How do I mod Diablo/Hellfire?

[qualakon]

If I wanted to create my own mod Diablo mod, what would I start with?

I remember mod maker 2000 made things easier once upon a time but I can't get it to work. Is there something newer that will help me out?

[Noktis]

EzModMaker 2000 works with Diablo v1.07

[qualakon]

No newer tools released since then?

If I wanted to change music files, just as an example, how do I recompile it all back into MPQ's?

Another question, as The Awakening has a lot of graphical changes to both NPCs and the town map, were the changes learned through trial and error or is there a sort of method to the madness? CL2 animations, tricky business?

[Noktis]

1.Every modding tools was released about 2000 year.

2.You can use WinMPQ

3. You can use The dark graphics tool.

[qualakon]

And Awake is modded with version 1.09, how can I mod that?
WinMPQ, which version?
Is MPQEditor any better?

[Noktis]

I am editing Diablo.exe with Hex Editor.It`s time-consuming. You can check also Charlie's Modworkshop. You can find it on TheDark mod website.
WinMPQ v1.64 if i remember corretly. Of course you can use Zezula's MPQEditor but i preffer WinMPQ.