I'll add my vote for the druid/ench/tank combo.

I leveled in classic on a druid from about 15 to low 50s with a steady group of druid/ranger/ench/mage. We had no problem with any old world or Kunark content until about mid 50s. Having a combo of slow and clarity made a huge difference, not to mention the stupid crazy DPS the mage added.

Once we started in the higher level content of Kunark though, the mobs were hitting too hard for a ranger tank, druid healer combo, even with slow.

I wouldn't have traded anyone in that group for the world, but I think having a plate tank instead of a ranger would have allowed us to group all the way to 60 that way.

Obsidian Shards are 200-400 pp per depending on the seller and demand
Enameled Black Mace is 150-300
Executioners Axes are 150-350

As for normal weapons pre-30 etc
There's a dagger that I'm blanking on the name of, 6/26 +3dex for <50p
also a 1hs 5/19 thats <100p that if you catch me near a bank I'll give you

but for the same amount of money you can do more threat with a magic weapon at those levels

the Axe from HHP gnolls is a great lvl 10 tanking item as well

Thanks CPTMULLER, for all the sound advice. I have some idea of what I need to be effective and I'll make a run of it.

3x mages

'course, feel free to whisper Tugtog in game with any questions or whatever

Enchanter, Necromancer, Bard!

As far as the "classic group" goes, the best 3 man group is Cleric, Enchanter, Warrior.
Anyone who says differently doesn't know how to play Everquest very well.

You don't NEED anything that these three classes cannot give you, and you can add ANY 3 classes to this base, and it is a great group.

If you just want 3 characters of any class to hit 50 ASAP, probably 3 mages or a bard and 2 mages.

It's the core to a great group, but it's not much of a group as a threesome.