Installing Various Mod Supporter Programs

[Chris]

Before I continue, I am required to post this disclaimer:

I have given myself authority to post these said links. As long as they aren't hosted on Battleforums.com. Anyone else who posts links to warez or other illegal locations on the web will be banned permanently according to the Rules and Regulations setup by Battleforums.com

This guide is a setup guide to install and modify your Diablo II setup so that it runs efficiently and effectively should you decide to play Mods or not. Before you post your problems, read thru these posts before you actually post it.

Note that most of the programs here do not operate with the SnEj mod, since it has anti-cheat DLLs that cannot be edited or removed.

[Chris]

You can find C3P0 for 1.10 here. Most mods that run 1.10 should be compatiable with this program. Should there be an interfering PlugY program running with the mod, you must do special instructions do resolve that (eg. Zy-El). This program does not work with SnEj (due to Plugy's interface being hardcoded into the game).

This is an advanced and more user friendly version of Mousepad. Now you can configure your settings with the GUI and not have to resort to Config file modifications or adding monsters to the vocabulary file or whatever.

Here is how you install it:

1. Download from above like and take off the [1] at the end of the zip, to make it extractable
2. Extract all files to the Diablo II directory, and overwrite the executable for Diablo II with the one in the zip (This is D2Loader).
3. Create a shortcut for C3P0 on the desktop.
4. Open C3P0, Click on which Diablo II you want to run (Win or Full), and click on the Arrow button pointing towards R2D2 LOADED. This will execute Diablo II with C3P0. Now all you need to do is configure it to your preferences.

Here are some suggestions I recommend you do (if you want):

• For both Win and Full version, add this command: -skiptobnet. As long as you set your realm to D2 Maniacs (using BNGatewayEditor and having D2 Maniacs set as your selected realm), this will auto connect to that realm. DO NOT DO THIS ON THE OTHER REALMS, or you will be forced to download patch 1.11b. To remedy this, go to D2Maniac's forum and search for the original files for 1.10. Works on Bnet and Mods.
• For hardcore players that need a safety precaution, add this command: -nonotify. As long as this command is running, should the game crash, it will just close the game and not prompt you with an OK button. If you get a C000005 error, it will just close it. Why is this helpful? Cause the game may operate while your HC character is in battle till you press OK. You could lose your HC character should you die in this timeframe. And that isn't a good thing . Works on Bnet and Mods.
• If you wish to switch between video modes (Full SCreen only) use these: -d3d or
  -d2d -opengl -rave -glide. Be warned, these will not work in Windows mode, it generates unwanted effects. And some like Glide or Rave require special cards to operate properly.
• Turn off the supression for weather and NPC text.
• Turn off ALL AUTOQUIT features, it is a pointless thing unless you really need it.
• Unsuppress boss death animations
• If you want to, turn off the vectors. This will load a compass on your screen that will tell you where your nearest Waypoint, Quest Location and Next Level is. Which is kinda dumb if you activate the map using [-]
• Hotkey an exit game button, I prefer 0 on the Num Pad.
• Setup the Text for any remaining Unique Monster effects except thieving to your preferance. Go to Automap Config, and there will be the effects. Right Click on the right box in the chart to pick a color, left clicking allows you to change the text. Do something will all of them except Thieving (which doesn't exist anymore).
• To use item colors, you do the above: But now you have to browse through a mini menu of possible items. For instance, if you want to make the Elite Shako unique appear in Red. You do this:
  • Select Unique
  • (GRADE)Elite Items
  • Armor
  • Helm
  • Shako
  • Click on Shako, and right click on the box above it and select your new color

Those are some basic functions, but I leave you to experiment with the rest. I have a pretty neat setup with Purple Health bars and Blue X unique monsters and all. I recommend you run Diablo II in Windows Mode, so all you need to do to change C3PO is click off screen and select your C3PO program. Just remember to Save Changes. The only difference with Windows is it doesn't play Videos, and run Direct3D support on the game.

[Chris]

Now it is possible. With a special program you can find in the Download list (May 5th post at Valhalla's website), called MusicPatch.zip. With this, now you can play your own epic music. And your possibilities are endless .

Here is how you can do it:

• Download it and extract ALL of it's contents to the Diablo II directory.
• A folder will generate, inside this folder is all the music files that will be operated (these are the defaults, they are pretty good ). They are saved as .wav files.
• Use a program that can covert your MP3s to Wavs or vice versa. An example is something like Cool Edit Pro. But if you want a freeware one, use Audacity
• For audacity, load your music, then Export it as Wav. For the Wav to MP3, it will tell you to find a file. Do so (only once).
• Take your new wav and OVERWRITE the wav file you want to replace, do it for anything you want to replace.
• Run the Batch file that comes with the zip. And follow its instructions. Then run Diablo II and test your music. For instance, if you overwrote Boss1.wav, then you have to go to Andariel's level and hear for yourself. If something bad happens, then overwrite your Patch_D2.mpq with the one that came with the mod or patch. The reason being is that the Batch file takes all the music and overwrites the wavs inside the Patch_D2.mpq, forcing the game to play those.

Enjoy your music in Diablo II . And as always, if you get really sick of your songs, either rerun the script with new music, or set the music volume to 0 and run your MP3 player or whatever.

And any songs you choose will have no effect in creating games or joining games, because the music will not be checked with comparing versions, as long as you are running this mod's latest version and connections properly.

It also works with any mod and Diablo II B.net.

[Chris]

Even this is possible (god I love bringing the good news), and the instructions are so easy, even a child could do it .

• Install D2Loader properly and make sure it works.
• Insert your Diablo II Expansion CD and close the AutoPlay
• Go to My Computer and explore the Diablo II CD
• Copy D2Xmusic.mpq and D2XVideo.mpq (dont rename them), and paste them in the Diablo II Directory with your D2Loader.
• Run the game without your Diablo II CD.

D2Loader first checks it directory for the 2 files, if they exist in the directory with it, it runs off these. If not, it goes to your CD and tries to retrieve them. Congrats, you just screwed over your CD with a copy command. You can then lend your CD to someone, or just keep it for a reinstall.

Note that D2Xmusic will not clash with MusicPatch, so its safe to use.

This can be done on any mod, but D2Loader may be detected by the Warden System running on Diablo II Battle.net and you may get banned for it.

It has been confirmed from Seltsamuel's unique programming, SnEj will NOT support D2Loader.

[Chris]

Even this is possible, this is a helpful instruction setup when you want to play something like Zy-El, which is version 1.09.

• Install the mod you have planned. Hopefully, along with the D2Loader file
• Copy EVERY FILE in the directory that is an exe, mpq and dll, and move them to a created directory either in a D2 sub-directory or somewhere else.
• Link a shortcut to the D2Loader file and test it.

If you want to run Zy-el with 1.10 mods. You will need to reinstall d2 and update to 1.09d. Then copy all the d2 files along with the overwrited Zy-el files into another directory. Then overwrite the originals with the upgrade to 1.10.

Because the executable will check for the files in the directory that are existing with the exe. With this trick, you can copy as many folders as you can with different mods, providing you have the HD space to spare. The only con is it may check for CD if you say, run the 1.09d exe. This is remedied when you install D2loader 1.09 and 1.10. Just make sure the D2Loader 1.10 isnt in the 1.09d files, or it will crash upon activating.