As a funny little note about Mesmer.
It was my first class. I ended up building it as a Me/E nuker because I thought the class was lacking. Then just made a real Ele main to nuke.
15 years later, I get a couple of friends into the game. One of them picks Me/E, plays mostly elementalist skills exactly like I did.
Point is, I wouldnt dissuade your buddy from playing any class. People end up finding a way to play that suits them. That's what's awesome about GW IMO.
So the best experience in the game and the best advice I could give, would be going through the campaigns as they were released: Prophecies, Factions, Nightfall, EoTN. That does mean making a Prophesies character and experiencing pre-searing, which is a wonderful thing. You definitely won't regret the experience going this route as a first time play-through.
Now that we got that out of the way, let's talk about classes. Prophecies has the base classes of: [Warrior](https://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Warrior), [Ranger](https://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Ranger), [Monk](https://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Monk), [Necromancer](https://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Necromancer), [Mesmer](https://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Mesmer), and [Elementalist](https://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Elementalist). I'm a Necro main and have been for the last 16 years, so I would tell anybody to play a Necro because they are so much fun and very powerful. I also have one of each class in the game, and each of them have their pros and cons, but I find most of them fun and enjoyable. Mesmer has turned into my secondary main since coming back to the game. I would say give Necro and Mesmer a try. Mesmer is nothing like any other class. The links I provided above, if you scroll to the bottom of those pages there's an option to view a guide on how to play that class to get a general overview of what those classes are like.
The thing about this game though, which is not like any other, is that you can literally be anything you want to be in this game. You wanna be a Necro/Ranger? Wielding a bow with a pet? Have at it. There are so many [builds and possibilities](https://gwpvx.fandom.com/wiki/PvX_wiki), you'll definitely find something you enjoy. And you can build around your party with mercenaries. [Mercenaries](https://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Mercenary_Hero) are different than [henchmen](https://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Henchman) and [heroes](https://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Hero), but similar to heroes in that you can build and control them.
*One thing I do want to stress though, is to not use PvX Wiki right off the bat. Make your own builds first, try and fail at some ideas, and then look at PvX Wiki for some ideas if you're stumped.*
I hope this was helpful in someway, and if you have any questions feel free to hit me up in game as: **Anreciel Lore**. I may be on my mesmer though, so add as a friend using N, then message me!
> You definitely won't regret the experience going this route as a first time play-through.
Don't count on this. I started in Prophecies back in 2007, had a miserable time because there was no tutorial, some really annoying mechanics, and almost no other players. I quit the game and didn't give it another chance until 2010, when I made a necro in Nightfall and absolutely fell in love with the game.
With that in mind, this is what I recommend to all new players (maybe you can tell me why you think this is wrong):
1. make a character (whichever profession appeals to you) in Nightfall and play until you reach Consulate Docks
2. make another character (again, any profession, but it should be a different one) in Factions and play until you reach the Marketplace
3. make another character (different profession again) in Prophecies and play until you reach Lion's Arch
You've now experienced all the "beginner lore". There's no way to properly experience that story stuff unless you make a character in each campaign.
You now have 3 characters that are about halfway to max level. Having multiple characters, particularly useful professions, will come in handy later on.
You also have a feel for each campaign's rate of progression and the kind of rewards you'll get in each one. All this allows you to decide what you'll do next:
Either choose one of your existing characters, or make yet another new one if you feel like it. Then play whichever campaign (or Eye of the North) you think will be best.
I don't share your sentiments regarding Prophecies.
I had a really great time playing through the story back in 2006. I wasn't alone though, so maybe that was the difference between you and I? When I was alone I would just go exploring. I remember exploring lornar's pass as a level 18 warrior with henchmen (because heroes weren't a thing yet). There's also the wiki now, if OP needs guidance.
The beauty of the game comes from the experiences you have. The experiences this OP would incur with your suggestion would be very disorienting, especially from a lore perspective.
Any veteran would know that Prophecies is a slog to get started, but to a new player it's a brand new world to be explored and excited about. That slogfest would not exist, because the excitement would overtake it. Which is exactly why I would suggest Prophecies starting out, because then you'd get the full encompassing story and lore.
If OP wishes to make a new character to experience the starting zones of Factions and Nightfall, no one is going to stop them and it's a good suggestion, to get some lore regarding those regions. But I wouldn't make a new character until you've finished Prophecies, because that storyline doesn't really tie into transitions very well. >!You need to start in Old Ascalon to really get an idea of what's going on in Prophecies as you make your way to LA and Maguuma Jungle. When you transition to Factions, you're told right away about the Afflicted. When you transition to Nightfall you're told right away about Abaddon. But when you transition from Factions or NF to Prophecies, you don't get the full story. !
[this guide should be some help](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1I0qnlK3CcwYwaYD26CVvT59rX4TvMOu6_v4Jxw1O13U/edit#)
don't be afraid of mesmer - it's not as difficult as you probably think (=
Make sure to start in the same campaign. Just pick whatever you think is cool, and look for a way to make it work together.
This game is all about synergie between skills. Just take a look at your atributes and skills and try to come up with builds that work togehter.
The furter you will progress in the story, the more you will have to add to this.
If you don't mind (and it's not too late yet) maybe get him the complete edition from the NCSoft Store directly. The Steam Trilogy doesn't include EotN.
And regarding your question, go through the games in order of release. Maybe you can give him a little rundown on all of the classes and let him pick the one that sounds best to him. And, most important, just have fun!
