Update on Oath Runeword

Try to get a 4 socketed etheral Highland Blade for this runeword. You can net up to an extra 1000 damage per strike (every other) if this can be achieved. This was tested, just remember to make sure that the sword isn't in your off-hand for the proper boost as it doesn't seem to be as large a boost in this case. More testing required, but it works.

Suggested Items - Part 2

Amulets
Nokozan Relic Amulet
Level Required: 10
Fire Resist: +50%
+10% to max fire resistance
adds 3 - 6 fire damage
+3 light radius
20% faster hit recover (FHR)

The Mahim-Oak Curio Amulet
Level Required: 25
+10 to all attributes
10% Enhanced defence
+10 Defence
+10 all resistances
10% bonus to attack rating

The Cat's Eye Amulet
Level Required: 50
+25 Dexterity
+100 Defence
+100 Defence vs Missile
20% Increased Attack Speed
30% Faster run/walk

From experience I can vouch for the significant speed improvement that FHR gives early game (very early). Later game you'll get FHR from other items. Once your reach cLvl 20+ you'll be looking for items that grant strength and dexterity bonuses in order to reduce your charm luggage. It's important to remember that this character is inheritantly Attack Rating deficient due to the fact that you're rushing, meaning monsters will always be a higher level than you. Tip: Collect the best steel grand charms you can find, in hell you will want them.

Extra's
'All of these are normal quality'
Gorefoot Heavy Boots (unique)
Level required: 9
Required Strength: 18
+20-30% Enhanced Defence
20% Faster Run/Walk
2% Mana Stolen Per Hit
Attacker Takes Damage of 2
+12 Defense
+2 To Leap (Barbarian Only)

Manald Heal Ring
Required Level: 15
4-7% Mana Stolen Per Hit (varies)
Replenish Life +5-8 (varies)
Regenerate Mana 20%
+20 To Life

Duskdeep Full Helm (unique)
Required Level: 17
Required Strength: 41
Defense: 45-60
+30-50% Enhanced Defense
+10-20 Defense
Damage Reduced By 7
All Resistances +15
+8 To Maximum Damage
-2 To Light Radius

An upped Face of Horror is in consideration for my next runner. This would be done for use in Hell mostly to speed up progress as there's little need for gaining experience at this point.

Vampire Gaze Grim Helm (exceptional unique)
Defense: 252
Required Level: 41
Required Strength: 58
+100% Enhanced Defense
Adds 6-22 Cold Damage - 4 Second Duration
15% Slower Stamina Drain
6-8% Life Stolen Per Hit
6-8% Mana Stolen Per Hit
Damage Reduced By 15-20%
Magic Damage Reduced By 10-15

Getting this item could be difficult for new single players, you're best bet is running Hell Mephisto with arount 400% Magic Find. If you do have then you'll find the damage reduction very help for you and/or your merc in hell. Mine was socketted with a 15% increased attack speed jewel. I have 2 of these and both have 15% damage reduction.

Oath Runeword

Oath
1.10 Patch Runeword
Suggested weapon: Etheral Highland Blade
Shael + Pul + Mal + Lum
Level required: 49
30% Chance To Cast Level 20 Bone Spirit On Striking
Indestructible
+50% Increased Attack Speed
+210-340% Enhanced Damage
+75% Damage To Demons
+100 To Attack Rating Against Demons
Prevent Monster Heal
+10 To Energy
+10-15 Magic Absorb (varies)
Level 16 Heart Of Wolverine (20 Charges)
Level 17 Iron Golem (14 Charges)

Highland Blade
Level Required: 49
Class: Elite
1h Damage: 22-62
Avg Damage: 42.0
Range: 3
Strength Req: 171
Dexterity Req: 104
Weapon Speed: -5 (Fast)

This weapon will be you main damage dealer in hell-time difficulty. The Highland blade was choosen due to the gross number of useful statistics starting with its range. One of the characteristics of this build is the use of two-handed weapons in each hand. These items are made for this character -only-. The Oath Highland Blade will get your attack speed through to its final breakpoint allowing you access 5 attacks per second. The runeword Grief maybe better if you're wealth enough (requires Lo rune).

FYI my Oath gets 308% ED (max 340 remember) and hands out 89 - 252 physical damage per strike. Sword class of Fastest Attack Speed. The added damage and AR to demons is very useful since the Lawbringer (in the off hand) is reducing undead physical resistances with its santuary aura. Achieving the 104 Dexterity required is a small feat in its self. If you get a bad roll with the enhanced damage it might be worth doing again.

