Sanctuary In Chaos is one of the rare mods that I can look at and honestly say, 'My god, everything that could've been changed here has.' We'll start in act one. The second you leave the rogue encampment, hell before that even, you'll notice new monsters. Fire golems and spirits replace the early monsters, but it doesn't stop there. The monsters all throughout the game have been given an overhaul. Iron golems in lut gholien, along with hirelings, and in hell, the lesser evils assail you as common enemies. The only problem I've seen with these guys is that Duriel seems unable to move, his big worm butt must simply impede movement. Not only that, but spike fiends now shoot streaks of rather cool looking fire! If that isn't neat, I don't know what is! But don't for one MOMENT think that monsters are all Jeff 'The MAN' Bouley has changed.
Practically every vendor screen in the game is now filled with new items, as an alternative gambling system, you can now purchase items that when right clicked, morph into a random item, that could be worth more or less than the pre-morphed item. Also for sale are socketing tools, which when used with an item in a cube, will add a set number of sockets to that item. All of these things make for vendor screens that are actually USEFUL, rather than craptastic. The only problem with the version I've had while reviewing it, is that the drops have not been modified very much, so I find myself working very hard to get practically nothing. That said, killing things has never been so fun.
Part of this fun stems from the newly revamped skill trees. Some changes are mostly cosmetic, like the necromancer's skills. Golems have been changed to various monsters, bone spear now shoots a naga, spirit now fires an angry ghost, and teeth now blasts enemies with cold enchanted scimitars. I honestly didn't even think this type of graphical overhaul was possible, but JB has opened my eyes to what CAN truly be done. Of course, there are some small downsides, the new graphics quite often exhibit artifacts, the druid's new skills tend to be pretty ugly due to a lack of proper transparency, a problem that persisted through Direct 3d and Directdraw, but working with the limited Diablo II engine, I'm surprised to be seeing new skill graphics at all.
There was this one time, at band camp, where I thought it would be pretty cool to see monkeys in a mod, monkeys, new gems, new runes, and new socketing items, and then, this is SO funny, Jbouley stuck a monster called 'Sin Monkey' in his mod, and it was SO funny. The new gemlike items are pretty complicated, with some giving massive bonuses, but also carrying a hefty negative.
On top of all that sugar, throwing weapons have also been coolified, potions remain, but, portable fireballs, energy bolts, and lightning have all been added to the thrown weapon gamut, resulting in some neat fireflinging fun!
Highs: Monkeys baby, Monkeys Lows: New spell effects look a bit funky in software, can't a fellah get no love?
Fling That Thing: At the start of the game, do not underestimate throwing weapons, they are very, very effective at dispatching enemies, and they look pretty cool,
Running Away:
Flee! Flee!: Know what to run away from, and what not to run away from, lost souls can't attack you, so running from them is mildly pointless, running from plane shifters however, is a very good idea. Attack from afar, or they'll tear you up.
Knowledge Is Power:
Visit This Thread: This thread on the phrozen keep forums is the closest thing to a manual Sanctuary in Chaos has right now, do yourself a favor and read up. Here
I don't know what to say, Jbouley is a modding legend, mad props to the man. He has made qute the mod, you owe it to yourself to download it. Get Sanctuary In Chaos here.
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