Actually, there are lots of ways to make successful builds. Invest stat and skill points where you need them. Save and try out a new skill to see if you like it, and reload if you don't. If you are not sure what to do with your points, keep some in reserve until you start having a problem.
There are also skill bonuses you can get on equipment, to try things out. Merchants reset their inventories each time you level, so you can save before getting close and running your crosshairs over them, and then trade, and reload if you want to check for something different. Generally, though, merchants (and chests) tend to have the best results on your first try. I wasted too much time in D2:ED reloading, so in DKS set a (soft) limit of 3 attempts; for the first few levels I checked the merchants each time I leveled, but once I had a full compliment of usable equipment, there was less need for that. After about level 5 or 6 I would go check the smith for a better weapon if I started having problems, etc, but wouldn't necessarily check everyone, let alone reload. Mow I only bother reloading a couple times for boss opponents that always drop some random loot when defeated, or for special chests that always have a good quality random item.
You can concentrate on strength and vitality. There are magic and balanced weapons if you want to put points into intelligence, but in D2:ED with a warrior and DKS with a ranger I have stuck to regular weapons. In D2:ED the magic damage bonus was always my second choice for weapon enchantments, when possible (after the normal damage enchantment), but I didn't have any problem with a moderate intelligence. So far in DKS I have not put any points into intelligence for my ranger (I might have to put a couple into spirit at some point).
looking for some character advice for a ranged character, but some of the stat discussion may be useful
Monk/Ninja Build
