Suggestions

Hi, I'm planning on trying out Guild Wars and I was wondering what the best primary and secondary character to start out would be.

Depends on your play style, whether you like to be in the thick of the battle slashing away -warrior- Standing back a bit but still doing some damage -raneger bow and arrow- or a little rfurthe back casting spells )elementalist or mesmer or further back as a healing monk purely defensive but supporting the team well. Smiting monk still on the squishy side but spell effective damage. Necromancer not as squishy plenty of mea shields with Minion Master or effictive curser/spell slinging

check out this link http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Main_Page for ots more information

Actually Ranger's stand the furthest back if thye use Longbows/Flatbows.

Well the warrior class is the easiest to start with, but every class has it's pros and cons, you choose based on your style.

If you like to charge in and hack away at the enemy - Warrior

If you like to stand back and range them or place traps, with the bonus of a pet to help you - Ranger

If you like to be a nuisance with the power to render the foe useless - Mesmer

If you like to control the elements and cast spells constantly - Elementalist

If you like to control armies of undead and use blood magic - Necromancer

If you like to help your team by supporting them with heals and enchantments, or to use the wrath of the gods on your opponent - Monk

also, theres the 3 games to choose from
if you choose nightfall you get all 10 classes
if you choose prophesies you get 6
factions is 8
so you should go with nightfall if your gonna pick 1 of the 3 games

some class combos just dont work out though so be aware of that

ie- dont be a elementalist warrior because your being an ele so that you can stand back, if you doubled as a warrior then youd be defeating the purpose really

No, you'll get the six core professions (Mesmer, monk, Elementalist, Warrior, necromancer, and Ranger), Dervish and Paragon. With Nightfall only, you will not be able to create a ritualsit or an assassin.

NOTE to hammyone: Use the edit button and add what you forgot to say in your post, no need to make another one.

E/Mo was the easiest for me to play. E's are almost needed in a group as much as Mo's. So being E/Mo you can use the Energy storage to somewhat overcome the Divine of the monk primary, allowing you to help others in damage or healing.