This is a question we get asked quite often. It of course means you actually have gone through the process of creating a character and have started playing and have noticed that you DO have skill points to assign!!
Actually, there are stat points and skill points.

Here a link to some online info on basic: D2 CHARACTER BUILDS

If you don't want to read on, you can simply order a Talk CD for $9.95 on skill and stat point assignment of a particular character. Click on the character type below
for the CD you want. Druid, Amazon, Sorceress, Barbarian, Necromancer, Paladin, Assassin,

If you'd rather experiment on your own,
Here are some general guidelines on how to go about assigning points.

SKILL POINTS

You have basically 2 choices,
----assign points at random, sort of like trying out this or that,
or
----intentionally building your character to be able to function in particular ways.

So, you need to decide which way you want to go.

ponder ponder ponder..???ok

If you decided you want to build a particular kind of character, not a random one, you need to
further differentiate WHAT KIND of character.

It requires you to look at and examine the options on the skill tree screen.
Generally, for most damage, it is best to choose one skill tree for your point assignments.

Look at the skill tree of the sorceress for example:

Notice the 3 available skill trees for this character. Clicking on skill tab 2 would bring up the light skill tree.
What kind of sorceress do you want to create?

If you decided to make one with a certain intention in mind you need to pay attention to what it says for the different skills.

Notice for example there are certain other skills that make the skill you choose, Blizzard in this case, stronger.

IF that IS what you want, why would you waste any point in a skill you will not later use and which does not help you in your main weapon??

Here just a few general considerations in a particular character build.

--difficulties/monsters in higher levels of gaming (learn from report and experience)
--equipment (can really help and may influence you in character skills)
--your ability to actually use what you got on ANY level (can be trained)
--mercenaries (May be necessary for certain types and builds)
--your level of attention and discipline to actually stick to your intention for a particular build and only assign points accordingly.
--is the character hardcore or softcore

STAT POINTS

In building your character, you have stat points as well as skill points to distribute.
You always need enough stat points as the equipment you are trying to wear requires. That will vary from character to character class and build.