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Depending on the type of game you are in, the type of player that you are and the environment where the characters usually adventure, there can be question as to what would be the best character to start off.

TYPE OF ADVENTURE:
While most adventures tend to have a combination of the elements below, often one style tends to be most prevalent.

Hack and Slash: This type of game tends to focus on combat and not so much on other aspects. Combat-oriented games favors characters that can take damage and dish it out. Fighters, Paladins, Rangers, Clerics (because a lot of healing is generally needed) and Monks tend to be favored. Arcane spellcasters and Rogues have a lot more problems at low level.

Traps and Puzzles: This type of game is far more appreciative of skill-based characters like Rangers, Bards and Rogues. Wizards and Clerics that use knowledge-based spells are also appreciated. Combat-types and Sorcerers (who tend to be loaded up with offensive and defensive spells) aren't as strong in this type of game.

Heavy Roleplay: While any character can fit in this type of game, the ones that have high-charisma tend to be put in the forefront more often. Sorcerers, Bards, Clerics and Paladins do well in this type. Of course, Paladins can be hampered in political intrigue-based games (where a coloring of the truth may be sometimes necessary) of this type but can still be a good choice. Still, any player with a character that has a strong personality can excel here.

TYPE OF PLAYER:

There are two aspects to focus on here: style and experience.

Combat vs. Role-play: A player who likes combat should focus more on the "front line" type of character: Fighters, Paladins, Rangers, Clerics and Monks. If he is new to the game, stay with the first two, being less complex than a spellcaster or the strategic Monk. Role-players may prefer a character more geared toward support than direct combat (but would shine in those role-playing situations).

New vs. Experienced: A player who has played for awhile can enjoy any of the characters. However, a new player may want to stay with the more basic characters. Fighters and Paladins are great for this as it helps to get a grounding in the basic rules before dealing with lots of skills or spells that can be a lot to heap on at first.

GAME ENVIRONMENT:

Many campaigns have a wide mix of environments but tend to have more in one type of location than others. In every case, almost all of the basic types would work but in some environments, certain characters

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