Just wondering how perming and muling and stuff works on D2R Classic. We don't have the Shared Stashes and I tried leaving a game open for 5 minutes and rejoining and was getting the message that the game is gone. I know there are options for Singleplayer, but I'm on ladder.

Any info would be appreciated folks.

The same (classic) way before shared stashes.
To get someone to hold the items for you or go into a public/private game and drop.
Unsure how long games last after the last character leaves, that part might of changed.

for solo:
make a private game with password -> drop ur shit -> leave game and rejoin with other char
- u dont need to perm the game for several minutes...
- dont open or join other games -> otherwise ur mule game will disappear, if perm or not doesnt matters

did this like hundred times in d2r classic ladder and had no issues

or:

get a friend for help

or:

public games and hope the best

i knew a guy on classic who just hosted his own games exited then muled to himself by rejoining so it doesnt seem an issue
i only have issues tryna do anything like this on alternate realm like eu or asia because the shit ping and my game crashes then games gone by the time i can rejoin