If you want an active class that can solo but have fun doing it, play a battle shaman and never look back. Forget the root dotting barbarian, that's as lifeless as quad kiting and "send pet" since you seem to be looking for more excitement.
Play an Ogre Shaman and stand toe to toe with mobs. You get 127 stamina from the start, 2nd highest wisdom(edit: 3rd now since iksar are in the game), no frontal stun which is > Troll/Iksar regen (considering fungis/ikky BP and regen spells will get you the same just to a lesser degree). Your exp penalty isn't that bad and you make up for it due to your battle style being more efficient than mana burning then medding for 10 minutes.
Load up on hp/ac items and mana items at low levels. Grab a big high damage 2h weapon, buff/regen/haste yourself (get a FBSS for the lulz), slow the mob, engage in melee while pet helps beating it down and add some dots for the halibut. Don't forget you have slam to stun mobs and interrupt casters(which you can't do if you're root dotting). I can personally attest to this style as being completely viable and fun as I did it all the way to 50 with my Ogre long before Kunark came out. With the new Kunark items it is even easier.
I easily melee'd down spectre's using this method and could usually clear out the entire feerot caves on a bar of mana by just a few canni dances in between fights. For tougher mobs like giants start out with a root, then throw on a slow, then add a dot or two. Then canni a bit until root breaks and by then they're already softened up. Standing toe to toe with a giant is great fun when you see the other classes running in circles. I personally converted a few "wisdom" shamans on this server by them seeing the method in action for themselves.
I just used to carry around a set of wisdom gear that I could use in situations where I needed it. Had my plat jasper rings, CGS, nightshade wreath, etc.. in a pack and when I wanted to battle I'd put on my plat fire rings, HBC, glowing bone collar, etc.. If you're rich and can super twink you can do it all in one pretty much now, but that depends on your budget.
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