I don't quite remember how it came to this but Diablo II is the only game I have never had an interest in modding and a big part of the reason is that it's already freaking scary and challenging as it is. Which is also a compelling reason for me to like it. Hardcore playing makes you more attached to characters I would say and the danger is real and concrete in an entire different way. I have yet to read the book or see the movie that can make you shiver more than when listening for Fangskin in the darkness, summoning the ancients or going down the last stair without knowing if it's a trap.
From a more objective point of view I can of course conclude that I'm overdoing it a bit on playing cautiously. On the one hand I've never lost a hardcore character in hell but on the other I've put off playing dozens for a long time due to being too nervous about doing just that. It would be a reasonable conclusion that I should switch to softcore playing for a change but it just feels so much less, like you can only play half-heartedly witht he knowledge that you can reload if something happens.
From a more objective point of view I can of course conclude that I'm overdoing it a bit on playing cautiously. On the one hand I've never lost a hardcore character in hell but on the other I've put off playing dozens for a long time due to being too nervous about doing just that. It would be a reasonable conclusion that I should switch to softcore playing for a change but it just feels so much less, like you can only play half-heartedly witht he knowledge that you can reload if something happens.