The Madness Of A Diablo II Player

I have written the following article to examine the processes that go through one's mind as one plays Diablo II. Here I will make an attempt to note the feelings and actions of one such player as he or she is enveloped in a violent drama of madness and frustration.

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Chapter I: Origins

You're new to Diablo II, and you're proud of your level 60 character. You've been playing the game for about a week, in the comfort of friends, and after a few false starts with a few bad characters, you think you've finally gotten the hang of things. Your character's poorly armed and thus you intend to do something about it.

One of your friends advises you to join a “Baal run”, which he says is a quick and easy way to get geared up in the safety of seven other players. “The more players, the merrier” he says. “Increases the chance of getting better loot, too!”

Convinced and optimistic, you hit the Join Game option and behold a veritable selection of games that fit your criteria. In fact, the whole list is filled with nothing but games labeled “Trade”, “Baal run” and “Cow Run”. You click on one of the Baal runs and log right in.

By the time you get in, everyone's already leaving. You do this three to five more times before you realize that the easiest way to get in one of these games is to look at the name of an ongoing game like “Baal Runs 067” and create “Baal Runs 068” before anyone gets there.

Chapter II: The Worldstone Chamber

For the first time ever, you're the first one in a game with seven other players and by the time the last person has logged in, everyone's already off to kill Baal by heading to the Worldstone Keep. The battles are easy, and you feel safe surrounded by so many other players. In a few minutes, the entire party has made its way down to the final floor and proceeds into the Worldstone Chamber, where Baal awaits.

With Baal almost dead, everyone comes in close to pick up the items he drops. Baal explodes like a pinata, showering the vicinity with runes, unique items and an assortment of rare trash. It's been awhile since you've gotten any decent loot so you'd be happy if you managed to get anything. In the blink of an eye, almost everything is gone.

“But wait a moment,” you think to yourself, “There's two items left on the ground. I'm not too late!” You try to pick it up but it simply flops on the ground. You click it again and it flops yet again. “Oh crap! My inventory is full!” you think to yourself. In the split second that this thought has passed through your mind the items left on the ground are no more and everyone has left.