The first week or so of playing my Assassin, named Daemi after a Quake 3 character, was somewhat difficult. I had nothing to start the new character with. Nor did many of the players I met, since most everybody who had a USWest character first went to the new Act5 to stack up on newer items. I was amazed at some of the new magic equipment dropped by even Act 1 monsters; most peculiar of which were various zombie heads that serve as Necro-only Shields. Many had mods with skills for the Necromancer, resists, added damage and good block percentages. This is one nice trait of the Xpac, every class get items specific for that class. As far as I remember, the Necromancer gets monster heads for shields; there are also Amazon or Assassin "helms" that come in form of circlet-like items, Amazon spear class weapons, Assassin claw-class weapons, Barbarian helms, Paladin shields, Sorc orbs (wand-like items), and Druid helms. These class-specific items add to different or all skills for that class, as well as other mods. Some are imbueable, and even then can be socketed through an Act5 quest, or enchanted using new cube recepies that involve Xpac jewels and runes. As you may imagine, after going through such a cycle, items become amazingly powerful.

Item drops in the Xpac have also changed a lot. You can't simply run through an area and find yourself with tons of magic, superior, set, rare or unique items. Not unless you're with a party of players. This is one of the best additions to the game in my opinion. Diablo2 will become an even more co-op intensive game. Why? To get good drops of rares, sets, and unique, you need other players with you, who will no doubt want the items as much as you. As a result, it's best to find yourself a good couple of partners and venture through the game as a team, share evenly, and the game will not only be more enjoyable in gameplay itself, but drops will increase. Although at the time when I played, there was an automatic sharing of gold whenever you sold an item, or picked it up (allies in the same act received a part of this gold). I heard this may change in the future. Regardless, the Xpac can offer many cool items, but do not expect much if you plan to go solo through the game in hopes of getting that 300+damage Unique bow (I remember seeing one in an old screenshot, so they're out there).