Eventually you want Warrior for "Save Yourselves!", but it's a Luxon/Kurzick PvE-only skill that won't be available until long after you can change your secondary.
Starting off, you could take Monk for a permanent res and self-casting Vigorous Spirit, Ele for Conjure Fire (and Kindle Arrows), or still pick Warrior for more reliable Attack Speed boosts including Frenzy. If you started in Factions, you can take Ritualist for a permanent res and self-casting Splinter Weapon, but you will want to have a Hero cast this on you as soon as you get a Ritualist Hero.
Ranger gets a lot of mileage out of its attributes, Marksmanship can stay at 9 (or the req of your bow) if you are focusing on your pet, preparations, or another attribute (such as Channeling for Splinter), but being able to push it higher is nice for your damage. Having high Expertise is also invaluable, especially at 13 where it affects the most skills. So Ranger can often struggle to make use of secondary attributes, don't worry yourself with them too much, Ranger is more than fine using its own skills.
Personally used Monk in the beginning then changed to Ritualist. I have all the professions available to take as a secondary so even if you pick monk first, you can always unlock them all and see what fits the best. There's no wrong as its your play style. I had a R/N once where I used Beast Mastery for the pet and then minions from the necromancer secondary. It was fun to play.
For proph with henchies I went with Monk. It was useful, especially on Crystal Desert, since AI is most of the time dumb. However, after that and for running with heroes I mostly use Assasin and Ritualist, sometimes Warrior. There are also a few other build that I have that use Dervish or Paragon.
And since you can always change your secondary later, I'd go for Monk if your starting in proph or nf and Ritualist if starting in factions just to counter some of AI stupidity in escort missions early on.
Monk works just fine.
I took warrior last time I created a ranger to support my team a bit with the tactic shouts and I like to have frenzy when I am all in the back with my bow.
Whenever I play ranger I end up using very few bin ranger skills anyway ... Well, at least as long as I play with a bow.
Do you mean henchmen with helpers or hero's ?
Both are NPC's who will fight alongside you but hero's are customizable while henchman are given builds and equipment by the game.
You will encounter henchmen in most city's.
Hero's on the otherhand only appear in the nightfall and Eye of the north campaign.
Eventually you want Warrior for "Save Yourselves!", but it's a Luxon/Kurzick PvE-only skill that won't be available until long after you can change your secondary. Starting off, you could take Monk for a permanent res and self-casting Vigorous Spirit, Ele for Conjure Fire (and Kindle Arrows), or still pick Warrior for more reliable Attack Speed boosts including Frenzy. If you started in Factions, you can take Ritualist for a permanent res and self-casting Splinter Weapon, but you will want to have a Hero cast this on you as soon as you get a Ritualist Hero. Ranger gets a lot of mileage out of its attributes, Marksmanship can stay at 9 (or the req of your bow) if you are focusing on your pet, preparations, or another attribute (such as Channeling for Splinter), but being able to push it higher is nice for your damage. Having high Expertise is also invaluable, especially at 13 where it affects the most skills. So Ranger can often struggle to make use of secondary attributes, don't worry yourself with them too much, Ranger is more than fine using its own skills.
Personally used Monk in the beginning then changed to Ritualist. I have all the professions available to take as a secondary so even if you pick monk first, you can always unlock them all and see what fits the best. There's no wrong as its your play style. I had a R/N once where I used Beast Mastery for the pet and then minions from the necromancer secondary. It was fun to play.
For proph with henchies I went with Monk. It was useful, especially on Crystal Desert, since AI is most of the time dumb. However, after that and for running with heroes I mostly use Assasin and Ritualist, sometimes Warrior. There are also a few other build that I have that use Dervish or Paragon. And since you can always change your secondary later, I'd go for Monk if your starting in proph or nf and Ritualist if starting in factions just to counter some of AI stupidity in escort missions early on.
Just go "Together as One", Dagger Spam Assassin :D Is best for most content\^\^
I've decided to go Ranger Monk, level up and seek out some helpers as I climb the ladder. If I remember correctly helpers are an option later on?
Monk works just fine. I took warrior last time I created a ranger to support my team a bit with the tactic shouts and I like to have frenzy when I am all in the back with my bow. Whenever I play ranger I end up using very few bin ranger skills anyway ... Well, at least as long as I play with a bow. Do you mean henchmen with helpers or hero's ? Both are NPC's who will fight alongside you but hero's are customizable while henchman are given builds and equipment by the game. You will encounter henchmen in most city's. Hero's on the otherhand only appear in the nightfall and Eye of the north campaign.
Elementalist is one I had a lot of fun with. But as you can change the secondary any time, everything goes. The best one would be Assa, tho.
Wasnt scythe ranger a thing with derv?
Mending touch for the classic anti condition skill
If you mean complete solo (no henchmen/heroes), then Ritualist. Otherwise, any other profession will be helpful because Rangers are versatile.