If you have money - Check the AH!
Someone gave tips to check out the AH and get good deals on gear.
I had 50.000+/- g after i bought two stash slots - and really no idea what to use it for.
My gear was...let's put it that way...utter shiate. At lvl 21, some pieces i had were utter crap even if i had some rare pieces
In the beginning of Act III, in co-op..i was afraid to even go down the steps because my Wizard was owned left and right. It was a nightmare.
So i went in the AH and was AMAZED about the pieces there, so i bought me a whole bunch of stuff, not all "cheap"...but a few bargains like an insane rare chest piece and other rare pieces for wizards w/ I+V on them.
To make the story short, my damage now is fricking INSANE and i can carry someone 7+ lvls higher than me in co-op, my health 3x as much as i had with the shiate gear....i could solo the whole place now.
TOTALLY WORTH IT
If you put rare pieces in the AH at "reasonable" prices (eg. 3000-5000?), don't know..they sell like hotcakes. So even if i spent a ****load on the gear now i also made a ton because i sold the other pieces.
Do not make the mistake i did and try to progress with crap gear, if ALL/MOST of your pieces are tuned for your class, about your level and gemmed properly, it's a HELL of a difference. I know, stating the obvious....
Gems are also really, really cheap...and there is no shortage whatsoever on gold drops and rare drops in that game. Last short run in Act III i got TONS of rares again and plenty gold.
Wiz, lvl 27 now..and the game is now really amazing, new spells, arcane hydra etc...and seeing that you can get (and sell!!) really good gear in the AH easily has really hyped me up!
So...if you have ignored the AH as i did...think again...