===PLAYING===
Download (1.14d): https://www.blizzard.com/en-us/download/confirmation?platform=windows&locale=en_US&product=d2lod
Download (1.13c): https://mega.nz/file/e9thyD6A#ExGJuZUtvRJ2c8DrxSL0ihCouh-ARbdVxODXIqVt3dc, https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwtmRlAuN2x8X2FoWmhoR2pWQ2s/view, http://bit.ly/1R7OcWK


===3D/ENVIRONMENTAL SOUNDS===
threadly reminder to improve your diablo 2 experience and maybe Diablo too with openal
>https://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/1363-dsoal/
>copy alsoft.ini, dsoal-aldrv.dll, and dsound.dll from the download above into the diablo 2 directory
>run game.exe in w7 OR win xp sp2 (one anon said this made it work for his 1.14d version) compatibility

if you're on w10, adjust alsoft.ini to your liking, I recommend the following tweaks:
frequency=48000
default-hrtf=irc_1052_48000

get in game, enable 3d sound and environmental sounds in sound options

wa lah, 3d surround sound diablo 2.


===GENERAL INFORMATION===
General Information: http://classic.battle.net/diablo2exp/
Map Reading and Directions: https://pf-mail.wixsite.com/d2maps
Breakpoints: https://diablo2.diablowiki.net/Breakpoints
Attack Speed Calculator: https://d2.lc/IAS/
In-depth Skill/Stat/Bug Info: https://www.theamazonbasin.com/wiki/index.php/Diablo_II
Drop Calculator: http://mfb.bplaced.net/dropcalc/dropcalc.php?lang=en&patch=113&mode=lod&interface=default&window=true
1.14d Skill Calculator: https://www.d2anya.com/article-35-diablo-2-items-skill-planner


===VERSION GUIDE=== (adapted from https://www.diabloii.net/forums/threads/the-time-travelers-vortex-part-1-a-guide-to-spf-time-travel.933724/, a tiny bit of txt file glancing and patch history notes)
1.00-1.02: True Classic
1.03: Classic, but without overpowered Corpse Explosion and Whirlwind
1.04: Classic, but without overpowered Iron Maiden + Blood Golem combo
1.05-1.06: New Classic
1.07: Uber Expansion; charms can get ridiculously high +dmg and all res, some uniques are much stronger, some sets are stronger, super crafting, higher area levels, can cube jewelry with resistance affixes on top of unique/set/rare, also has overly expensive different runewords that are terrible
1.08: Uber Expansion 2; most of the overpowered 1.07 stuff was removed (including all the runewords aside from Ancient's Pledge), but it adds 6 affix rare jewels, super Windforce, super crafts and possibly Mephisto Fused Uniques
1.09: Pre-synergy Diablo 2; the last version before synergies, well known for its overpowered Guided Arrow bug, 100% critical strike weapon mastery bug, MSLE bug, lightning hose hireling bug, 5% FRW small charms and introducing the "Original" Runewords
1.09b vs 1.09d: 1.09b has players 1-64 and ctc doesn't work (good for Oculus) whereas 1.09d has players 1-8 and ctc does work
1.10b: Uber Expansion 3: Introduced synergies, +2 skills BKWB, 3x standard/flawless gem magic cubing which creates magic items with 1-6 sockets, Introduces Super CTA (+2 skills, +5-15 BO, +5-20 BaCo, +10-13 BaCr), Super Crescent Moon (higher ED% and 20% Static Field), Super Bramble (69-207% PSD), Garbager Delerium (higher ctcs, notably 50% chance to turn into a bone fetish, lol)
1.10s: ??? (seems to have the same things as 1.10b)
1.10f: Synergies Diablo 2; the first real version with synergies, notable for making builds exist, having overpowered (but less overpowered than 1.10b) runewords, adding in the finalized versions of all modern uniques, making monsters ~5x stronger in Hell and introducing the infamous next-hit-always-misses bug (along with broken dodge/avoid and broken concentration)
1.11: Pandemonium Diablo 2; introduces Uber Tristram and the class armor runewords
1.12: Removes CD requirements
1.13: New Diablo 2; introduces respeccing, the last balance changes and makes runes much easier to find
1.14: Increases support for newer systems and makes it so Diablo 2 doesn't use max CPU all the time (this fix is also included in Basemod)


