Agreed. That is a good start, and much cheaper. That will allow you to save for the regen items. You do want to skill up all of your weapon skills each level, this will save you pain later on.
Deathbringer's Rod and Green Jade Halberd are great options for your 2hb and 2hs, and will probably be your primary damage dealers.
For cheap 1hs, 1hb, and pierce to level up your skills, these are good, very cheap options:
https://wiki.project1999.com/Spine_Piercer
https://wiki.project1999.com/Sporali_Defender%27s_Blade
https://wiki.project1999.com/Deadwood_Stave
In terms of starting zone, you should move to Feerrott. Much easier to get to, and all the lizardmen/tadpoles drop basically the same stuff as decaying skeletons. That zone is much better than Nek Forest for cloth armor, weapons, etc.
EDIT: Ah, if you are trying to maximize bone chips, then yeah the lizardmen/tadpoles won't help. You should be able to get a port to Nek forest if you line it up with a friendly Druid. Get a SoW/Invis and a teleport to West Commons. Not sure if a Wizard port to Nek Forest would be good, since the Skeletons around the Wizard Spire would probably kill you, unless you have a SoW/Invis vs Undead.