The Great Race; a proposal for "Khalim" awards

[Crystalion]

And 2:22:38 with the thorns paladin. The advantage of this one was actually being able to properly use a mercenary (a Combat one in this case, good for punching bags), whereas the blazie can't keep one of these alive for long. I was also lucky with the drops, plenty of chipped skulls and useful rares. I was expecting a faster time though

Biggest PITA is the last couple of levels (18 upwards), painfully slow, specially level 20.

You might consider this recipe to cube a decent act 2 merc weapon from the Revenge of the Savage Bardiche thread:

Any staff (normal act 1 Akara will commonly sell you a plain staff cheap)
Any kris (normal act 2 Fara sells will commonly see you a plain kris cheap)
Any belt (normal act 1 Charsi will commonly sell you a plain sash cheap)
Any diamond (I used a diamond chip)

Unfortunately you'll get something that is so good it will have at least clvl 19 as a req, which only makes the suggestion plausible as you said 18 to 20 was a PITA. (edit: and I mention it because there is another race, to 25, that is relevant, then, of course, the race to 40).

The power of emerald (type) gems in bows should not be discounted. You can get a 3 socket bow from Charsi or Gheed pretty readily, so if you had some chipped or flawed emeralds drop early you could get just obscene damage from an act 1 hire (cubing up, if you're really lucky).

Next one should be the assassin, not sure if a trapper or a regular hack-n-slash one would be better

A pure Dragon Talon kick artist is awesome, if you put on Greaves as soon as possible. Since you are solo'ing, don't neglect a point in CoS. As for traps, early on the Blade Sentry skill is pretty amazing, if you put a really high damage weapon on your switch to cast them (elemental damages included, but not effects). Later the Blade Fury skill is a one point wonder (effects included).

Still, as much as I love my Assassin, I have to believe both the blaze and thorns builds are going to level faster. Aside from the Necro (CE and army) that I already mentioned, I'd think a Multishot bowazon makes sense (as mana is now shop buyable again).