The SPF, Game Mods, and You

[Cattleya]

The SPF, Game Mods, and You
by Cattleya

Introduction
The purpose of this post is to clarify some frequently asked questions about D2 game mods. It will discuss the SPF's stance on mods and the boundries of discussing mods here.


Table of Contents
I. Common Terms and Abbreviations
II. Linking to Mods
III. Technical Support and Development of Mods
IV. Mods and Trading, MP, and Giveaways
V. RWM and RRM (Where to get them)


I. Common Terms and Abbreviations
Vanilla - Unmodded
RRM - Red Rune Mod (Turns the names of runes red.)
RWM - Runeword Mod (Adds the realm only runewords to SP.)
CRM - Silospen's Colour Rune Mod (changes the colours of runes)
Reduced FE, No FE - Mods that compensated for the Fire Enchanted Bug in version 1.10.
ES - Eastern Sun (Changes many of the games mechanics, almost like another game.)
HU - Hell Unleashed (makes the game really hard)
Median - Another mod that makes drastic changes for a completely different D2 experince.
Taint - The concept that vanilla items and characters change their status to modded upon interacting with modded characters and items through trading, receiving giveaways, or MPing.
Other abbreviations - A fuller list is here

II. Linking to Mods
Please understand that this can be rather complicated. When in doubt, PM a mod before posting any links to mods.

You may link to the Phrozen Keep, as well as specific mods there, as long as the mods are acceptable according to our forum rules. Vanilla-D2 compatible mods that allow for reassigning stat and skill points may not be linked to, as these are classified as editors. You may link to Eastern Sun, Hell Unleashed and Median.

Mods not on the Phrozen Keep need to be approved by a Single Player Forum Moderator before they can be linked to. The current list of approved mods in this catagory is as follows:

-The RTB Mods: Reduced FE, 0% FE, Red Rune Mod, and Runeword Mod
-The 1.11b Mac RWM, RRM, and RRM/RWM packaged by Cattleya
-Brother Laz's Median Page


III. Technical Support and Development of Mods
This forum does not allow for the technical support or development discussion of any mods. This was done to prevent mod technical discussions from drowning out the posts of unmodded players. Another reason for this is the simple fact that there is already a forum dedicated to D2 mods which is a much better place to get technical support. This is the Phrozen Keep. Technical support and development discussions of mods should be done there. As another note, please do not PM RTB asking for technical support of his mods. This is by his request and should be respected. Don't make me get out my Passion Giant Thresher.

You may ask for help for supported mods (currently ATMA, GoMule, RRM, RWM, CRM and the modified gfx.dll to run multiple instances) in the Mods, Muling and Utilities Stickied Thread.


IV. Mods and Trading, MP, and Giveaways
Forum rules require that you declare any mods that you use before you participate in MP, Trade, and Giveaways in the Single Player Forum. Your characters and items are considered modded if they have had any interaction with modded items or characters through trade, MP, or giveaways, even if you do not use the mod yourself. Note that the use of mods which include character editing features (such as PlugY) will exclude any affected characters and items from trade, MP, and giveaways. Please be aware that the moderators reserve the right to declare that all characters and items of an individual using such a mod will be excluded from these activities. Trying to trade such items can get you banned.

Please be aware that there are currently only two mods that are commonly accepted for trading, MP, and giveaways. Those are the Runeword Mod and Red Rune Mod. Using other mods may severly limit your options for participating in these activities.

It is currently accepted that engaging in PvP with modded characters does not affect the mod status of characters and items, as long as the only interaction is for the actual PvP, and no items (that weren't already on the character) are taken from the game, and no experience is earned. Make sure to let the modded players clear out the intended battlefield.

V. RWM and RRM

You can find links to these mods (for both PC and Mac) here. Installation guide here and here