Sorcerors hate to get their hands dirty with manual labor, that's what Golems are for. Rogues keep their bodies honed for battle, not building; they hire Carpenters to build their structures. Most Bards lack the discipline to learn the trade, all they do is fight, sing, and wander.
Introduction
The Carpenter is a mighty warrior, but he still sticks with the skills and tools he knows. They build your houses. They make your furniture. They save the world. That's right, in every Carpenter lies the soul of a hero, begging for release.
Storyline
You were working on the newly-weds new house when word reached you about Diablo. You tell the apprentices to finish up, there was real Carpenter's work to be done in Tristram. You leave your tools behind, they were not for this task. Hefting a stout piece of lumber to remind you of your heritage, you begin your quest.
Items
Armor
Any armor is allowable to the Carpenter.
Helms
Remember, always have proper eye protection. All helms except a crown can be used. Carpenters are humble folk, not royalty.
Jewelry
"A bit fancy for my tastes, but definitely helpful"
Any, as long as prefix and suffix are allowable.
Shields
Warrior Carpenters may use shields to protect themselves ("I never used 'em before, but then again, a house doesn't try to kill you."), but a Barbarian Carpenter will never use one ("A little flying sawdust never hurt anyone").
Weapons
Axes: Usable, to a degree. The small axe, broad axe, and axe are usable. They are good and practical wood splitters. All other axes are much too big.
Bows: "Another impractical tool." No bows.
Clubs: The only club that can be used is the one you start with, those other hunks of wood have no meaning to you.
Maces/Flails: "What in the Light do these have to do with carpentry?" Don't use 'em.
Mauls: A bigger hammer for a bigger man. While not usable to the Warrior Carpenter (too clumsy), the Barbarian Carpenter can wield it one-handed with ease. All Barbarian Carpenters must use a maul as soon as possible, unless it is cursed.
Staves: Just hunks of wood to the Carpenter. Not usable at all.
Swords: "Sword? No good in the shop, no good at all." No swords with one notable exception. Any sword with the "jagged" prefix becomes a saw, which every Carpenter uses. It is not necessary to use, but can be.
War Hammers: The ultimate symbol of the Carpenter. All Carpenters must use a hammer as soon as possible, unless it is cursed.
Enchantments
No curses, ever. Cursed items are the tools of the Three. No light-abiding Carpenter would want that association. Even if an item is hybrid (half good/half curse) it may not be used. Decay and Peril items are considered cursed.
Gem stone prefixes (obsidian, sapphire, diamond, etc.) are not allowed on weapons.
"A weapon made of a jewel? Come on!"
Gem stone prefixes are allowed on armor and jewelry, however, as they are just studdings of these jewels, and are not made of them.
No +Magic/+Mana (though +all is ok), mana steal, fire/lightning hit damage, or Jester's (Hellfire; too unpredictable..."I'm no fool.") items.
Craftmanship items are prized, though not a necessity.
Uniques
Any unique that fits in the base item requirements is ok. A few exceptions do exist, though.
No Butcher's Cleaver. You're a Carpenter, not a meat merchant.
No Stone Cleaver. You are not a mason.
Thunderclap and Schaeffer's Hammer are not allowed. A tool that blows apart the work is not very useful, is it?
The Optic Amulet, Ring of Regha, Gladiator's Ring, and Xorine's Ring are not allowed.
The Bonesaw and Grizzly can be used, for they are saws.
Books, Potions, Runes, Scrolls, & Spells
A Carpenter does not go out of his way to become adept at magic, but he will likely learn a little along the way. Any book found is ok to read, but never buy one from Adria. Scrolls can be used bought or found, as they are independent of you. Any elixir or oil or potion can be used. No runes.
Firey Spells
Apocalypse: Living close to wood all his life, the Carpenter does not use fire this recklessly. "Fire + wood = bad"
Elemental: A man on fire? No.
Fireball: Risky. No
Firebolt: Way too risky. No.
Fire Wall: A Carpenter understands walls. He is a master at building them, so his control is perfect. This spell is allowed.
Flame Wave: Walls are meant to be stationary. No.
Guardian: Dragons? Fire? No.
Immolation: No.
Inferno: Nope, not controlled enough.
Ring of Fire: A round Fire Wall. Allowed.
Allowed fire spells are Fire Wall and Ring of Fire.
Lightning Spells
Chain Lightning: Bad for trees, no.
Charged Bolt: Lightning again, no.
Lightning: Think of the poor trees. No.
Lightning Wall: Allowed. Walls are good.
Nova: No way. Too risky.
The allowed lightning spell is Lightning Wall.
Magic Spells
Berserk: Allowed.
Blood Star: Not recomended, but not banned.
Bone Spirit: No, Carpenters let dead souls lie.
Flash: It's like a saw around the player. Allowed.
Golem: Never hurts to have an extra set of hands on a job. Allowed.
Healing: Of course, good for smashed thumbs.
Heal Other: Good for the smashed thumbs of others. Allowed.
Holy Bolt: Allowed. Carpenter's follow the light.
Identify: If you have the scroll, use it.
Infravision: If you have the scroll, use it.
Mana Shield: Allowed.
Phasing: Popping helter-skelter around the work site is not good. No.
Reflect: "Take that!" Allowed.
Resurrect: A good Carpenter never lets anything keep him from finishing a job. Not even death. Allowed.
Search: Good for finding lost tools. Allowed.
Stone Curse: Leave it for the masons. No.
Telekinesis: Good for getting tools that are just out of reach. Allowed.
Teleport: "No more ladders for me!" Get where you want to go, fast. Allowed.
Town Portal: "I'm not walking all that way." Allowed.
Warp: Allowed.
Allowed magic spells are Berzerk, Blood Star, Flash, Golem, Healing, Heal Other, Holy Bolt, Identify, Infravision, Mana Shield, Reflect, Resurrect, Search, Telekinesis, Teleport, Town Portal, and Warp.
Use your character skills as you see fit, but keep the Barbarian rage to a minimum, hot heads ruin the work. Warrior Carpenters often feel the need to repair their own tools, but making a table leg and fixing a dented hammer head are very different.
Now, go out there and rid the world of Diablo's foul Taint!