A Good, Up-to-Date PvM Barbarian Guide?

Hey, how's it going?

My girlfriend and I would like to start playing Diablo 2 together when the ladder resets. We haven't seriously played the game in a very, very long time, so we'd like some help if possible.

I'm basically looking for a PvM Barbarian guide for my girlfriend that doesn't use super high-end items. I'll be using a magic-find Sorceress and she'll be my tank of sorts, though she wants to be decent all-around.

I'm looking through the guides posted here and most of them were written in 2004, it seems. With the newer patches in place since then, are the guides outdated?

I'm learning towards Hal's 1.10 Conc Build Guide. Would that be a guide build for what I am looking for?

Can someone recommend me a guide or two? Thank you very much,

ViC|||The game hasn't changed that much (easier) since 2004 (= v1.10), so most guides should still work.

If you are looking for the easiest tank, then I suggest a fishymancer (ie necromancer): the skellies tank and your GF can bring some curses to the fight as well. Moreover a fishymancer is completely item-independent, therefore can solo hell untwinked.|||oww what was wrong with hding|||Ooh, forum whoring



Thats a good idea though, see what everyone suggest for each build, then pick what you want.



I thought you wanted paladin specific tanks, but since you've asked on other forums (this one atleast) I would have to say Fishymancer (summon necro) too. Especially if you're using it to tank for your sorceress. Think about it. One person attracting hits from monsters, or 30 minions surrounding you and spreading out to attract hits and tank. They're completely independent of items, and awesome for distracting enemies, you'll rarely get hit. Its also a hell of a lot of fun to play once you get some auras going. Trangs is also fun, easy to get, and decent for bonuses.



If you decided on a barbarian, then you've got the right idea building a conc barb.



Goodluck to you!|||Quote:








The game hasn't changed that much (easier) since 2004 (= v1.10), so most guides should still work.

If you are looking for the easiest tank, then I suggest a fishymancer (ie necromancer): the skellies tank and your GF can bring some curses to the fight as well. Moreover a fishymancer is completely item-independent, therefore can solo hell untwinked.




Thanks for the Fishymancer suggestion - I'm starting to hear other people mention that as well.

I thought that 1.13 was a major patch and things were changed, that's why I assumed a guide from six years ago would be very outdated. Glad to see that I'm wrong!

If my girlfriend goes with the Concentration Barbarian, is Hal's the best guide available, and are there any changes I should know about?

Thanks!

ViC|||My girlfriend finally went with a Concentrate Barbarian, using Hal's guide. He didn't list what type of mercenary/hireling she should get though. Any thoughts?

Thanks,

ViC|||The default merc for a physical attack build is Act 2 NM offensive (Might aura). There are reasons to deviate from this sometimes, but, being untwinked and with a party of 2, not in your in case.