Diablo II expansion?

I'm playing the desert level at the moment and wonder when I should install the expansion, now or when I finish the normal game? What does it actually do?

Thanks

Adds a chapter or whatever they call'em onto the end. Generally you'll be sick of the game by the time you get halfway through the third section, and when you hit the fourth you will want to kill yourself. The fifth is best played several months after beating the normal stuff.

Edit: And adds some new weapons and armor and those two classes that nobody likes.

/me can't get enough of the game, really ^_^ .. if only they'd add keyboardstrokes for the 2 mousebuttons, it'd save me from RSI..

I'm a Paladin, any new stuff for them? I love the game but also kinda hate it, it is repetitive but also addictive sigh. It's a real bad game for going "s**t is that the time" as you just loose track of it big time!

Each class gets their own special kind of weapon. I believe paladins get special shields.

http://www.blizzard.com/diablo2exp/

I havn't played D2 without the expansion - however I'm under the impression that you probably should have installed it before playing the game at all ;] But better late than never I suppose - I just don't understand the 'now or later' question when installing nw won't break anything, so you may as well <shrugs>

Well for example I finished Baldurs Gate II then got the expansion and it kind reset the game back a bit and stuff and I wished I'd put it on sooner.

You can install the exp anytime, then you must convert your old savings to the expansion version. (this is done in the main menu)
One good thing with the exp is that you get bigger storage for your stuff, more magic stuff and alot more nice things.
So if I was you I should upgrade now.

ok thanks.

You sure you didn't lose a save game or something instead? ;] I installed the expansion (admittedly part-way through my campaign) and sufferred no drawbacks whatsoever.

Toby: to be honest it was so long ago I can't quite remeber, but I know it was odd that's why I asked about Diablo II.

If you want some tips. here is what you do.

On Easy, Play through to diablo, once hes dead, go back to act 1. Travel to Tristrum and get Wirst leg from Wirts dead body.

Go back to Act 1 camp and Use your Cube with the leg and a tomb of portals.

It will open the secret cow level. Go in there will a full group, some mages, an amazon and blast @#!* out of the cows.

Do this for a good few levels, you will level up fast.

then do the same in normal mode.

And then in hard.

if you install the EXP now, you will have to kill Baal as well before opening the cow portal which is harder and longer, although in doing so you will also gain level up faster via the Aincients Quest. but..

Id do it normal first.

I heard about this cow thing, sounds bizarre!

Don't ever kill the boss/master-cow .. just leave and come back later.
Iirc once you kill that big bully,the level remains empty after that, such a shame since there's quite some goodies to get from that place.

I'm not really sure once I complete it if I can be arsed to do it again, thanks anyway :-)