Hello again:
When I wrote the first installment of this thread, I thought it could just stay there, merely reflecting my initial impressions in relation to Diablo II and this forum. However, I later believed I should write an update, and planned to do so either after one year in this forum or after 100 views (which had to be 101, since the first one was mine).
I thought I could append this to the previous post, but alas that is not possible, a separate topic it is

The first remark, and possibly the most evident, is how silly fast things are around here (I am old, sue me), and how much things change in a short time (that I can deal with, once again, I live in Argentina).
The second remark, along the lines of the previous one, is how easy it is to get used to the good stuff: I have gone from collecting sets to collecting ethereal self-repairing 5-bo visionary barbarian hats in a period of just a few months. That last part is a natural progression of my fetish for barbarian hats, which evidently started with me wanting a perfect upgraded Arreat's Face.
Also on that note, I have got somewhat addicted to colored characters. If some of the readers here is also into it, this is a very nice guide to colors in Diablo II:
http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=68614511&f=21
Although some of the conclusions at the bottom are not 100% (particularly in the area of prefix and suffix priority), it is still a great source of information on the subject.

In other aspects, I am now at 93 Uber Tristram runs, and also added 12 Diablo clones, the latter within a period of just two days before the previous ladder reset.
For that, my favorite character has become my melee sorceress, which I would have not been able to make without CorinaMarie's guide: http://forums.d2jsp.org/guild.php?t=2570.
The class-specific unique item collection I mentioned in the previous post is now complete, and I have also collected all unique pieces of jewelry. Granted those were easy to gather, but my focus is now elsewhere

As to future plans, I would say my barbarian hat collection is at 3 out of 5: I have a red one (two really, and three If I count my 2OS non-ethereal), a blue one (crystal blue, I recently found out they can spawn in light blue, and I am not touching on that with a 20-foot pole right now) and a green one.
Gold and white remain to be acquired, or even found really, specially on the white end. Apparently, the good ones are on USWest, but it is how it is.
Though I initially thought of just swapping them, at this point I will likely make one character in each color, besides my original one, which is currently orange (shown in my avatar). While doing this, I am certain to pick some nice armors along the way as well. I hate leveling worse than before though, specially on barbarians, so that remains to be seen.

That is about it as progress report goes. To whoever has read this far, good for you!

The following will be the "thank you" section. Figured I would not mix this up with the rest this time.

-On the first place, thanks to all whom I bought the barb hats from: Bigbenbenn, CJarvis, zeph69, BeSh and TheDivision

