SnEj 5.3 Stable - By SeltSamuel

[Chris]

To LordNevar: I have recieved permission by Tipsy to write the private server information for the server that hosts this game.

If you are in search of a mod that is a mix between vanilla Diablo II and the creativity of Nezeramontias, then SnEj is probably your mod. Unlike Zy-el, it is a 1.10 modification. However, the installation of this mod is different: as you are no longer overwriting files - you will be running a setup executable (much like Nezeramontias 1.08 (which was pointless because all it did was overwrite a Patch_d2 file).


Snej Mirror 1 - Rapidshare: Make sure you haven't dled anything for a while.
Mirror 2 - D2Maniacs server at d2maniacs.org

Either one will easily get you the mod. This should be your Step Zero in other words. I personally prefer you use the D2maniacs one. Because the address is really a FTP download.

Step One - Installation Instructions

1. Download and unpack the .Zip into a Folder of your Choice
2. Execute the installer and press "NEXT"
3. Choose the directory where Diablo 1.10 is installed. If it's in your default directory, just click next. Otherwise, specify what it is. You should only change it if you have either 2 1.10 mods that are seperate of each other, or you are gonna install 1.11 in your default. After specifying it properly, click next.
   • Warning: Failure to do this step properly will corrupt the installation of Diablo II if the version's folder is NOT 1.10.
4. (Optional) If you want to make a Start Menu shortcut, then do so. If you don't, then click next and ignore the step.
5. When it asks you to create a desktop shortcut, make sure you check that box! The way this mod is programmed is that it will use the DLLs and executables of the D2 directory you are installing it in. But there are extra anti-cheat DLLs and the Patch_D2.mpq for SnEj in a seperate folder. The desktop shortcut is unique to the one in your standard directory. It will run the DLLs in the D2 directory it's installed into and the SnEj sub-folder. Failure to do so, will not allow you to access SnEj. Once you allow it, click Next.
6. Click Install and wait for it to install all the necessary files. Once done, click Finish. And if you allowed it, it should run SnEj.

If it doesn't work, then you did either two things: One, you installed it in the wrong directory. Or two, your D2 executable is a No-CD loader like D2Loader. Because of the unique way the DLLs were constructed and the location of the Patch_D2.mpq file, Seltsamuel has virtually prevented almost every hack, even Mousepad and C3P0 from running with this mod. It is recommended that you keep a backup of the D2 executable for just such an emergency. So I am afraid for all you runners out there, you will have to play the game the old fashioned way.

Step Two - Realmplay Instructions

Ok, we got SnEj installed (hopefully). Now, there is a gaming community that has a SnEj realm. For those who don't know what D2Maniacs is, its a German operated server devoted to Diablo II modifications. Such games include: Valhalla (worst mod ever), Zy-el, Zephyrus, Doggy Mod, Eastern Sun, and of course, Snej. Snej is probably the 3rd or 4th most popular played mod on the server, so there will be people playing. To join us on this server, you simply do the following:

1. Open your SnEj sub-folder inside the D2 Directory you installed Snej to.
2. There are two registry files there: D2M.reg and D2_standard.reg. These will change your realms automatically. The first one will add the D2Maniacs realm if you havent done so already, the second removes it. Double click on the D2M.reg file. Then load up Diablo II and attempt a connection to D2Maniacs.
3. If you havent made an account, do so. If you have, log in. Note that if you made an account in say Zy-el, it is still usuable for SnEj.
4. Change the realm to SnEj and create a new character.

Should you have done it correctly, you should be in the lobby, now you can create a game and begin your quest of hunting down monsters and stuff.

[Chris]

Generic Changes to the mod from Vanilla D2

• Your character's max level is 500 - Your max skill level is 60. You will still get 5 stat points for every level you gain. Mercenaries go to 499.
• The experience points required to level up is smaller. Really small! For instance, all you need at the start is 15 experience (most monsters give you 1-2) and you gain a level.
• The UI for the Stats, Skills, and Inventory screens have been redone. Don't get confused with the Skills UI, there are still skill requirements - you better have memorized that skill tree well.
• There are some new synergies for some of the more useless spells. And some have been increased or decreased. However, some skills (mostly the spells) start off really weak. This requires you to do well and spend your syn/skill points wisely.
• Strength and Dexterity requirements on equipment have ridiciously increased, to make it more tier based. For instance, you now need 60 strength to equip Leather Armor.
• Introduced new class based items and a Sweatband shield. It has low defense but has the highest preset Chance to Block (Str required is 100).
• Monsters now have larger groups, somewhat higher damage, AR. Defense, Levels. And some monsters have had thier models redone (the models will be explained later).
• A new interface system that will tell you your accumulated stat totals. To access this, open up your character screen and select any one of the two arrows on the bottom.
• Resistances are now -40/-70/-100%. However, effects from prefixes and suffixes have a greater effect, but also have a greater level requirement.
• Completely redone runes, unique and set items, and 3 new gem types: Aventurin, Chariot and Rock Crystal. The gems are still upgradable at a Gem Shrine.
• All shrines now auto-recharge faster. And some like Gem Shrines and Monster Shrines regenerate, even after one use. So you can literally camp at a Gem Shrine, use it, then in 18 minutes - get the Gem.
• Arrows and Bolts can now be dropped as Magics and Rares (just like in Nezeramontias)
• Lightning spells and attacks no longer do 1 damage minimum.
• Added three new tally items, introduced later.

