what is AMA, ASN, BAR, DRU, NEC, PAL, AND SOR?

probably a total noob question but just thinking about running this game and am not familiar with those?

Another question. The rules state I cannot mod the game? can I install a mod to help with hotkey's? specifically if i wanted to button map my xbox controller with the controls of the game is this doable?

Regarding your first question: AMA, ASN, BAR, DRU, NEC, PAL and SOR are the character classes in Diablo 2: Lord of Destruction.

AMA = Amazon, ASN = Assassin, BAR = Barbarian, DRU = Druid, NEC = Necromancer, PAL = Paladin, SOR = Sorceress

We had to use abbreviations to make them all fit in one row.

Regarding your second question: As the rules say - modding the game is a no-no.

As a side note: I think I've seen people use controller-setups for Diablo II, but for what I've seen they were rather clunky and did not work too well and it makes inventory management very time consuming compared to regular mouse and keyboard controls.

Using the kind of macro that would be required to use a controller to play D2 would probably make your run a "TAS" rather than an "RTA Speedrun"