Is there a way to get it fixed while still keeping the vanilla game? Almost every "fix" I've found online requires 1.13 to be installed. I tried 1.13 years ago, I just don't like it.

I don't care how complicated the process is, how many hoops I have to jump through, all I want is to fix this problem without actually changing the core game.

Never mind, I got impatient and solved my own problem. Since windows 8 is obviously utter garbage, the only solution was to virtualize Windows XP. Works like a charm now.

there is another solution, try a different built (not mod) of JA2 , Stracciatella