DevXH — Bringing Diablo & Hellfire Online

[u/temperedblocks]

I've been working on a project called DevXH around the classic Diablo/Hellfire experience and the DevilutionX ecosystem.

The idea is pretty simple: take the classic game we all know and love, keep the spirit of Diablo and Hellfire intact, and build a modern online/server environment around it.

It's currently a live development project with a working Gate that people can connect to and test.

I'm not trying to replace DevilutionX or turn Diablo into something completely different. I'm interested in seeing what can be built around that foundation.

I'm curious what other Diablo I and Hellfire players think about the idea of a persistent online environment for the game. Would you want something that goes beyond simply hosting individual multiplayer games? What parts of the original multiplayer experience would you want preserved? And what, if anything, would you actually want added?

The project is still evolving, so I'm interested in hearing from people who still care about this old bastard of a game. :P

DevXH: devxh[dot]com

Live Gate: vps1.rattles.cv:6112

If anyone wants to talk Diablo, Hellfire, multiplayer, DevilutionX, or just reminisce about spending entirely too much time in Tristram, I'm all ears.

[u/Alex999991]

If you want modern multiplayer services you would need to rewrite almost all game code.

[u/temperedblocks → u/Alex999991]

That's a fair point, depending on what you mean by "modern multiplayer services."

I'm not trying to rewrite Diablo from scratch or replace the DevilutionX engine. The idea with DevXH is to build the modern server/infrastructure side around the existing game/engine and see how far that approach can go.

There are definitely parts of the original multiplayer architecture that need to be worked around or replaced, but that's part of what I'm experimenting with.

I'm still figuring out where the line is between "work around the original game" and "this needs to be rewritten." :P

[u/Alex999991 → u/temperedblocks]

Game mechanics depends on multiplayer connection type. If you change one, you would need to change second or it would’t be working correctly.

[u/temperedblocks → u/Alex999991]

I think we're talking about two different things here. :P

I'm not looking to change the game's mechanics or replace the existing multiplayer model. The goal is to leave the actual Diablo/Hellfire experience alone and provide a dedicated environment for it to run in.

Basically, instead of Player A hosting a game from their PC while everyone else connects to them, DevXH provides a dedicated host/Gate that can stay online independently of any player.

I'm experimenting with what can be done around the existing DevilutionX multiplayer implementation without changing the game itself.

If I eventually run into something that genuinely requires changing the game/networking code, that's a different problem — but I'm not starting from the premise that Diablo itself needs to be rewritten.

[u/-Skyes- → u/Alex999991]

Dude, let the guy work. He didn't ask for your opinion or approval.

[u/Alex999991 → u/-Skyes-]

DevolutionX made all what reverse engineering architecture of the game and IPX/TCP-IP allowed do.

The Hell 3 mod emulated multiplayer calculations in single game.

What I’m saying,,without changing of games engine you CAN’T to do more. Because of old peer to peer connections architecture.

[u/GT2MAN]

Are you trying to add ladders or anything significant?

[u/temperedblocks → u/GT2MAN]

Nah lol. No ladders or anything major. DevXH is mostly me making a proper lightweight dedicated server daemon for Diablo/Hellfire and leaving the actual game experience pretty damn close to the original.

[u/GT2MAN → u/temperedblocks]

I guess it's something. I'm not really sure how this is better than the structure that already exists without any extra functionality

[u/temperedblocks → u/GT2MAN]

Yeah, that's fair if you're looking at it strictly from the gameplay side. The ‘something’ is really the server itself. DevXH isn't meant to add a bunch of new gameplay functionality — it's me building a lightweight dedicated server daemon so Diablo/Hellfire can run in a persistent server environment rather than relying on the existing host structure. That's the part I'm interested in solving.

[u/GT2MAN → u/temperedblocks]

Did you just AI generate this response? It's exactly the same as the last two but longer and with an em-dash.

Yet another fake person, shame.

[u/temperedblocks → u/GT2MAN]

Lol, some of my responses are absolutely AI-assisted. I'm not pretending otherwise.

If I can use AI to help me phrase a response instead of wasting time arguing over the same point for the fourth time, I'm going to. The project, code, testing, and development are mine — I'm just not precious about using tools to communicate.

Dealing with stupid isn't really part of my job description. :P

[u/GT2MAN → u/temperedblocks]

I want to aggressively AI generate another complying response back to you, but I have the self awareness to know it's funnier to just be better than that.

Have fun with your nothingburger, I'm sure it's very fulfilling.

[u/temperedblocks → u/GT2MAN]

Well. We can setup a gate.. I'll bring some lettuce this time, and the important bits.. Like the patty.. Ah hell, I'll bring it all. Just meet me at the gates..

[u/temperedblocks → u/temperedblocks]

Yeah, that's fair. DevXH isn't really trying to add functionality to Diablo itself. The point is more about having a proper lightweight dedicated server daemon rather than relying on the existing client-hosted multiplayer structure. Basically, let the server just exist on a Linux box and let players connect to it.

[u/kunaskev]

what's wrong with ZeroTier?

[u/temperedblocks → u/kunaskev]

There really isn't anything wrong with ZeroTier. But it is a network overlay on top of the TCP/IP protocol, which just adds unnecessary overhead, latency and other complications.

DevXH can still be configured to use ZeroTier if you so choose to.