This post needs a little love with the fresh start coming. First, check out the merchant. If you've got coin, that generally will get you a couple items with stats. Second, do what you can while you have gear to make friends. I know my barb and healer over the years have been generously gifted that axe amoung others. Third, I generally have a minor knowledge of entry gear zones, mid gear zoned, and then finally elite/rank gear zones. Helps with leveling fresh, and restarting from untimely demises. Trade out gear as it goes. Having a alternate character to play helps too. I'll usually run my barb up to rank first, and when the cleric gear starts getting out of hand in my inventory/vault, roll my priest. If one dies, the other can zone until recovered. Last little tip, if you find bores truforge, he's a man worth getting familiar with for situations like this.