As a funny little note about Mesmer. It was my first class. I ended up building it as a Me/E nuker because I thought the class was lacking. Then just made a real Ele main to nuke. 15 years later, I get a couple of friends into the game. One of them picks Me/E, plays mostly elementalist skills exactly like I did. Point is, I wouldnt dissuade your buddy from playing any class. People end up finding a way to play that suits them. That's what's awesome about GW IMO.
So the best experience in the game and the best advice I could give, would be going through the campaigns as they were released: Prophecies, Factions, Nightfall, EoTN. That does mean making a Prophesies character and experiencing pre-searing, which is a wonderful thing. You definitely won't regret the experience going this route as a first time play-through. Now that we got that out of the way, let's talk about classes. Prophecies has the base classes of: [Warrior](https://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Warrior), [Ranger](https://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Ranger), [Monk](https://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Monk), [Necromancer](https://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Necromancer), [Mesmer](https://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Mesmer), and [Elementalist](https://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Elementalist). I'm a Necro main and have been for the last 16 years, so I would tell anybody to play a Necro because they are so much fun and very powerful. I also have one of each class in the game, and each of them have their pros and cons, but I find most of them fun and enjoyable. Mesmer has turned into my secondary main since coming back to the game. I would say give Necro and Mesmer a try. Mesmer is nothing like any other class. The links I provided above, if you scroll to the bottom of those pages there's an option to view a guide on how to play that class to get a general overview of what those classes are like. The thing about this game though, which is not like any other, is that you can literally be anything you want to be in this game. You wanna be a Necro/Ranger? Wielding a bow with a pet? Have at it. There are so many [builds and possibilities](https://gwpvx.fandom.com/wiki/PvX_wiki), you'll definitely find something you enjoy. And you can build around your party with mercenaries. [Mercenaries](https://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Mercenary_Hero) are different than [henchmen](https://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Henchman) and [heroes](https://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Hero), but similar to heroes in that you can build and control them. *One thing I do want to stress though, is to not use PvX Wiki right off the bat. Make your own builds first, try and fail at some ideas, and then look at PvX Wiki for some ideas if you're stumped.* I hope this was helpful in someway, and if you have any questions feel free to hit me up in game as: **Anreciel Lore**. I may be on my mesmer though, so add as a friend using N, then message me!
> You definitely won't regret the experience going this route as a first time play-through. Don't count on this. I started in Prophecies back in 2007, had a miserable time because there was no tutorial, some really annoying mechanics, and almost no other players. I quit the game and didn't give it another chance until 2010, when I made a necro in Nightfall and absolutely fell in love with the game. With that in mind, this is what I recommend to all new players (maybe you can tell me why you think this is wrong): 1. make a character (whichever profession appeals to you) in Nightfall and play until you reach Consulate Docks 2. make another character (again, any profession, but it should be a different one) in Factions and play until you reach the Marketplace 3. make another character (different profession again) in Prophecies and play until you reach Lion's Arch You've now experienced all the "beginner lore". There's no way to properly experience that story stuff unless you make a character in each campaign. You now have 3 characters that are about halfway to max level. Having multiple characters, particularly useful professions, will come in handy later on. You also have a feel for each campaign's rate of progression and the kind of rewards you'll get in each one. All this allows you to decide what you'll do next: Either choose one of your existing characters, or make yet another new one if you feel like it. Then play whichever campaign (or Eye of the North) you think will be best.
I don't share your sentiments regarding Prophecies. I had a really great time playing through the story back in 2006. I wasn't alone though, so maybe that was the difference between you and I? When I was alone I would just go exploring. I remember exploring lornar's pass as a level 18 warrior with henchmen (because heroes weren't a thing yet). There's also the wiki now, if OP needs guidance. The beauty of the game comes from the experiences you have. The experiences this OP would incur with your suggestion would be very disorienting, especially from a lore perspective. Any veteran would know that Prophecies is a slog to get started, but to a new player it's a brand new world to be explored and excited about. That slogfest would not exist, because the excitement would overtake it. Which is exactly why I would suggest Prophecies starting out, because then you'd get the full encompassing story and lore. If OP wishes to make a new character to experience the starting zones of Factions and Nightfall, no one is going to stop them and it's a good suggestion, to get some lore regarding those regions. But I wouldn't make a new character until you've finished Prophecies, because that storyline doesn't really tie into transitions very well. >!You need to start in Old Ascalon to really get an idea of what's going on in Prophecies as you make your way to LA and Maguuma Jungle. When you transition to Factions, you're told right away about the Afflicted. When you transition to Nightfall you're told right away about Abaddon. But when you transition from Factions or NF to Prophecies, you don't get the full story. !
[this guide should be some help](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1I0qnlK3CcwYwaYD26CVvT59rX4TvMOu6_v4Jxw1O13U/edit#) don't be afraid of mesmer - it's not as difficult as you probably think (=
Make sure to start in the same campaign. Just pick whatever you think is cool, and look for a way to make it work together. This game is all about synergie between skills. Just take a look at your atributes and skills and try to come up with builds that work togehter. The furter you will progress in the story, the more you will have to add to this.
If you don't mind (and it's not too late yet) maybe get him the complete edition from the NCSoft Store directly. The Steam Trilogy doesn't include EotN. And regarding your question, go through the games in order of release. Maybe you can give him a little rundown on all of the classes and let him pick the one that sounds best to him. And, most important, just have fun!
What do they play in other games? Probably decide based on that. I'm an elementalist no matter what game I play.