Well my friends as many of you know I've played Diablo from the original to the current LOD version. I've tried to quit many times and the more I do the more the game pulls me back in. I've never enjoyed a game so much as I did Diablo 2: LOD. However I did eventually leave Diablo 2  because of the quality of online servers, and began to play Modifications of the game both on single player and online with groups. My friends and I planned many times to create our own mods of the game and put our own little spin on things, but we never got around to it. Now we are all in university and separated except via the phone, messenger and e-mail. We've rekindled our interest in the mod making and together we're pulling our resources to make a mod that is difficult, more balanced and more fun. We are now in the information gathering stage and would like to know what other RPG players would like to see from Diablo 2. Anything you can think of putting, changing, or getting rid of would be great and appreciated.

We will also be creating a website where other players can download the mod when we are done and play with our group. Hopefully these plans come nicely into place.

One thing that I have issues with in terms of modern-day roleplaying games is the constant stereotyping of the classes, as well.  If you do not mind, I would like to give some insight that might or might not be able to be implemented in the module (I have no squat knowledge on how to build modules, so if none of this can be considered, disregard please).  To give a few examples...

Islay already covered some of it, but a lot of these games play off stereotypes and borderline sexist fantasies for females of a class or even race.  A lot of storylines I see in some of these roleplaying games involve some bulky, masculine hero with a "hot" female elf heroine.  In addition to this, most of these games reveal "skin" on females in areas that make the concept of the female character unrealistic. 

To give an infamous example, Aribeth in Neverwinter Nights had vital organs on her torso exposed just so half of her bosom was exposed (so it seemed).  While I am all for 'pretty' outfits, and they could have done much worse with Aribeth's armor, I think most platemails or any plate-based armors or scale mails covered that area.  I think that when working with the classes and their appearance (that is, if possible), one should consider the norm of the class and try to make their outfits appropriate to their class.  While some of the 'primitive' classes are not always clothed to the extent the 'civilized' classes are, I think people take the whole 'lack of skin' too far. 

Another thing I noticed: the stereotyping of necromancers.  Originally, from what I understand, necromancers traditionally were not supposed to be megalomaniac-al people who want to raise an army of undead.  But since Lovecraft's Necromonicon and the whole pop-necromancy phenomena, it seems to be the  common trend for necromancers in roleplaying games.  In a Dungeons and Dragons game, I managed to find a lot of out-of-corebook supplement book spells that deviated from this norm.  But, the stereotype stuck and necromancer characters who deviated from the norm could never really openly talk about what they did out of fear of the negative sterotyping.  Of course, this little bit of thought is probably more relevant for roleplaying-based situations as opposed to general roleplaying games. 

But yeah, I think customization makes things not only more fun, but a little more realistic as long as you have a basic, bare-skeleton list of standards intact.  I hope you enjoy the creation of the module and can get it up and running.  It sounds like a really fun project that I myself would do if I did not have to prioritize my time much more (and did not enjoy other things over programming).


Sincerely,
TheRadiantSeraphim

I'd actually like to join the team. I'm currently in college for Graphic Design, and if you supply the raster imagery, I can mod it for what you want it to look like. I do have some ideas for quests and monsters added in, as well as some mods to different areas on the maps, to change things up a bit... PM me, and I'll get you my contact info.

Bright Blessings,
 Angelis