Re: since the ladder is resetting...
I ussually make an orb, blizz or lightning sorc for meph, summoner, andy, countess (if u took frost things let ur merc kill her) and other interesting mf mobs
I make this to get some starting gear for my other chars (hsarus, the hellforge hammer or the flail from act 3 completely made with the organs), sigon, cathan amu + rings, civerb's cudgel and mid lvl gear, peasant crown, ...) and in te mean while equip her ofc
I used full tals, chancies, nagels and war travs at the end for mfing (400+ mf and killing speed isn't bad) (socketed helm and armor with ptopaz and was waiting to get a spare ist for weapon, had put a mf jewel in the weapon though)
the choice here depends on what you favor to play, its true a lightning sorc does more damage, and can kill more (less important lightning immunes in the game, the rest your merc can kill) but relies more on items, or thats what i find, the mana cost of lightning is loads higher then frost things
then I make a javazon to take down cows really quick (good place for runes, socket stuff and charms, don't use mf though, lowers ur chances on socket stuff or thats what it seemed for me) and she doesnt require good items either, i'll post what i used this ladder to murderize cows, it took my 10 mins or less to kill everycow (even cowelvis, your sorc opens the portal so no need to let the bastard live)
I used this item setup to kill cows:
titans
tal mask / gaze
shaftstop (any low armor will do)
thundergods (any other belt will do to)
ravenfrost / manald
crescent moon amu (dual leech amu)
sigon shield (cheap and gives +1 to skills ^^ )
sigon gloves (2 set items gives 30ias and 10ll and gloves give 10 str again more points to vit)
gore riders (any boots with frw is good to stay away from cows)
slap in any charm that you think is handy (transfer the mf ones to sorc ^^)
I socketed nothing and used the quests to give interesting items max sockets,
titans can not be socketed else i'd put in a pskull for the leach, u could put some interesting jewels or runes in ur items but its not really needed
Then I make a zealot with 1 point in smite for ubers, only thing you need here is cb and life tap (a wand or draculs or both)
I used these items to bring down ubers at lvl 82:
stormlash / heaven's light (on switch life tap wand)
ravenfrost
dual leech ring
nosfi coil
draculs
guillame's face
duress ap
metalgrid / highlords
herald of zakarum / griswold shield (3 pdiamonds)
gores / goblin toe
(this setup gives a woppin 98% cb, some open wounds and deadly strike so almost every hit you have cb proc + the static field from stormlash is awsome to so they go down pretty fast)
after i get some wealth together I start a cookie build / geared hammerdin (enigma / hoto /and all the tipical things) to go pawn everything (cept the ubers cause I have my zealot for that no?)
do not forget to trade stuff you don't use for things you will use (obvious no?)
ps: something else that is good to to start with is a fishymancer, doesn't require items at all u could play the game naked (the char, not you)
pps: sorry for the wall of text