Curious about P99 as a true new player.

[Legidias]

Who suggested a mage (lol)?

Druids are the true first time server class to support your "real" playthrough main, due to ease of playing (solo), ease of getting money (ports), lack of needing gear, and being able to be halfling for +5% xp.

Of the hybrids, bard is 100% the best choice to start out. All the other ones cant solo efficiently past like lvl 20 without twink gear, while a bard in leather and some vendor instruments can sell plvl already at lvl 18.

If you REALLY want a starter char to support a new one (non-bard), I would say lvl druid up to 50's until you get bored of it (doing ports and w/e along the way for money) then sac then down to like 44 (so they can still port to all locations) and use that money for a pretty good twink melee.