When you first start the game with any character, you are given a rune, weapon and armor. Pick all these up, then choose the "Export" option from the menu. Start a new game with the "Import" option. Import your saved character and you will start again at the beginning of the game. Not only will you still be holding all the items you picked up previously, but you can collect them all again. This can be repeated as many times as desired. The runes can be exchanged for combos, and the armor can be sold. This is best done with the Gladiator character; if you fight in the arena and battle Julius the Gladiator Master, you receive experience points as well as gold and various other items. "Export" and "Import" after you have killed him and his guards and repeat to get experience each time.