Rangers stink, ESPECIALLY SO in classic. The exp penalty is terrible, and with people racing to 50, they don't want a ranger in their group.
For a fresh green server, optimally you want to play either one of the main pet classes (Mages are sick in classic, but pretty much stink after that, Necros are very nice, and ENC is the best) OR A cleric/Shaman. With a cleric/shaman, you'll pretty much always be able to find groups. Always. (on a new server). Druids are also a pretty nice mix of it all, however, aren't great at making plat outside of ports.
Starting from scratch today? At this point in green.. and shit even Blue, the answer is going to be either Enchanter or Monk. Enchanters cost almost nothing to gear out, are solo monsters, are the best group class, and the best duo class. You can always find a group, you can always solo.
MY second choice for starting from scratch today is actually iksar monk. Gearing is going to be more expensive, but with a Wu's Quivering Staff you can solo into the 20s pretty easily. Great at making plat at level 60, always needed in groups, third best DPS in groups, great on raids, etc.
Those first couple days of green were magic
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