All my wins have been with tier-4 and tier-5 equipment. I want to see if I can win with only tier-3 items. My rules are never to equip anything above tier-3, not even thrown weapons. Playing with a gladiator, who is about to go down to level 13, with the swarm intelligence challenge.
Has anyone tried something similar? Do you think it's possible to win with only tier-2 or (gasp) tier-1 equipment?
Update: I'm about to start level 19, still with a sword +1, and with a mail +8 of anti-magic. It's amazing how far a tier-3 +1 weapon can take you!
Upgrade scrolls: actually I haven't upgraded my weapon at all (I found the sword +1 somewhere in the jail). I'm hoping to find a +2 or +3 tier-3 weapon. I also have an enchantment stone, waiting for the right weapon. Also, I've only spent two SoU on the armor (found at +2, another +2 from the troll).
Interesting idea to use a freerunner. That's a class that I've never tried, though, and it seems difficult to use well (like the duellist monk).
Regarding rings and wands, I don't put any restrictions on them, since (as you said) they don't have a tier, so they're fair game.
I think with the right rings you could do a naked run. I'm just not sure if a Ring of Tenacity or a Ring of Evasion is better as armor substitute. Probably Tenacity.
Monk subclass has an ability which gives you a ton more energy for using low tier equipment, and even gives you some t1 equip for free when maxed. I haven't ever used that, but it would be perfect for this.