D2 Uniques

[But_Why]

At present i am unable to play online, but i want to get some decent armor and weapons, preferably uniques. I am halfway through nightmare with my barbarian (level 30 or so) and i get wasted by everything. Hell Cats and Apparitions are the worst cos my barbarian is soo slow compared. And does bugger all damage (55 - 105 or something).
I guess i wasted too much skill points in the jump attack and not in the passive skills like weapons skills and natural resistances and stuff. =(
Any hints on how to get some decent weapons. I heard gambling is the way to go. I usually buy something and it turns out crap. I spent 200000+ on some armour and all it had was fast hit recovery =(. Am about to get to Duriel and would like to be able to hit it and stop it killing me in one hit. At the moment if i come across anything with stone skin, then i might as well just run past it, no way i'd be able to kill it. probably take me half an hour if i did.
Any tips, hints would be cool.
BW

[sin2]

Remake your barb over. No point in trying to salvage it. You're a target for PK-ers.

My lv 32 axe barb does 300-600 damage and my lv 18 mace barb does 250-450 damage. Max out your preference in mastery to 20 as soon as possible. 1 pt in every skill needed to get leap attack and WW. Only WW and mastery gets more than 1 pt.

Pump up str to 80 first. Nothing else. Eventually get your natural str to 120+.

If you're on USWest /msg me and I'll give you some barb items.

[MoodyBlue]

Or... shell out $1500 on Ebay and buy some ridiculus weapon some stoner found online.

[sin2]

Who you calling a stoner? I haven't rolled up a fat one in a long time.

[But_Why]

ok, sounds like the plan. Bummer. Got quite fond of the bugger.. got through the first difficulty level without dying, and i wasn't even a hardcore character.
Do hardcore character get better stuff than non-hardcore people, in the way of items?
Ahh well, back to the start of the first level...
Cheers sin2 and moodyblue.
BW
PS is it worth gambling in normal difficulty?
oh is it better to be a sword barb or axe barb, and do you reckon having a shield is worth it, IYHO?

[This message has been edited by But_Why (edited 10-05-2000).]

[sin2]

Shield is probably not worth it unless you're playing a sword barb. Just get the biggest weapon you can find and you're set.

I have an axe barb and a mace barb. I am going to try a poleaxe barb.