IMPORTANT: most of your damage in hell will count on this weapons statistics. You should aim for more than 300% enhanced damage.

Suggested Items - Part I

The Immortal Kings partial set
Immortal Kings Forge - war gauntlets
Required Level: 30
Required Strength: 110
+65 Defense
12% Chance To Cast Level 4 Charged Bolt When Struck
+20 To Dexterity
+20 To Strength
+25% Increased Attack Speed (2 items)
+120 Defense (3 Items)

Immortal Kings Detail - war belt - 16 boxes
Required Level: 29
Required Strength: 110
+36 Defense
Lightning Resist +31%
Fire Resist +28%
+25 To Strength
+105 Defense (2 items)
+25% Faster Hit Recovery (3 Items)

Immortal Kings Pillar - war boots
Required Level: 31
Required Strength: 125
+75 Defense
40% Faster Run/Walk
+110 To Attack Rating
+44 To Life
25% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items (2 items)
+2 To Combat Skills (Barbarian Only) (3 Items)

What you are looking for in these are the strength and dexterity boosters. Combined with a little more faster hit recovery (fhr) and faster run walk (frw) this set makes for great low level gear. You'll find yourself equipping these at the beggining of Act IV, they will replace all of Deaths Disguise set. I wouldn't reccommend using the IK helm for the 4th set bonuses, instead try to find a good rare barbarian helm the a healthy list of +skills on them and sockets already.

Kings Grace - runeword
Amn + Ral + Thul
Statistics here are based on the Zweihander sword
1h damage: 38 - 70
Level Required: 25
Required Strength: 125
Required Dexterity: 94
Speed: Fast Attack
+100% Enhanced Damage (ED%)
+150 to Attack Rating (AR)
Adds 5 - 30 fire damage
Adds 3 - 14 cold damage (3 secs)
7% Life steel
+100% ED% to demon class monsters (CM)
+50% ED% to undead CM
+100 to AR to demon CM
+100 to AR to undead CM

Notes: As should be noted later (earlier if you're reading this blog top down) that some amulets and rings help the get the attributes (str & dex) built up a bit to equip this excellent weapon. There should also be charms in use to help buff up your attributes too. However more help is at hand so keep reading.

Ancient Armour (gemmed)
Defence: 225
Required Strength: 100
Required Level: 18
+40 Dexterity
Socketed (4:4 used)

Great Helm (gemmed)
Defence: 31
Required Strength: 63
Required Level 5
+12 Dexterity
Socketed (3:3)

You shouldn't need to be putting any points into dexterity by clvl 25-30. Since most armours and helms aren't all that great anyhow for boosting your attributes you can make your own will gems. You will most likely require some extra +dexterity charms but these 2 items will significantly reduce lugging all those hard-to-keep-track-of little bits of pieces. Saving you time. Beware that I've been told that heavy armours like the Ancient Armour here can have a negative affect on your frw%. I don't know the math.

Spirit - runeword
Tal + Thul + Ort + Amn
statistics are based on the Tusk Sword
1h damage: 10 - 37
Dexterity Required: 71
Strength Required: 104
Level Required: 25
Speed: Normal
+22 Vitality
+111 Mana
Adds 1-50 lightning damage
Adds 3 - 14 cold damage (3 secs)
+75 poison damage (5 secs)
7% life steel
55% Faster Hit Recovery (FHR)
35% Faster Cast Rate (FCR)
+2 to all skills
+4 magic absorb

Clearly the faster hit recovery from this weapon alone is enough to get your character past a few essential break-points. The added mana will mean you have no more mana problems. The ongoing boosters to your life steeling capability will now put you in a position that only bosses have the firepower to bring your life down fast enough to be a threat. Then at course the +2 skills make up (a bit) for the pretty lousey damage and attack speed. Tip: keep this weapon in the barbarian off-hand so the poor attack speed won't matter period.

Invaluable Items - Part 2

Part 2 is focused on one special set the game provides called Deaths Disguise. This set gives unbelievable amounts of power to the dual wielding barbarian early in the game. It can literally take you from Act I through to the beginning of Act IV without having to leave the game for more item replacements. This set alone is a major time saver.

