Introduction
Stat Placement
Skill Placement
Equipment
Questions Answered

Introduction:

This is for Player versus Monster. I've done a little PvP with this build, and actually done pretty well versus the few builds I was up against, but I couldn't tell you if they were great players or not or if they had elite gear (never looked)...

Before I begin let me say this...all gear I suggest doesn't require you to have the best. I don't. :( But if you yourself can afford it, sweet, your Convictioner will be even better.

PRO'S of Convictioner:
1) Party friendly for almost everyone else. The only ones I don't see gaining anything from your help is Hammerdin's and Bonenecros (both who use magic attacks and don't melee)
2) You follow my equipment suggestions and you will withstand most attacks no problem. 90%+ resists/up to 46% damage reduced/lightning & cold absorb.
3) He can solo hell!
4) He's fun to play!

CON'S of Convictioner:
1) I really can't see any cons if you follow my equipment suggestions. Yes, the best versions of the equipment are always wanted, but you don't need'em.

Stat Placement:

Strength: You want this to be 118/196 at least after all +str gear is on (depending on if you upgrade your armor). I suggest at least putting 100 (I put 155)

Dexterity: Enough for 75% chance to block. While I havent gotten mine to level 99 (and don't plan on doing the math for it either) at level 86 I need 140 in dex (with gear) to obtain 75% chance to block.

Vitality: REST!!! I don't think a reason needs to be said for this.

Energy: NONE!!! You have no need for energy. None what so ever. It's a waste.

Skill Placement:

20 Sacrifice
20 Zeal
20 Holy Shield
20 Defiance
20 Conviction (or enough to reach level 25 after all plus skills are added in)
01 in all Preq. Skills.

Equipment:

Helm: Crown of Ages

Weapon1: "Famine" War Spike

Shield1: Tiamat's Rebuke

Weapon2: Gimmershred (What? Your probably saying to yourself. But think about it. Iron Maiden sucks. Even for a Convictioner. This allows you to deal with it, by having a throwing weapon at your disposal.)

Shield2: Tiamat's Rebuke

Armor: Guardian Angel (this is were the strength issue comes in...118 is needed for this armor. 196 is needed if you want to upgrade it to the elite version for even more defense)

Gloves: Lavagout or 20% IAS, dual leech (or just mana leech will work), with alot of elemental damage rare gloves are even sweeter.

Belt: String of Ears

Boots: Really, whatever you want/need. Need more resists to obtain 90% resist all, use Tearhaunch. If you don't you know which boots are sweet. But I remind you, don't over look Infernostrids with this build. The ability to up your Fire resist to 95%, chance to cast Blaze, and added fire damage are all sweet for this build.

Ring1: Ravenfrost

Ring2: Wisp Projector

Ammy: Metalgrid or Mara's or a sweet rare pally ammy.

Charms: (All GCs should hopefully have great 2nd mods of course.)
Annihilus
Personally I wouldn't go with more than 5 Skill GCs. Leave some space for the items you find and want to keep.
Unless of course you want to PvP, then have enough Offensive Aura GCs as you need to reach lvl 25 Conviction and the rest make Combat Skill GCs.
If needed to reach max resists, throw in a couple 5% resist all scs.

Questions Plastik thinks you might have...

Q1) 109 points total needed! I don't plan on going that high with my character, what do you suggest I do?

A1) Max Zeal last. Your attack rating means very little with this build. So get four points into as soon as the skill becomes available, and then forget about untill you've maxed all other skills.

Go for defense. Conviction will lower all enemies defenses. So you don;t need the boost in AR.

Q2) Why not Dragonscale?

A2) I at first was going to use this, but I thought about it. Monster's (and if you PvP) resists will vary. Sure, only a few will actually be immune to any element, but that doesn't mean they don't have high resists. Tiamat's gives a bit of all elements for damage. Dragonscale only gives fire. Tho the 20% fire absorb is tempting, I've found 90% fire resist is suffient.

Q3) Why use War Spike and not Beserker Axe or Legendary Mallet for the "Famine" Runeword.

A3) This is becuz I'm not the richest player around. If you can obtain the 15/15 (IAS/Resist Jewels) go for the other. However War Spike has the lowest needed IAS to reach 5 attacks per second. Don't worry about reaching the 6.2 attacks per second.

Q4) I can't afford "Famine" in the first place!

A4) Don't worry. I was soloing hell difficulty (including Baal/Cows/everywhere else) with just a Gimmershred. And that's with less than 5 attacks per second. So, check out other weapons with high elemental damage. If you can only get ahold of weapons with one high elemental damage (ie: Nord's...which is cheap) get another one on switch (like a Demon Limb)

Q5) Do I really need to up my equipment?

A5) No. Your defense will be really high as is. Uping it will only make it that much sweeter. :)

Q6) I can't get ahold of a wisp.

A6) Don't worry. I was soloing hell fine without it. High resist will cover it for you. I just like the absorb. But anything will work. Just be sure to get ahold of the Raven Frost for the Can't be Frozen mod and cold absorb.

Q7) You have no mana leech (with Lavagouts)! What the hell?

A7) You know, I really haven't found a need for it truthfully. I don't have the cool rare gloves either. But the mana just doesn't seem to go that quick once you get all your equipment/up there in levels.

Q8) What to socket equipment with?

A8) Depends on your equipment. If you can reach max resists without socketing your CoA with 15% resist all jewels (or UMs), slam in 2 BERs! Get that damage reduced to as much as possible. :) You want to use one of the higher damage weapons for "Famine"? A Couple 15/15 (IAS/Resist) jewels will get you that 5 attacks per second.

BTW:
Beserker Axe 5 APS = 63% IAS
Beserker Axe 6.2 APS = 200% IAS
Legendary Mallet 5 APS = 125% IAS
Legendary Mallet 6.2 APS = 456% IAS
War Spike 5 APS = 42% IAS
War Spike 6.2 APS = 142% IAS

Seeing this, your not going to hit the 6.2 APS unless you use a War Spike and change some equipment (Ammy would have to be Cat's Eye or Highlord's, and you socket 4 15% IAS speed jewels -with 15% resists of course, cuz it's a waste to use GA armor if your resists aren't going to be higher than 75%- and then you;d still be short 12% using the War Spike...so like I said, it's not easy, but I'm sure it's possible). Personally I say save yourself the hassle and live with the 5 APS.

Q9) How will I do in PvP.

A9) Like I said, I can't be certain. As I havent really tested it out. But I do know this...

I was able to take out Sorc's (my absorb and resists covered me nicely), a Lightning Trapper, a WW Barb, and a Zealot. Why? High resists, absorb, and they're resists and defense dropped like hell. Remember, its not easy to stack all resists without a serious blow to their other equipment. :)

Q10) What are your resists looking like. And what equipment you using?

A10) My resists are all 90% except for lightning which is 86%.

I use a 1/29/13 CoA, 54/53 Resist Tiamat (socketed with PDiamonds of course) for both shield slots, Tearhaunch boots (see armor for why :P ), GA (not socketed yet...haven't gotten ahold of the 15% resist jewel yet), 31% Metalgrid, 15/19/6 Anni, Lavagouts, String of Ears (13% DR) or sometimes Thundergods...I'm trying to see which I like better, but it's leaning towards the SoE, and some small resist -insert element here- charms (including 1 4% resist all sc).