[Chris]

Alright, let's begin playing!

The first thing you will notice is that the Act one town has changed and you once again start off naked with no items. Inside your inventory, all you have is 5 scrolls.

First, touch the bookcases inside the Stash rooms. There is a chance you may get a Tome of Town Portal and Identify, which have now been reduced to 1x1 (max is 99). So do that.

Now, you must get your "starter items" back. A Weaker Orc (Fallen remodel) named Little Pickpocket, who hangs around the Den of Evil is carrying this stuff. But wait, you only have a 44% chance of hitting a Weaker Orc. Care to risk it? Go ahead.

You have two options: A) You find the Den of Evil the moment you start and kill Little Pickpocket. Or B) You gain a level to improve your chance from 44% to 73% - then hunt him down. Once he falls, he drops:

• The Horadric Cube - which is now 10x10 in storage
• The Rest of your Belongings - this contains your starter gear

The best part is - there are approx 3 of each. You can use these items to start your financial profit. Now, pick up the cube and trasmute the RoyB. You will get:

• A weapon called "Your first xxxx"
• A piece of armor called "Your first xxxx"
• A small charm called "The Eye Witness of Death", move this to your inventory.

Depending on who you are - the following weapon/armor type will be generated. Almost all the pieces have a Requirements -xx% to allow you to equip it right away.

• Amazon - Stag Bow, Amazon Gloves (new), and a pack of Arrows
• Barbarian - Hand Axe, Barbarian Belt (new)
• Paladin - Bright Sword (new), Targe
• Assassin - Katar, Thief Boots (new)
• Necromancer - Necromancer Knife (new), Preserved Head
• Druid - Club, Wolf Helm
• Sorceress - Eagle Orb, Sorceress Armor (new)

As you can see, each one is unique (as of 5.3 - before they were sets and you needed to have both of the equipped to get +1 to class skills), made up of some class only item and some newer items that you may have never seen before. One of the items contains the +1 skill modifier, the weapon usually adds enhanced damage and attack rating, and the armor adds enhanced defense.

With these new items, now you can kill the rest of the monsters in Blood Moor for Killpoints (which is what the Eye-Witness of Death keeps track of - some uniques and magic items rely on this for beneficial effects) and Levels.

Once you are level 6-7, you can do Den of Evil safely.

[Chris]

Your Unique Tally Items

Eye-Witness of Death

You get this small charm when you kill Little Pickpocket, and you transmute the "Rest of your Belongings". Any spares you pick up can be sold for 1000 gold. To sell spares, transmute the Rest of your Belongings to gain it, then pick up any spares and transmute them ONE AT A TIME! You cannot do this in single player.

It is a unique charm with no level requirement. And it doesn't provide you any stat bonuses, fancy + all skills or anything awesome. But it still serves a far greater purpose!

It keeps track (as long as its in your inventory), the number of monsters you have killed, the number of times you have attacked a monster hand to hand, the number of times you get hit, and the number times you have died. The only thing important about this charm is the number of kills you track. This is called "Killpoints".

You will get 1 Killpoint if:

• YOU made the final blow to the monster
• You used an attack command or some variant of attack command (eg. Zeal, Frenzy, Double Swing
• You used missiles, be them arrows, arrow ehancements (Guided, Immolation, Freezing), or spells.
• For the Holy auras (Fire, Freeze, Shock), you killed the enemy by attack bonus, not by aura damage. For instance, if your Holy Freeze adds 1000 to your attack and your aura damage does 10. You will get the bonus if you dealt 1000 damage + your attack, and not from the 10 damage aura effect. The slow is just a helpful effect.

