Diablo II: Lord of Destruction
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Overview
The Lord of Destruction expansion set is, as the name suggests, a single-CD module of additional content and rule modifications for the popular Computer role-playing game Diablo II. This expansion, unlike the Hellfire expansion set for the original Diablo (computer game), was made by the game's original publisher Blizzard North.
Features
The expansion pack adds many more features to the game such as
- A fifth act (Harrogath/Mount Arreat)
- Ethereal Items (Items which cannot be repaired, but which have better characteristics in some cases than their reperable equivalents (specifically, for all weapons, ethereal ones will have 150% base damage; for all armor pieces, ethereal ones will have 150% base defense). The usual strategy for such items is to equip a player's hireling (mercenary) with them, since items used by a hireling do not require repair.
- An additional act boss, Baal.
- Jewels (These are functionally similar to gems, but use new graphics and have random characteristics, as opposed to the set characteristics of gems)
- Charms (Objects which need to be kept in a player's inventory in order to confer bonuses; there are three types: small charms, large charms <medium size>, and grand charms <large size>. usually, players go for all res or +20 life small charms, and +skill grand charms)
- Two more character classes (Assassin and Druid)
- More space in your private stash (a chest where items are kept, double the size of Diablo II stash)
- An alternate weapon/shield slot along with alternate left/right click skills, switchable in real time (default "w" hotkey)
- Runes – stones that give powerful attributes to a socketed item when placed in it, or even more powerful attributes when placed in a certain order, known as a "Runeword" (runes are one of the most concentrated types of items on B.net, some runes worth insanely, e.g. an Ist rune worths 8 x Oculus, but a Zod rune only worths 2 x Ist + Mal runes)
- Hirelings (mercenaries) can now follow the player through the acts, and they can gain experience and levels as they fight along players, as opposed to losing that hireling after finishing an act in D2C
- Players may provide equipment for the hirelings to use. The equipment slots of a hireling are less extensive than the player's, limited to only helm, chest armor, and the two weapon slots
- Class-specified Items are new types of items that only one specific type of class can use with required strength/dexterity/level; normally, they are class-specified because their are bonuses to the classes that are able to use them
- Elite Items are new types of items following the Normal and Exceptional Items in D2C, base damage/defense are largely enhanced, but requirements are gains because of this (e.g. battle axe > naga > berserker axe). Another great feature in some of this type of items is that some of them can have larger maximum sockets than the normal/exceptional version of themselves (e.g. kite shields/dragon shields can only have 3 sockets maximum, but monarch shield, their elite version, can have 4 maximum sockets)
- A greater range of unique items, including unique items for exceptional items/elite items
- Changes in stats of class skills
- Change in Blocking Rate. Before, in D2C, the Blocking Rate is completely based on the shield, but in the expansion, it is based on both the shield, the character level, and the dexterity.
- Higher Resolution (800x600)
- And the last feature is still a mystery to many newbies: Uber Diablo. A 1.10 only small charm called Annihilus is only spoutable from Uber Diablo, who only drops one of it every time. But the way to summon this greastest beast is still a mystery, even to me. From rumors, it says that first it is required to know the "Key Item" on each server (such as Stone of Jordan), and when you sell a number of this "Key Item" to the NPC in one Hell Difficulty game, and after a period of time waiting, a phrase spouts: Diablo Walks The Earth. Then the player is half-successful. the first unique monster you kill after the phrase will turn to Uber Diablo, and Beware! Uber Diablo is the strongest of all, it has over 500k hit points, and 95 all resistance! Usually, it requires 8 skillful players to be able to kill Uber Diablo.
Assassin Character Class
The Assassin is one of two new character classes that were included in the expansion set. Technically speaking, she is a composite of the Barbarian and Sorceress classes. In terms of play style, she has two skillsets or "trees." One focuses on the use of the katar, a unique Hindu dagger, augmented by various elemental effects, and the other focuses on the use of traps which again, do damage via emitting a number of different forms of elemental magic. The third skill tree can augment either of the other two with a number of abilities involving shuriken. Because of the shuriken related skill tree and the katar, this character probably has a much more Asian feel than the Muslim Hashshashin they are named after.
In terms of play experience, the Assassin switches between skills perhaps more rapidly other classes, which can result in something of a "function key stoccato" in order to perform a sequence of moves.
Druid Character Class
This character class is (perhaps loosely) inspired by the Druids, the priest class of ancient Celtic societies. He may cast spells of natural forces like storms and vulcans, summon animal minions, or transform himself into a wolf or bear.
Servers
Even though based on what Blizzard Entertainment said, Diablo II/D2X only have four servers:
USEast, USWest, Europe, and Asia,
many illegal serveres on D2X were created, in China, Japan etc, based on the same interface (e.g. IMPK.NET). But one point of these being important was that many people who knew the IPs of these servers can play online in closed B.net with others without a required cd-key (which means downloadable Diablo II Expansion could work almost the same as Bought ones).
Item Trading
Interestingly enough, Diablo II LoD and Diablo II Classic have spawned a myriad of different online shops and stores for items. The phenomenon of users buying items with physical or e-USD (or Euro) has increased within the last year or so. The creation of the 'Ladder' program on Diablo II Classic's Softcore, and Hardcore modes along with LoD's Soft and Hardcore modes has given birth to this "item craze". Most stores are accessed through eBay, but independent ones have even created legitimate, (aesthetically pleasing), and robust sell/trade store sites.
*http://www.d2legit.com *http://www.d2items.com *http://www.weid2.com *http://www.rpgstash.com
There are many others out there– this is by no means an exhaustive list. In addition to stores there are guilds, fansites, non-game altering 3rd party software sites, and helpful sites with item listings and skill/character build ideas.
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