Does anyone know of a good reference for character builds (stats, items, skills, spells, companion trinkets/spells)?
If not I think it would be worth documenting that here, although I would suggest different threads for each character. Unfortunately (or fortunately for me actually :)) I am playing through Torchlight for the first time, so I don't have a build to offer yet.

For the warrior, put all your points into passives (Martial Weapons Expertise, Dual Wield, Armor Expertise), equip two one-handers, and just use Slash until level 25.  It's surprisingly powerful, because while its skill description makes it read like a cleave attack, it's one of the few skills to use "all equiped weapons", which means you can deal a lot of damage with it whether you're facing one enemy or a half dozen.  Supplementary defensive skills like Shadow Armor and Frost Shield are useful for their block and damage reduction, respectively.  At level 25, grab Devastate, watch your warrior become a human wrecking machine, and go to town on the baddies.
 
Stat-wise, you can do something like 3:2 for Str:Def.  If you're on Hardcore, you probably want more in Defence.

If you wanna try out a different Vanquisher build you should try this one out.  
 
NOTE: Don't get put off by being weak in the start just farm Hatch portals and map scrolls to outlevel the main quest.
 
Props goes to Rhaps. :) 
 
The Tanking Rogue:
  
Watch out for dragons, spectres and trees they can be a bitch.

Main Talents are as followed. (Once that is done Adventurer, Advanced Spellcasting, Charm Mastery and such will be nice features)

Marksman:
 
10/10 Critical Strikes
10/10 Block and Parry
 
Rogue:
 
10/10 Armour Expertise
1-5/10 Wind of Justice (i recommend just putting 1 point in this)
 10/10 Defensive Spell Mastery
 10/10 Venomous Dirks
 10/10 Hamstring 
 10/10 Martial Weapon Expertise
 
Arbiter:
 
10/10 Flechette Traps
 
Stats:
 
Put 2 points in Strength and Defense and switch between 1 point in Dexterity and Magic each level.
 
Once your Strength and Defense is at 70 put 3 points in Strength and 2 in Magic each level till you need more Defense for your gear. 
 
Gear:
 
Your main priority is block chance, crit chance and heavy resists. 
 
Mana steal, attack speed and knockback can be very nice to have too.
 
Spells:
 
I myself recommend Elemental Protection, Heal All, Summon skeletons (remember you can summon 5 of them), Summon Blood Skeletons(a rare spell drop that will spawn skeletons that steals life for you), Summon Skeleton Archers(if you get Blood Skeletons unlearn the Archers to make space).