Per Cruise Control's orders, I have decided to compile a list of all socketed items that are worth being kept. I could give a reason why, but that might take awhile. Then again, nothing hurts, because I have been IPBanned temporarily from the realms.
Chances are, you won't have to worry about finding these in Normal, with a few exceptions. These are considered the most popular and high priority items. The major criterion are runewords. In all other instances, they should be requested to be kept, because keeping an eye for these [those that are mentioned] items will help out the group the most.
Ethereal and Superior also play a role in certain items. When ethereal applies to armors, it is considered "for mercenaries." This is not always the case, however, as Ethereal affects weapons and Indestructible runewords, making them even better!
Any three socketed Exceptional or Elite helm. Can be used most frequently by Dream, (Io Jah Pul) and Delirium (Lem Ist Io). Two socketed helms are very easy to find, so noth worth mentioning. Lore (Ort Sol), that it is! Barbarian Helms and Druid Helms are less popular variants on the Lore, and are class-only.
Any three or four socketed armor, with a defense rating of at least 425-450+, and of the following classification: Mage Plate (preferably above 250 defense), Dusk Shroud or Archon Plate. Also acceptable are (in order or priority), Wire Fleece, Boneweaves, Scarab Husks, and Wyrmhides. These are found in frequently used runewords, such as Fortitude (El Sol Dol Lo; the Mercenary must), Chains of Honor (Dol Um Ber Ist), and the ever-popular Enigma (Jah Ith Ber). These armors also have the property of being worth a high rune.
Four socketed Monarch shield. Those of the higher Strengths are often considered "too high" for most effective spellcaster builds. Monarchs are the lowest requirements of the shields that can support four sockets. The only reason is for Spirit (Tal Thul Ort Amn), a cheap yet effective runeword.
The next topic, Paladin Shields, all take four sockets with a socketing quest. These critieria are 40+ resistance, because of Spirit (Tal Thul Ort Amn). However, Exile (Vex Ohm Ist Dol), takes ONLY Ethereal, Elite Paladin Shields. The criteria is the Knight's prefix (+52% enhanced damage), or the Chromatic prefix (+35-45 resistances).
Gloves, Boots, and Belts don't have sockets.
Three, four, five, or six socketed Ettin and Berzerker Axes. Small Cresents are also acceptable, but few popular weapon runewords are used with four sockets. The criteria in this case is damage. These armors also have the property of being worth multiple high runes.
Four socketed Hydra Bows. Diamond, Crusader, and Ward bows are also accepted. The criteria for these bows is damage.
On mentioning bows, I also bring up the Amazon bows, of which only four socketed Grand Matron bows are acceptable. This is because of the Faith runeword (Ohm Jah Lem Eld). These armors also have the property of being worth a high rune.
You can ignore Crossbows. They are not fast enough, and their requirements often too high. Also ignore Daggers and Javelins. In fact, I'm not even sure that they support any runewords.
Four or five socketed Flails. This is most popularly used with Hoto (Ko Vex Pul Thul) and Call to Arms (Amn Ral Mal Ist Ohm). These "caster" runewords are not recognized by Diablo II's runes system, as the note says, as are used because of their anemic requirements.
Four, five or six socketed Crystal Swords, Phase Blades, and ETHEREAL Colossus Blades (not Colossus Swords!). These have the popular goody-goody-ness (along with Axes) of being able to support one-handed runewords, such as Last Wish (Jah Mal Jah Sur Jah Ber), Grief (Eth Tir Lo Mal Ral), BotD (Vex Hel El Eld Zod Eth), so on and so forth. Spirit (Tal Thul Ort Amn) and Silence (Dol Eld Hel Ist Tir Vex) are used as "caster" weapons, whilst Honor (Amn El Ith Tir Sol) is used in low-level-dueling. These armors also have the property of being worth multiple high runes (if in a severe demand; otherwise, only one high rune).
Always keep ALL Four socketed Polearms. Always. Five sockets are also acceptable, in certain cases. Do I have to mention Insight (Ral Tir Tal Sol) and Infinity (Ber Mal Ber Ist)? Doom (Hel Ohm Um Lo Cham) is like sex, but better. Not an intentional reference to the video game of the same name.
Lastly, Assassin Katars only take three socketed Elite Claws, due to Chaos (Fal Ohm Um), but this class can largely be ignored.
EDIT: Well, I guess now is as good a time as any, Mulley.
