Good class for first time solo player?

I'm new to the game, and looking for a solid class I can carry through to hardmode endgame (most definitely NOT hardcore though, just the highest difficulty levels), without getting frustrated enough for me to stop playing. The major requirements are that I don't want to have to spend alot to be able to gear an endgame spec (new player), and that I want to play primarily solo (which most specs seem to avoid)

- Must be playable solo through all levels/difficulties
- Must not be reliant on specific (expensive) unique items
- relatively low skill curves, or a good guide available

Ive spent a couple hours looking through the forums, and have tried out a few classes, and here's what ive found:

witch - the 2 viable builds seem to be the summoner and CI - summoner is more passive than I'd like, and CI seems to be something I want to avoid - having 1hp just seems like an awful idea, and many of the builds use expensive items

ranger - forum consensus seems to be that they're underpowered at high levels, and difficult to level at low levels. Going through the first few areas, i seem to get 2shot by any non-normal monster, and my arrows barely ping them...still having more fun that with the witch though.


Those are the two ranged classes....the forums seem to imply that the melee classes are much harder to play, and die much more...at least until an upcoming patch.

Should I stick with the ranger as a first character, or switch to something easier. Usually, in these types of games the warrior/fighter/swordsman seems to be the best starting choice for a new player, but reading the forums a bit, im worried about surviving past normal as a solo player...and the skill system is intimidating enough at first glance that I'd rather ask on here rather than take the 'level each one to 30 and find out what you like' approach...

http://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/44814

Or LA marauder, duelist, etc.

Dual spork totem CI witch.

Nothing to worry about from start to maps

"

Zithras wrote:

CI seems to be something I want to avoid - having 1hp just seems like an awful idea

You have 1HP and 6K ES, which regenerates with crazy speed (after cooldown). And no worries about chaos resists

Ele cleaver is rather cheap to do if you are willing trade for items such as through poe.zyz.is.

Do not choose a Melee class. Period. Once you've done all 3 acts three imes, and fully understand the game, you may want to try Melee as a challenge. There are many mobs that will own you in Melee. This game is quite lethals and not being hit is the best defense. And distance is the best way not to get hit.

I'm a Lightning Arrow Ranger, and I've soloed from level 0 to 86, which is deep into the endgame. Petrov's Guide on the Ranger Forum has it all. A bit hard in the beginning, but once you get the LA/LOH/LMP/Chain combo going it's really fun. At the absolute top level you WILL need two expensive items (Armor+Bow)

You may also want to look at a Duelist with a bow. I've heard theycan do anything that rangers can, only better. Not sure.

Another good choice is to look for anything with the word Spork (I've seen Spork Templars, Spork Witches etc.). Basically these guys drop down a totem or two, which starts machine-gunning Forked Sparks at mobs. Surprisingly effective and requires little equipment. A bit too passive for my liking: if you don't like summoning you may not like this.

Wow - quick and useful replies!

Impressed with the forum already...

Read the posted comments, and looked up the suggested builds.

The one that seems the best to me right now is the LA duelist, using
http://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/268330
as a very friendly guide :)

The CI spork witch seems a bit more passive than I'd like for a first character, but seems unique enough that I might like to try leveling one alongside the duelist.

Only, I can't find a good guide.

http://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/216016
and
http://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/191347

don't take CI

http://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/322848

takes CI but requires lots of expensive and rare gear

and
http://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/375141

seems the closest to the suggested CI spork witch, but has no 'guide' part of the guide (i.e. progression skill trees/gear) - it just presents a level 70 and level 100 tree...


Please could someone link me a good CI spork witch guide (eventually able to solo maps) which doesnt require pricey gear and has a bit of progression explanation in it?

Not sure if I should repost in the witch forum, but since the primary character is going to be the duelist, probably not.

"

Zithras wrote:

Only, I can't find a good guide.

In this guide there is full description of build with skill trees for every difficulty and what you should respec then:

http://www.exilepro.com/builds/witch/505-witch-dual-spork-totems-with-chaos-inoculation/build

Get some shield with +1 to cold gems, put there freezing pulse, then add LMP, then add faster projectiles, and you will blast through the game with no time to Act 1 Merciless, where you can switch to dual totems. And get some wand with max spell damage/faster casting

You can make both yourself upgrading white items to magic and rolling by alteration orbs

imo CI is a very very bad idea for your first char, firstly it's very gear dependent, second you have to be aware of the downsides (full shock duration), and thrid you'd probably want to level as a witch and leveling a witch is just meh... no life, no lifereg, crap skills, dependent on spells (no dmg while gems are below level) - at least I don't like witches...

If you search for Builds also take a look at http://www.exilepro.com/builds
From my experience I can safely recommend LA Ranger and EK Marauder.

And despite what everybody says about melee - an Ele-Cleave Templar is a LOT of fun, you are a god from lvl12-50 and pretty strong after that. BUT you have to have a close look at what enemys you fight, know what they do, and have quick reflexes.
I got one selffound to lvl80 in a 2-player group during a one-week-HC-race with ~36h playtime - not to shabby (and he still lives)

I'm trying a shadow dual claw build. I'm not a good player so the lofty heights most people get to are out of reach for me.
i LOVE THE ya! ya! CHICK CKICK slice and dice. I can see only speed is saving me. I never could get a dual assassin anywhere in D2. Since I'm not good I will try stupid off beat builds just for the hell of it.
If anyone has any suggestions about what's best for a dual claw anything it would be appreciated.
Thanks