I started playing D2 within a couple weeks of it coming out, I was a D1 junkie before that... the revalation of being able to run in D2 was all the motivaion I needed to play.

Anyhoo, on D2 I played SP for awhile, after I beat Diablo on my first char, I went straight to HC, got a Zerker/Frenzy Barb, a Javazon, and a Orb Sorc through hell, stopped playing until I got the internet, then I played HC as a Hydra Sorc, nailing people in Cows, was awesome, can't remember the patch though... Never rushed the ladder or got 99.. kinda boring story I guess.