Deaths Disguise
http://www.battle.net/diablo2exp/items/sets/sets2.shtml#deaths
Deaths Touch - War Sword
One-Hand Damage: 10 to 25
Required Level: 6
Required Strength: 71
Required Dexterity: 45
Base Weapon Speed: [0]
+25% Enhanced Damage
4% Life Stolen Per Hit
Adds 25-75 Cold Damage, 3 sec. Duration

The flat physical damage of 10 - 25 makes this weapon formidable even before the set item bonuses are applied. Once 2 of the 3 set items are equipped everything changes with the introduction of the 25 - 75 cold damage. Don't worry about the duration as you will have 2 of these weapons if done correctly. You will most definitely want to socket both swords with Hel runes in order to bring down the massive strength requirements for this weapon. With this done your strength req = 57 and dex req = 36. This will reduce the amount of charms required to be able to equip them by clvl 6. Note you need 2 different set items equipped to get the set item bonuses.

Deaths Touch - Leather Gloves
Required Level: 6
Durability: 12
Poison Length Reduced by 75%
Poison Resist 50%
30% Increased Attack Speed

Deaths Guard - 8 box Sash
Defence: 22
Required Level: 6
Durability: 12
Cannot be Frozen
+20 Defence
All Resistances +15

Partial Set Bonus (2 of 3 items equipped)
+8% Life Steal (2 Items)

Complete Set Bonus (3 of 3 items equipped)
+8% Life Steal
40% Bonus to Attack Rating
All Resistances +25
+10 to Minimum Damage

As you can see, all items in the deaths set have a level requirment of 6. Getting all of these bonuses is no huge feat but I do have a few tips:

• Gothic Plate - can come with a maximum of 4 sockets and no level reqirements. Socketted with 4 flawed Amethyst gems will grant you a 16 point strength bonus. Use charms to equip then it will carry its self, keep the charms however as they will come in handy later. Strength req 70.
• Great Helm - can have 3 sockets and no level requirements. Socket with 3 flawed emeralds for the 12 points of dex which will help in the later part of normal which changing over to 2h swords. Strength req 63.
• Charms - Strength charms are essential for getting some items equipped, it will be up to you to work out how many of each. Stamina charms are incredibly valuable to the build early game due to the lack of points going into life and thus lowered stamina. Basically you will want to collect every stamina potion that drops.

Invaluable Items - Part I

Items that can prove to be worth the while clamouring for are listed in these sections. You will find battle nets' arreat summit also helpful for further clarifications not given. Recommended reading http://www.battle.net/diablo2exp/items

Rings
2x Ravenfrosts Rings
Required Level: 45
+150-250 To Attack Rating
Adds 15-45 Cold Damage, 4 sec. Duration
Cannot Be Frozen
+15-20 To Dexterity
+40 To Mana
Cold Absorb 20%

What you are looking at here is the dexterity bonus available. If you were to use 2x2h swords, then you will find yourself in need of extra dexterity in order to equip these items. The dexterity will also boost the much needed attack rating (AR) in order to level your hits squarely on the enemy. The added direct boost to AR found on these ring makes them invaluable and irreplaceable if you find grail quality ones.

Switch Items
Demon Limb (Tyrant Club) Elite Class Weapons
Required Level: 63
Required Strength: 133
Level 23 Enchant (20 Charges)

Utilizing the level 23 enchant found on this weapon will boost you AR by 218% alone. It will last 672 seconds (11 minutes 12 seconds) and provide you will 92 - 118 fire damage. This is a late game booster which will help considerably through Act IV and killing off Haphisto and friends. Do not use the weapon please.

Todesfaelle Flamme Zweihander (Sword) Exceptional Class Weapons
Required Level: 46
Required Strength: 125
Required Dexterity: 94
Level 10 Enchant (45 Charges)

A lower level equivelant of the Demon Limb which will help a lot through the end of nightmare and most of hell. What does a level 10 enchant give you? An AR boost of 101%, added fire damage of 27-39 per successful strike and a duration of 6 minutes exactly. Its usable only when initially equipted in nightmare but by hell this should only be used for its enchant-ability. Note the dexterity requirement, this is typical with any 2 handed weapon.

Lawbringer

Runeword

Lawbringer is a runeword that grants the user access to the sanctuary aura. The excellent thing about this for a hellforge frenzy barb is that it has a knockback aura affect on undead. This enables the barb to traverse places like the Arcane Sanctuary with relative safety without the need for teleport charges.

The runeword isn't terribly expensive as it only requires Amn+Lem+Ko. Other areas it helps are:
All durance of hate levels
All Act II Tombs
Flayer Dungeon
Chaos Sanctuary

All of these areas have a substantial number of undead that can slow you down. The sanctuary aura will knockback all undead every 2-3 seconds allowing you to by pass them easily using leap. This includes the dreaded stagnant dolls. Glooms will still get a shot off though.

More on items in later posts.

Note: To be able to make Lawbringer you must either be playing on Ladder or using the Runeword Mod.