Looking for an easy build

[IrishDutchman]

Well, I just bought DII and LoD, but I can't find any decent starting builds!
All I find are these strats where people tell you what you should have at the end of the game. I want to know how I should distribute points and buy items before I reach lvl 60.
I would like to have a nice PvM barbarian that is fairly easy to use, and not too specialised. Can anyone post a build up to about lvl 30 for me please?

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By now my barb is lvl 11. I gave him 3 strength points each lvl, 1 vitality and 1 dexterity. I didn't spend any skill points yet though.

[CrazyTom]

My best bet for barbarian is concentrate at level 18. The fact that it's uninterruptible makes it very good for taking on large groups of monsters - even if you get surrounded you can keep hacking, which is nice. I put a skill point on each of the warcries as well, but only one. I'd say use bash or stun on bigger enemies and you should be fine, right up to Act IV. Getting a cold merc at Act 3 is also a must - all those frozen monsters make good hacking targets.

Another surprisingly useful spell is battle leap, because if you cast it right (click near the edge of the screen) you can go massive jumps far beyond normal leap. For example, I managed to jump clean over the massive fiery pit in Tal Rasha's chamber... Amazing. Plus it means you can leap to any of the beasties that bring your foes back to life and do away with them first.

So yeah, one point on battle leap and several on concentrate. Then when you get lvl 30, beserk is very good. I've not used whirlwind myself, but I'm that beserk is better. +450% magic damage anybody?

The only place my build fell down as right at the end of Act IV - I think I had level ten concentrate - but I got surrounded by the superunique venom lords that spawn off one of the seals.

[Giantfish]

You can just make a plain concentrator barb. It's still a pretty solid build. I'd recommend and Act II Holy freeze mercenary from Nightmare difficulty (don't worry, it's easy to make it there from normal difficulty) to help you with crowd control. To make it player-friendly, concentrate has battle orders as a synergy, so you can get a huge life bonus and some more mana.

Stat-wise, get as much str as you need to wear your equipment. Get enough dex to get max block with your shield. Storm shield or Phoenix runeworded monarch shields are good shields to try and get. Don't bother with getting two weapons, concentrate only uses one. Pump the rest of your stat points into vitality. Concentrate costs 2 mana so forget about energy.

[IrishDutchman]

Thanks guys!

BTW, last time I played Diablo was without a single patch. Is it just me or did they drastically increase the drop chance for yellow items?
I'm wearing all yellow items except my body and shield. Am I just lucky or what?
Should I switch merc in act II?

And what's the plan for taking on that boss at the end of act one (what's her name, andariel?) Just storm in with your merc with your biggest belt full of rejuvenation potions and keep on hacking? Also, when should I start getting energy for Battle Jump? I remember that one to be quite pricey.

[Giantfish]

Try to lure her out and kill all the little minions that follow. Stock up on health potions but leave room for a few antidotes. Just smash away and remember to heal. You should win but leave a townportal open so you can get back in case you don't.

Don't bother with energy. It may be expensive, but you'll only be using it once in awhile to get close to enemies. Concentrate, at 2 mana, does not require you to get any energy. It will be tough on lower levels, but once you past 40 or so, you shouldn't have a problem.

[IrishDutchman]

Last but not least: weapon choice!

I'm currently using a mace, but haven't invested more than 2 points in mastery, so I can switch without too much damage. What is, in your opinion, the best weapon for a barb? Just thinking ahead...

[CrazyTom]

Swords are generally the best, all round, decent speed and damage. However, as a barbarian you might be able to get away with a slower weapon like a hammer or something, which does more damage - with concentrate, the slow attack doesn't matter so much during crowd control fights. But I wouldn't ever go for a two-handed weapon. Shields are just too useful.

[IrishDutchman]

Mace it is! I'm just a sucker for those mauls. :D

Oh, wait...they're too handed, right? :<

[Giantfish]

For a combination of range, speed, and damage, swords are the best. If you don't mind giving up the range, go with axes. One-handed axes are just as fast and do more damage.

[IrishDutchman]

Well, I killed andariel at lvl 14. One downside is I can't enter act II!
I 'go east' with that Warriv dude. A loading screen pops up. After a couple of seconds I get the 'error' beep from my computer, and Diablo shuts down.
I've reinstalled the game, and downloaded all the patches. What gives?

[TSOShadow]

Sounds Bad... I say check your system specs or get some technical help :/...