So I haven't touched Diablo 2 in years and I recently reinstalled it cause I got bored... levelled a Javazon to 59 through Nightmare and now I'm wondering... what next? I mostly chose Javazon since it seemed really item independent so I don't need to worry about being less wealthy than everyone else.

My Javazon essentially has:
20 Charged Strike
20 Lightning Fury
working my way to 20 Lightning Strike

1 point in Valkyrie (mostly as a decoy that keeps the little midget dudes off my butt when I'm pulling back to throw javelins at them)

And an accidental (but useful nonetheless) extra point in Evade.

Now when I'm done with LS I was planning on juicing Valkyrie and making her a useful combatant, then tossing as time goes on points into Evade/Dodge, but I have a few questions:

1. Should I? Or should I focus on synergies for more damage on my lightning? I'm in Hell now and I'm pretty much hoping the Valk will eventually be sufficient to help me take out LI monsters.

2. I'm finding Lightning Fury really useful at times when I don't want to approach large groups of enemies... should I invest in a point or more of pierce? At the moment it doesn't seem as though it's absolutely necessary, and I don't have many synergies with LF to make it worth it, as far as I can tell... but is it useful in people's experience?

3. This is a blatant call for help in a way... if you've got Javazon gear you're not using, I haven't been in game for years and years and years (well before this latest slew of patches)... could anyone spare some? I don't have much in way of stuff to pay with... besides perfect gems I suppose.

Anyway, cheers,
Me.

P.S. US East Ladder btw.
 

I'll try to answer some basics here:

Dodge/Evade/Avoid should all have at least one point. Aim for 10pts (total) in each (this is with +skills -- and not really need to worry about it until later). Ideally you should have at least +8-+12 all skills/all zon skills anyway, so don't worry to much about these until later. I built javazons with base 5 in each of the three -- even my hybrid Java/Bow zons.

Valk skills: She needs to be at least at skill level 17 so she gets an elite war pike. This is the BARE minimum a valk should be to kick any sort of butt. Ideally when your finished she should be slvl 27 or greater. If you max Valk (as many do) this should be simple.

The point in the Javelin skills can be (or should be) dumped in whatever you want. You've already maxed Lightning Fury and Charged Strike (or at least should if you haven't). Then just max another synergy of LF. Oh and a single target physical attack you can use might be... Jab is it called? Last javazon I built had like 5 base points in this skill, it helped vs lightning immunes on occasion. Though usually your valk+merc can deal with these guys. Again: Don't like max Jab, just don't overlook it's usefulness.

Something else to consider is pierce. Ideally you could use a razortail (+33% pierce) along with a few +skill points in the passive skill. Otherwise you may want to dump 5-10 hard points into the pierce passive.

Your comment on Lightning Fury is strange -- do you mean a different skill? Because LF is basically THE defining skill of a javazon. It's the reason people create them :P You should max LF, and at least two synergies (generally you'll want Charged Strike asap along with possible Lightning Strike).

Heh. I keep getting an itch to play again, but I don't know if I'm up for building up characters yet again for another ladder season

I think I addressed most of your concerns, if not lte me know. Oh and just a couple notes: It's entirely possible to defeat the game (in hell mode) with the Javelins you start with. So don't worry to much on gear until you get further in the game. Oh and get a mercenary. Preferably an act2 mercenary to serve as a tank (Holy Freeze -- Act 2 Nightmare Defensive, or possibly Defiance/Act2 Normal -- this can help you and your valk by pumping your defense up massively). These can help, keep the heat off you, and help mop up anything still moving around after one of those massive lightning fury attacks

Could even slap that runeword that gives mediation on him to help with any mana issues you might have (LFury can be hard to spam without some decent mana leech). Think it's RalTirTalSol? Dammed if i can recall what it's called. Only works in 4 socket polearms though.

What's your account name on east? I might jump on, though I'm pretty sure i don't have any active ladder accounts... at least I don't think I do.

EDIT: By the way, use slow missiles, this skill is so useful vs certain enemies.
 

I've heard they are resetting the ladder soon neo, though this is b.net and blizzard of course. We should organize a blizzforums front.
 

If anyone wants to find me my B.Net account is Tigris. If I don't respond I may be logged in a game without actually being around... I leave my characters on so my friend and I have a room to mule in rather frequently.