to think of it, there's a minimap function as well.
I do suggest to give this mod a try, it's an impressive work.

 

[minipete]

What's the ranking of the acts in Diablo II?

For me it's 4>5>2>1>3

5 was good but not better than 4, yeah you fight the ancients and have a story of treachery in there, but the atmosphere created from going from the jungle straight to hell, the lake of fire, the forge, everything was perfect for a game like Diablo.

The first three acts are mid except for 2 which is one of the better ones, Ancient Egypt, arcane sanctuary, the mobs were cool and had variety, imo trumps act 1 which was just trying to be creepy with the cathedral and religious setting, almost like trying to immerse you into Diablo I again.

Act 3 sucks ass, the mapping is complicated hot shit and forces you to play on the sides of the screen most of the time , mobs are shit, Kurast is somewhat decent but not good enough to pass Act 1 in terms of quality.

 

[Jermu]

act 1 is easily the best

 

[luj1]

Idk, I like them all except Act 4 for some reason

For me Act 2 > Act 1 > Act 3 > Act 5 > Act 4

 

[luj1]

As I said, in Project Diablo 2 some of them have been toned down, to let uniques and sets reclaim a place.
Bosses have been reworked too, and there's also new Ubers.
And the endgame maps/superlevels (haven't tried them yet).

Oh, come to think of it, there's a minimap function as well.
I do suggest to give this mod a try, it's an impressive work.

It's great but melee splash is a deal breaker. Paladin is messed up too

 

[ghardy]

What's the ranking of the acts in Diablo II?

Act 1 > Act 5 > Act 2 > Act 3 > Act 4

 

[minipete]

act 1 is easily the best

why?

What's the ranking of the acts in Diablo II?

Act 1 > Act 5 > Act 2 > Act 3 > Act 4

You can't put act 4 in last place. That's rude.

 

[Carceri]

What the hell?! Act 3 is the worst.

 

[Jermu]

act 4 was rushed thats why it only had 3 quests

chaos sanctuary is my favorite area in the game though

 

[Gargaune]

What's the ranking of the acts in Diablo II?

I'd say 1 > 3* > 2 > 5 > 4. With a special mention for the Arcane Sanctuary as the coolest moment in the game, it's just a very welcome texture swap when it hits. The first act is the best fleshed out in my opinion, the third squeezes in there for the concepts of Kurast and Travincal, though the first half through the jungle is kind of annoying. I love the idea of exploring deserts in these settings, but I don't think they did it as well as they could've in act 2. And the fourth act is just a bit rushed and barren, an easy pick for last.

act 4 was rushed thats why it only had 3 quests

The original plan was to chase Baal through the snow biome after killing Mephisto, and only then go gank Diablo in hell, but they ran out of time and had to relegate it to the expansion.

 

[mastroego]

As I said, in Project Diablo 2 some of them have been toned down, to let uniques and sets reclaim a place.
Bosses have been reworked too, and there's also new Ubers.
And the endgame maps/superlevels (haven't tried them yet).

Oh, come to think of it, there's a minimap function as well.
I do suggest to give this mod a try, it's an impressive work.

It's great but melee splash is a deal breaker. Paladin is messed up too

I understand the sentiment. Legit stance.
On the other hand, it's one flaw (which anyway was meant to boost melee classes somewhat) against everything else.

Another thing I didn't mention is stackable items.
AND, recipes do work with stacks.
This means you can stack up on gems, for instance, load them up in the box with a Grand Charm, and keep re-rolling it until you're out of gems (or you finally get that elusive charm you wanted)
This speeds up the process, like, tenfold.

Also I've just discovered that it's possible to inspect the equipment randomly generated for summoned Valkyries.

At the end of the day, it's all just too comfortable and I'm having a lot of fun with this new version.
I'm even considering trying the online play.
The only thing that still stops me is that online play means having a limited stash, again.