But what benefit is it gonna serve? Well, some magic, rare or even unique items have bonuses that increase as your killscore increases. One example is the unique sash (The Best Defense). It enhances your base defense (the overall defense you have) by 1% for every ~125 kills you make. So the more you kill, the better your defense will become. Although the sash is pretty weak (even though it has 142 defense), you will eventually come to realize just how awesome it can be. Hell, you could just keep killing Weaker Orcs and Zombies all over act 1 and get like 1000% enhanced defense, if you are that devoted enough.

One of the best items (The Unique Troll Belt) is based OFF this bonus. Kill a lot and be sure to keep your eye out for it. It can pretty much save your life and allow you to wear one of the best uniques in the game (Unique Sacred Armor, carries Fanaticism).


Unknown Skull

You collect this tally item when you kill Corpsefire in the Den of Evil. Like the Eye-Witness it is a tally charm, but the level requirement to use it is 200.

As you notice when you pick it up, it has NOTHING but the level requirement. You are probably wondering what mysterious purpose it serves in this mod.

As you open chests or kill monsters, you will eventually come across a item called "Unknown Wizardry" (displayed in Orange), then a roman numeral next to it in Gold (the number is ranged from 1 (I) to 20 (XX)). These items are hard to come by, so it will be a while before you get your first.

You have two options: You could drink it and see what mysteries it will offer your character. Or you can transmute it into your Unknown Skull. As you transmute potions, you will start to apply high grade bonuses to your skull. These bonuses range from +Stats and resists to +Speeds like running, attacking and casting faster to even Extra Gold and Magic Find bonuses. For every bonus you gain, the level requirement on the skull increases by 1, and bonuses can stack. However, each Unknown Wizardry has a random effect on your skull. So some may give bonuses after a while, and some may give you bonuses but not the ones you expect. It will take some experimentation to get what you want. But in the end, you can have up to 300 different bonuses (if you are that lucky).

It is a good 2x2 charm, but you won't be 200 till approximitly Act 5.

Boss Counter

In my opinion, the most annoying charm in SnEj. Like the Unknown Skull, you recieve it when you kill Corpsefire inside the Den of Evil. And like the Unknown Skull, it does nothing at the start and has a level requirement of 200. But the science behind it is what makes it different, and also annoying.

In it's description, it says "Cubing Morphpots may have interesting effects". But you are wondering what is a Morphpot?

Morphpots are special potions that drop from the various bosses of the game. In text, it says "I WANT TO BE (name)" If you drink it, you will assume the form of the boss. You can run around as him or her and murder monsters for the fun of it. If you switch acts, use a transform skill or after time expires, you revert to normal. The following monsters drop Morphpots, by chance:

1. Blood Raven (can only do missile attacks)
2. Griswold
3. Smith
4. Andariel
5. Radament
6. Summoner (can only cast spells)
7. Duriel
8. Mephisto
9. Hephasto
10. Diablo
11. Nihilithak
12. Baal
13. The Unknown Lord of Sanctaurio

If one or more drop, you should transmute them into the Boss Counter, and it will tally how many potions of that kind are inside. For instance, if you transmute 2 Griswold potions into it. It will display "2 Griswold Potions used", and so on and so forth. But this is where things get a little annoying:

There are bonuses that eventually get added to the charm. But the problem is: each morphpot increases a counter inside of it (an invisible one that determines if you get bonuses or not) is randomly increased depending on the potion. To top things off, once you "skip" bonus, you cannot get it ever again, and therefore cannot stack. Also, the level req will ALWAYS be level 200.

The order of how the Boss Counter gains bonuses is this:

thorns effect +30
energy +10
dexterity +10
strength +10
vitality +10
defense overall
defense hand to hand
defense versus missiles
bonus to all stats (str, dex, vita and energy)
resist fire
resist poison
resíst cold
resist lightning
resist magic
resist all (save magic)
more gold from monsters
better chance to find magic items
faster run
extra fire damage
extra lightning damage
extra magic damage
extra cold damage
extra poison damage
extra throwing damage
extra damage
faster block rate
increased attack speed
faster cast rate
faster hit recovery
mana steal
life steal
maximum fire-resist
maximum cold-resist
maximum pois-resist
maximum lightning-resist
maximum magic-resist
maximum all-resists (save magic)
extra poison skill damage
extra fire skill damage
extra cold skill damage
extra lightning skill damage
reduces all vendor prices
more experience gained
bonus to all skills
chance of open wounds
firing explosive arrows
cannot be frozen
ignore targets defense
prevent monster heal

If you manage to not get a single bonus, don't worry - it's not easy. And you could start a new character and transfer a fresh counter. But if you get them all, you either cheated or you are one lucky man or woman.

[Chris]

Documentation