Best build in D2 fresh install?

[helvete]

I just installed D2 on my laptop, and then I thought to myself: "What if I make a cookie cutter in 1.00 and play him to A3 hell...? And use that character to rush in classic when on LAN parties?

Well, off we go, I chose a barb, remembering people talking about how spear WW barbs owned in the ancient pre-LOD days. Plan is to get him to a very very high level, then install LOD and 1.10 and just keep him as a classic char.

Now, before I do anything stupid, is there anything I should know about barbs and D2C ? (Yes, the chaos sanctuary will be a pain in the *** when rushing...) The *only* task for this char will be rushing people to A3 hell, but I'm playing him in 1.00 because it's supposed to be easier. Should I perhaps upgrade to 1.07 (install LOD but no patch) or maybe even 1.10 and benefit from synergies (and pain-in-the-butt much harder monsters...)?

Any input is welcome.

[Superhal]

iirc, the .07 that comes with the game is very buggy and almost unplayable. in the sc forum, there are links to the .07 dl.

imho, i really want to play .08, as that seems like the best items available (especially rare jewelry, not to mention the godly items) but for some reason nobody has the .08 dl.

[helvete]

The way I remember 1.07 is not finding much equip (mf wasn't working right) and dying to lag (in single player) because baal spent several seconds loading his minions, causing so much lag you'd be dead if standing on the same screen the minions spawned on.

In 1.00, after an hour or so playing, I have already managed to gamble the death's set sash, find out a LOT of hotkeys don't work, see a couple mods I have never seen before ("of puncturing" and such), get annoyed beyond what I thought was possible because IAS and ED percentages doesn't show, and almost get killed (with a barb(!)) by Rakanishu's lightning enchantment.

I do look forward to when the unique rings start popping, as the third will be a SoJ... Hope I get nagel from Andy and Manald from Meph or Duriel, then big D could drop me a SoJ (dream dream dreaming my life awaay....)