-On the second place, thanks to everybody that has either bought stuff or services from me to date. I admit I am not much of a trader, but it is still a long list, and here it goes in order of appearance:
MTpockets, hub6703, Jmaxx, callsaul, mike14e, JasonJW, Nife, Questionz, todash_darkness, Tabuu, Ziggler, camoriodie, Cyb3R, v4c0, QueeF, Ptfan, toddzi11a, BeSh, CounterSpell, CopeCowboy, Cooter_Shooter, xEternity, Verasity, IpL, CrackerJacks007, SleepyHollows, Sirbusta, LOLRagezzz, kill_joy, Also, Raven6979, ashwee4, Bmead, KyushU, rsfamilymedia, Steambot, MrStyle, grimaud, Miraculix, DJOrchard17, Cracka503, Meanbastard, trix123, MzatFTW, FriGGen, Juice87, Prusias, DViolent, Syngularity, 2flash2, ItsJustThatGuy, PlatinumX, CROCHA, Page_99, Schala, belegur, Seani, bdjhsl, minorblood, Mute1, BluntsGLI, GNX, hohopper, Dwm6, CrovaxTheCursed, Karrmann, death_knight, PermMeBro, BossOfAllBosses, Them, barbosa88, j3lly, princesseyolo, King Arthur, Doyon, photoman, Skeptical, marvel., Charz, token123as, Ballistikz, ITC, Southern, EastSideOG, JoshThePvp, leenank, MODOKK, Forgiveness, xXMiGaaraNoSabakuXx, meer, trillis, Venies, Autodidacte, XxCrazyWishxX, Beerus, Vault, Foxist, piggypig, Nutikit, WDGucci, Levee, sgtwilson3, GorillaGuy, CARD0NI, DatNiggaM, tuba315, AngryBlackMan, DreadWolf, otages2S2R, gchades, tylerjb, irtehPunch, XLotusX, randallnator, fatphilli9milli, zeph69, DangleDangle, corgan, LastofUs, TriWinning, clbymssy1, Colton3996, J2J, UseYourIllusions, SIR_HALDAN, AlexDeath, ycp1981, Superman, Tree05, 570, 1998, pat950310, Busta_nutz, CitroenC7, citizen, Hamada, Hondatrx450r, Ulm, DaLiNkWeNT, Pow_Skidler, AA_D2jsp, CrazyDiablo, KDawg13, boa321, NineWest, PowerGlove, TyrionLanister, Bic, NiRo_O, Obstacle1, jaguarpaw, MakeThemSuffer, necrophil, frid, DankSpankums, WarDog23, Omegadin, BigBenBenn, DatNiggaWill, Floodban, bfuntall, Eriarka, LifeStory, sean520, knower, wyldlyfe1991, ExD8456, tangyfruits6, CoolMan, lethal_oli, MrMaybeNextTime, shadowsdark, TheDivision, Burton_air89, nicklez15, D3again, lovedaazn, Morphmcmanerson, Wyrmvater, Roukas, 100jjx, PICKER, godxsherps, MadC, GreenEnvy24, dust4, Elcencavas, Drakstar, randomletterz, drf250, Alienist, Lexus_LX570, Slothish, yuppers_90210, Colone, Jodingo, Dballer33, Roamer, xfreeagentx, vert, kaytradamus, BudKing88, Stoneheart, Starscream714, torchij, soon2b1, cgrapper69, liop4q, Trickshottr, CHunter, Fateful, DarkGohan, TheCrusifix, palaidians, ace1993, Iroh, Fromage, duck20, EpkOwnage23, Schwert, KosMosII, Kasinova, D2SigmaPi, Platypus, bioshocker, Grams, Stackattk, travis1985, Boarder, Deathdefy, Funslice, hurleyguy27, jayhawk_11, P_A_T, Copey, smittyworbz, creamycakes, Reapr, Daggercraft, BAJuicer, Yoshimitsu_RRC and iRespect.
Many of the above have overpaid, and I apologize for not have taken record of that from the start. I have tried to keep the names up to date too.

-On the third place, thanks to the ones that donated forum gold to me, much despite my objections
Rico (Chilavert), Ben (Miraculix), Dave (Belegur), Alex (Burton_air89), Nick (tuba315), Juls (Lifestory), Nick (LuxFiat), Brandon (bfuntall), Jordan (bit), Randall (randallnator), Nir (Niro_O), Tyler (Stackattk), Jon (jonjohnson) and Dan (Copey).

-And finally, the proverbial last but not least, thanks to Randy and everybody in guild Summit for taking me in, talk about a radical improvement on my jsp experience

Well, out of ammo.
Thank you very much if you read this far, and may you have a great day
Pablo

kikemaster

Hello again:
Figured I would write a quick update.
Today it is my first year anniversary in jsp, and things have worked out quite well.

My barbarian hat collection is almost complete (or maybe even complete this week). For this I have to thank DJ (DJOrchard17) and two Ryans, Ryan900 and BAJuicer (who really went above and beyond here).
Combine that with a few colored armors (of which the blue proved quite elusive), and you get an interesting barbarian collection.

Granted there remain two characters to be made, but I already have most of the items online. The chance remains though, that yet another colored barb be added, possibly a light black one (or dark grey, the color the Immortal King set comes in, although I would not use it complete).

