Hardcore noob question

Hey gang, long time player and reader, first time poster.

I read through a lot of literature about playing Hardcore (including the sticky here, some on the Amazon Basin, and I think I found one on Battle.nets forums as well or D2.com) and I saw the list of recommended builds like the Trapassin, Summoner, and Meteorb Sorc.

Well, none of those really fit my playstyle, I tried to build up the hardcore side of my account with a summoner, and he made it to 26 right after beating Diablo, then I went into a cows game and suicided him because it was so mind numbingly boring, it's just how I see casters in general.

Are there any good melee or in your face barebones (or untwinked) builds anyone could recommend? I know for melee you become way more item dependent, but is there anything like a defensive type of barbarian that could function well, or a tank (with summons) druid? I'm open to about any class besides paladins (mind numbingly boring due to ease). Is there any way I could melee a necro or sorc out and it still be pretty good? Even a bow/javazon?

I'm just looking to try something drastic and trying to dig up some input.|||first off

i don�t think u should ditch the paladin cuz the class itself is boring. if u play untwinked every char will be a challenge. some might be easier than others but for none the game is a push over (maybe i�m just not that blessed with talent )

however i think a good melee char for untwinked play would be a fireclaw druid or a kick/trap hybrid sin. frost bow/light java is also a combination that can work well. with the new runedrop rate its easy to get decent low-mid runewords like inisght for a barb to ww with and do decent dmg. so i think depending what u define as good, there are many melee chars that can work well

melee necros and sorcs are pretty bad without high end equip. i tried to push a 2 hd-axe rare only sorc thur nm and it was a pain in the ***, even tho i had very good rares waiting.

if u want to twink ur char and have access to good items, i don�t think there is any char that won�t work at all.|||Thanks for the response. I've just got back into the game after a few years off playing WoW and Xbox. 1.10 was the last time I played.

I think I'm going to go with a barb, and just figure out what I'm doing as I go since respecs are possible after the first quest of the game (still befuddled on how you get these mystical "tokens" everyone speaks of).

Thanks a lot, and thanks for the welcome.|||i�d suggest u check the new runewords out, cuz they are dropping like flies now, u could as well make some use of them

u get the tokens somehow thru collecting the essences that each hell act boss drops with a 1/3 chance and putting them in the cube. i don�t have any more insight on them, since i have not had a char in lod hell thus far |||Quote:








i�d suggest u check the new runewords out, cuz they are dropping like flies now, u could as well make some use of them

u get the tokens somehow thru collecting the essences that each hell act boss drops with a 1/3 chance and putting them in the cube. i don�t have any more insight on them, since i have not had a char in lod hell thus far




That's exactly right though dude, Andy and Duri drop the same one, then Meph, Diablo and Baal drop there own ones (I can't put names to essence but Andy's is blue, Meph's is green, Diablo's is red and Baal's is yellow iirc!) and put one of each in the Cube and then bam! Respec token!|||Good to hear your goin with barb my fav class. melee oriented, with tons of Crowd control and party buffs to boot

Concentrate build is a very safe way to start. high defense, pack a big whallop. they may seem boring at the outset, but once you get to mobs that are a danger you have plenty to do with howly, taunt, grim ward, leap, etc. plus their magic find shout can be fun to use when MF-ing or just running cows/WSK.

Is start with either a conc. build or double swing. penidng what you like you can morph into either a WW barb or frenzy (pending gear selection of course). Conc or Ds buidls are more gear friendly then WW, but WW is my fav. also building a booyaka (leap) barb here in a bit for fun.|||Just be careful when you get to hell really. Just lost my first HC character, an 83 conc barb there to a single ****ing doll. 2.3k hp. :<

Day after that I lost my next project in act3 normal (bowazon) - apparently because I was used to the extreme sturdiness of shield wearing barbarians.

Good luck!