DiabloFans

Problem:
Diablo 2 game load times on bnet (ver 1.13) increased by approximately 5 seconds and lag in game renders game unplayable for the first 20 - 30 seconds of the game.

Background:
I have 2 computers that are running Diablo 2 currently.
* One is my older Win XP setup with considerably less everything (RAM, CPU, video card, etc.) and runs the game flawlessly (no lag, no video issues, etc.)
* The second is the newer beefed up machine with considerable more power running on Windows 7. This machine appears to have a cornea when a new game is started and lasting until about 20-30 seconds after the game has commenced.


So I did try things (really, I didn't just post before reading and stuff!):

---- I tried this suggestion from incgamers ----
1. Navigate to your Diablo II folder (e.g. C:/Program Files/Diablo II)
2. Right-click Game.exe and select Properties
3. Click the Compatibility tab
4. Check "Run this program in compatibility mode for:" and select Windows 98 / Windows Me
5. Check "Disable visual themes"
6. Check "Disable desktop composition"
7. Check "Disable display scaling on high DPI settings"
------------------------------------------------
Note: I put a compatibility of "Windows XP Service Pack 3 " though.


* I tried running the video test and taking Blizzard's suggestion.
* I ensured that the program is run as administrator.


Note: When I create the game, lots of symbols going through a loop in the top left corner of the screen like other people have posted, but then it lags like mad.


Lastly, there are no extraneous processes running in the background (process explorer shows only core processes running), memory isn't an issue, duel video cards shouldn't be an issue, and CPU shouldn't be an issue (i5) but I could be wrong.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks!

After reviewing magistrate's list (nice!), I thought that I remembered a couple more.
* Whips open Google
* Types in "Diablo 2 slash commands"

BAM! DiabloWiki has a very nicely organized list of slash commands + more!

Thought I would share the link if people want it:
http://diablo2.diablowiki.net/Game_commands

Well crap. Looks like I'm in the minority again.

The truth is that I need the TPs back. With 2 demanding kids and a wife, I go through TPs like water! My afk time in town hanging with Cain is almost on par with the amount of time I actually get to play. Charsi and I have a thing going on - don't judge me!

It appears to me that the single biggest issue that people (and maybe Blizzard) have with TPs is that it makes the game considerably less challenging (be it through rushing, escaping death, boring a boss to death, etc.). While I don't think that people are going to argue that point much, I tried to envision a world where I couldn't bring up a TP.

"So I walk into town and Cain informs me that all of the hero's got suddenly lobotomized and can't recall how to create a portal back to town. As a barbarian; I grunt, scratch my ass, and move on. Running outside, I start hacking my way through demons very happily. 20 minutes later, I encounter a pack of 16 mobs with a boss that is lightning enhanced, stone skinned, and immune to physical JUST as the doorbell rings in real life. Remembering the epic conversation with Cain, I promptly bend over and take it like a man while answering the door irl. (Cursing Cain the whole time.)"

Granted lightning enhanced and the rest of the old D2 boss features may not be relevant in D3, I still admit that I'm not a fan of no TPs at all. Someone accurately indicated that it would be very difficult to explain on the lore side of things.

Seeing as the original context of the Diablo series was to be labeled a "Hack and Slash", I genuinely thought that the ability to mash a town portal was normal. However, I concede that Blizzard may wish to change direction and carve a new path. I just hope that they pull a rabbit out of the hat that will make everyone happy.

Some options are really interesting, but I just want to say a Massive NO to the "Top Tier Gear" buying stuff not available through the game, worst thing ever.

I agree complete with that statement. This would make the game feel like one of those cheap free-to-play MMO games that people play online for about 1 week before they realize that you have to pay for this and that ... etc. I admit that if this was to become the norm for the game, I would have to take off my Diablo-for-life fanboy hat.

I think that the "No Store" option is best, but probably pretty hard to maintain with the number of hackers out there seeing the potential for money to be made. I would be fine with the "Blizzard Store" or "In-Game Store" (what we have now), as I can ignore those credit-card warriors if need be.

Thanks all.

I will stay awhile and I'm in the middle of reading old threads so I don't re-post the same stuff.

They also seem to have converted frozen orb into a magic orb now, (with a difference it explodes on contact). maybe frozen orbs/firewalls/chain lightning might make a comeback in tier 5?

I admit that sorc in DII was primarily a frozen orb spec and loved it. With DIII, I reviewed the talents and didn't see any and wondered if Bliz was holding back some of the higher damage/appeal talents for tier 5. But after reading this in combination with the rune skills, I'm thinking that magic orb with a particular rune may create a similar Frozen Orb look. I couldn't tell which rune it would be from my limited research as it looks like runes affect the spells differently:

General [DiabloWiki]:

Alabaster rune: Wild card functions.
Crimson rune: Generally provides +damage and/or fire damage.
Golden rune: Generally reduces the resource cost.
Indigo rune: Generally provides multishot in some form.
Obsidian rune: Wild card functions.

Like for Hydra [DiabloWiki]:

Crimson rune: Turns the Hydra blue and the damage type to a short-range chilling frost spray.

Either way, I'm very eagerly awaiting the release to start playing with the multitude of different specs that will be available.

Morning. Like a lot of people, I have been coming here for all of my Diablo III news for a while now and decided to become part of the community. Fan of the series since the original (isn't everyone?) and look impatiently forward to DIII. Hoping that Beta hits me square in the face.

So who do I talk to about the free beer and peanuts anyway?

-Warkun