I have rather recently put a few of those guys into PvP use, and realized I had been missing out on quite an experience. I admit that my skills are quite poor for whirlwind yet (and maybe for good), and that living half a world away possibly doesn't help either, but it is quite entertaining. On the other hand, melee is much more build-dependant, so I can do quite decently (if the rng allows), at least for my standards, and the melee community in East is pretty nice. If possible, I will make a faster concentrate barbarian in the near future, at least to try a different approach. Teleporting at any decent speed with my ping is nigh impossible, so melee and BvB will probably be as far as I will extend my PvP range, and I admit I find the gear oddly attractive.

Apart from the above, my medium-term plans include trying a few variants I have never made before (I have always been barb-centered), such as a bowzon, an ES sorc, a trapsin, a zealer and a wolf druid. This will take some time, so we shall see.

Due to the fact that not much time has elapsed since the previous update, this progress report is on the short side (whew), so I thank the eventual reader for baring with it once more.
As on the post above, I will add the "thank you" section in the end.

-On the first place, an update of the guys I got my barb hats from (yes, thank you again): DJOrchard17, Ryan900 and BAJuicer. It has been a rather long road getting these, and it feels good to get close to the goal line

-On the second place, thanks to the guys I got my colored armors from (some of these took some doing, so I figured I would post your names here too): Blanka, BlaZeN, TheDivision, Ozaug, jamesinspace, BAJuicer and Death_tous_all.

-On the third place, an update of everybody that has either bought stuff or services from me to date, in order of appearance:
ShockerWTF, Kuhoo, Luminoth, CORBIND, dark-diabla, XxTinyTankxX, Garnier, Holynorth, Prime95, jacob12346789, Harlom, gooseyfruit29, BichAss1212, KMH107, anathema15, MpWj, HalcyonVanity, IAmAsylum, Trogdor, Death_tous_all, kywalk51, Nightkin, Joshua1235, cjkr, HDM, jamesinspace, SonyStylZ, klax12, A-Sweetboy, Chilavert, FeelsGood, LegendOfDragoon, NoobTube9, Jbee, drizzyD, woshiner, Cherise, godlyamens, zedethar2016, Swagg, StNick, ferf, Coltdabolt, boomer_rich, Funtazia, Flexing, SkateTheWake20, Arbor, KoolKeith, IChooseWhoDies, Tylr, unholytreestump, Yiyi, Elyman, Nics, cyrolegion, Egardner, CivicZeus, Hole, DeathbyShark4200, 69Tonna69, Jgd1990, TYLERMAYS, RPG5621, UltimaTrader, Crazy_Spec, truonk, Darkstar, Hasto, CivicZeus, IndependenceDay, snoop2252, sojjer2003, lFuzzyl, aftermath5, phc1, MCS, sktr7970, mik979, 5mash, 5yearsBreak, KiLLaK and technineeeee.
All these add to the previous list of course. Much appreciation for choosing me for your purchases/services!

-On the fourth place, the full and updated list of my donors:
Federico (Chilavert), Ben (Miraculix), Dave (Belegur), Alex (Burton_air89), Nick (tuba315), Juls (Lifestory), Nick (LuxFiat), Brandon (bfuntall), Jordan (bit), Josh (randallnator), Nir (Niro_O), Tyler (Stackattk), Jon (jonjohnson), Dano (Copey), Cyle (SpamBam), Sean (XxCrazyWishxX), Dennis (CORBIND), Dakota (Beerus), Michael (Charz), Randy (BigBenBenn), Ryan (BAJuicer), Harley (Harlom), Dillon (Darkstar), Tony (Busta_nutz), Dan (meer), Jared (Obstacle1), Zach (SkateTheWake20), Ryan (Ryan69), Affa (Also) and Dave (Schala).
Quite a few of you have donated numerous times, and as much as I get into the send-and-resend game, I know I end up receiving more than I give. Much love to all of you for that

-And as before, thanks to everybody in Summit for their support. Sin ustedes allá, yo acá para qué

Finally, I would like to thank the readers for their endurance at this point, may you have a brilliant day!
Nos vemos
Pablo
PS. Thank you Dan for your post too!