First Ladder Character

[Croup]

With the first character on ladder, I'm starting with my familiar build, the Frenzy Barb. However, I'm having trouble surviving early and am also wondering what to do about stats. I don't want to waste a ton by pumping Strength/Dexterity early just to equip the next best sword, but I can't wait around for ideal gear to keep those point expenditures low.

Ideas?

[Rawness]

Lightsabres, or any uniq swords - Oath's are in high season now :)

[Volvagia]

I'm playing the exact same char right now too. And as for me, I am pumping strength/dex as needed to equip new items as I find them. I pump strength/dex as needed to equip items, then pump vita of course. As I start running across higher end items with higher requirements I pump strength/dex as needed again.

This isn't a planned out char, it's all about making it through the game untwinked and using the best stuff found along the way. So far, I've been doing fine.

[sirwhere]

I started on the old ladder with a frenzier. But season was already going for a while, so it was easy to trade for some basics, like sigon gloves/belt, gui's helm, raven frost, atma's amulet, a crescent moon sword... etc.

To have a good time with an untwinked frenzier, you're gonna need 2 things:

1. A "cannot be frozen" item (death's sash or hawkmail or raven frost or that unique basinet). This is an absolute must-have, or else you're gonna be bored beyond belief in hell.

2. A decent weap, and rune words are the best bet. Something like black, honor or king's grace... Not hard to get and proficient enough. Don't wait for an elite item to stick them in or you might have to wait for a loooong time.