===VERSION GUIDE (for modders)===
1.09d: Bonuses to modding this version is the abusable Lightning Hose bug that allows control over missile production and the lack of next-hit-always-misses bug. The downside is modding was extremely primitive because the txt files gave negligible control over most aspects of the game.
1.10f: The best version. You can have Ubers with PlugY and code edit in Tokens of Absolution (or just use PlugY to respec). Supports the D2mods system and Dreamlands, which are by far the most complex modding systems, adding in tons of new functionality.
1.11: Only notable for the Nefex system, which is more basic than anything in 1.10f. Don't bother modding this version.
1.13c: Only notable for supporting Basemod and being the newest pre-1.14 version.
*Notably, if you only do softcoding and use the Fixed/Overworked 1.13c Txt Files, then your mod will be compatible with any version between 1.10 and 1.14 and probably with Diablo 2: Resurrected as well


===BASIC MODDING/CONVENIENCE===
PlugY (expanded stash, respeccing, single player ubers, etc): http://plugy.free.fr/en/index.html
Basemod (for versions 1.13 or 1.14, has various fixes and slight tweaks): https://d2mods.info/forum/viewtopic.php?t=65492
D2SE (requires 1.13c; lets you swap between versions 1.07 to 1.13c and easily run mods): https://www.moddb.com/downloads/d2se-mod-manager
Cactus (lets you swap between any game versions and run any mods, but is less convenient): https://github.com/fearedbliss/Cactus
Slashdiablo Maphack/Item Filter (https://github.com/underbent/slashdiablo-maphack)


===RECOMMENDED MODS===
>by /vr/
https://www.moddb.com/mods/diablo-ii-115 (1.15f: numerous changes to uniques, sets, runewords, skills and a few minor monster/game rule changes; softcoded, so it should be compatible with any version from 1.10f to 1.14d)
https://d2mods.info/forum/viewtopic.php?t=67078 (Overworked 1.13c Txt Files: a set of fixed 1.13c txt files which removes/corrects many false descriptions and bugs, and adds in new descriptions for behaviors that are not described; works on any version from 1.10f to 1.14d and should be compatible with save files from any of those versions)
http://uzurpator.com.pl/self_files/EaseOfUse_diablo2_mod_v1.zip (Ease of Use; adds new runewords, new uniques, mixes up skills and makes the entirety of Hell stronger on top of global mlvl 85)
https://mega.nz/folder/4SRAADiR#1yb7Y4VpVBwKwsOP36adbA (Muttmod; a mixture of many other mods: has thousands of uniques, hundreds of sets and runewords, a hundred or so new monsters and many new cube recipes)

http://ftp88693.hostfx.ru/Mods/ (Diablo 1 Mod Archive)
http://ftp88693.hostfx.ru/Mods/DIABLO%20I%2B%20MODS/ (Diablo 2 Mod Archive)

===HOW TO MOD===
Download:
AFJ Sheet Editor, https://d2mods.info/forum/viewtopic.php?t=63847 (Allows you to edit the game's txt files without screwing up the format)
AFJ Tbl Editor, https://d2mods.info/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=15454 (Allows you to edit the game's strings)
Overworked 1.13c Txt Files https://d2mods.info/forum/viewtopic.php?t=67078 (these txt files are adjusted with numerous bug-fixing tweaks and may be preferable to the more basic Fixed 1.13c Txt Files)
Fixed 1.13c Txt Files https://d2mods.info/forum/viewtopic.php?t=56033 (these are adjusted with a few bug-fixing tweaks; if you don't like the changes, you can get your own txt files by using an MPQ editor and extracting the Data folder from patch_d2.mpq)
(1) Put the Data folder with your txt files into your Diablo 2 directory, or into a separate D2SE mod folder (recommended to use D2SE)
(2) Set the Diablo 2 shortcut/D2SE to run with -dir -txt enabled, which will run the txt files in your Data folder
(3) Start up Diablo 2, you can modify the game, quit to the menu, then start a character and the changes will be set: you do NOT need to restart the entire game every time you change something
(4) Open Data/Global/Excel with AFJ Sheet Editor and find a txt file you want to modify
(5) Open Data/Local/LNG/ENG/patchstring.tbl with AFJ Tbl Editor to change/add text
(6) See: https://d2mods.info/forum/kb/index?c=4 for guides on what each txt file does