Best character class to start with?

[xoromegay]

So, I'm pretty new to this game and I'm having trouble deciding which class to play. I've tried a few different ones but I'm not sure which one is the best for a beginner. I'm looking for a class that is easy to learn and play, but also powerful enough to be effective in combat. Any suggestions? What was your first character class and why did you choose it? Any tips would be greatly appreciated!.