Fast Paced Playstyle?

I play Warrior myself, and I like it simply because it has so much versatility with every martial weapon in the game (except bows unless you get real creative haha) and you have high enough armor to really get into the fray and be a bit more fearless. I enjoy switching it up with daggers or a scythe via a Warrior's Endurance build and wreaking havoc while being impervious to blind/blurred vision and death penalty(Asuran Scan spam)... if I get tired I can always go back to awesome knockdowns/interrupts with my hammer from (Dwarven Battle Stance, Earth Shaker), or great damage from the sword (Hundred Blades, Dragon Slash), or big hits from the axe (Battle Rage, Soldier's Stance, Triple Chop etc..) the list goes on... You can even roll with a spear build if you feel like doing some ranged damage, though I have yet to dabble very much in that realm.

No doubt any other martial-based profession will have a similar play-style with Assassin's being quite versatile as well but often squishier (unless you use SF), and Dervishes are always nice but you won't have many options other than a scythe as your weapon.

Edit: Insofar as SY! upkeep... warriors can maintain it nearly 100% if you run the typical Dragon Slash build... but that got a bit boring for me after a while. Most warriors builds can use it a decent amount and if you know when to time it, it still works well. I can't say how well Dervishes and Assassins manage it but I reckon they do quite comparably so I wouldn't use it as a make or break point since each profession has its own perks; they are all useful in their own right... I'm definitely biased towards warrior since that's what i play - just go for whichever looks to be the most enjoyable to you! my two cents =]

Your bored with the Ritualist because you have chosen one of the two most boring builds in the game.
A Ritualist can do more than plant spirits, its just that in pve spiritspam is very effective.
Playing as a necro and running an army of minions is also effective but equally boring.

Warriors and assassins and Dervishes can do pretty high damage and do it quickly if you like getting close and deadly then one of those could be good.

I find Mesmer and Necro the most interesting to play

DwG on Rit is epic win, and real fast paced...

I really don't think SoS is all that slow, I mean you have multiple spirits hitting targets and you move them around often, well atleast I do.

Personally, I play Mesmer and Ele the most, they both deal crazy damage, and are pretty fast when it comes to PvE...

Good luck on making your mind up.

Ah, well in that case, I'd suggest just mixing it up.

Run SoS with say.. Spirit Rift, Ancestor's Rage, etc, there are afew skills that you can mix with Spirits that deal damage, can't remember the skill, but I think there is one where you destroy a spirit, and deal "XX" amount of Lightning damage I think.. ^_^

Playing a healing/prot monk is usually fast paced unless you are using an MM in the party.

Casting 2s spells can easily be considered boring and slow also.

@Spire; Monking is a good idea for fast-paced play, if you're playing with a pug team, but they have to be aggressive for your job to be stressful and interesting.

If you want fast-paced action you must definitely take an Assassin imo.

If you're looking for the blowing stuff up component, put Hundred Blades on your warrior and splinter weapon on a hero; of course, mark of pain can be a ton extra pew pew, too.

I've been playing a Warrior, and it's been pretty fun. But I'm still considering a Mesmer because I like the mindblown factor and they look epic.

Sin all the way. My mains are Warrior and Mesmer, which I would say both are a close second along with Monks.

Rangers, Dervs, Paragons, Eles, and Rits can all *be fun*, but their inherent "roles" and primaries aren't like.. super exciting.

That being said, I really like every profession in it's own right.

As a necromancer, Markway is the fastest and best 7H team when it comes to feeling like an integral part of the battle, plus you see tons of numbers and splodey corpses. By contrast, you can complete content with a slow and defensive bar with lots of spirits, UA, ST and minions but it's a surefire way not to lose.