Newbie questions about henchman and about farming professions

I’ve been playing the game for 1 week. I now have a lvl 9 R/Me. I seem to die a lot. The quests don’t have a “level suggestion” next to them, so I’m unsure of which ones I can handle. And I play solo a lot because I live in China and am playing on the American district (for some reason, the international districts have less people even when it 9PM here, 6-11AM in the US). Anyway. My questions are:

1. Henchman. How do you know how many to take? I’m around Pike’s square now. It seems that I can barely solo two mobs and its very easy to catch agro. And my pet does not seem to hold agro (like pets in WoW can). I take one henchman and its then very easy. Until all of a sudden I’m at a bridge, there is a patrol coming down the road, than I have like 8 chars or something attacking my party, and I die. Then I come back with three henchman, and its too easy! But I imagine that some of those I killed may have dropped really good items that my henchmen ate. I read all these posts about people soloing. Is it not possible at my level?

2. Which secondary professions are considered better at PvE (for the ranger)? I do really like the concept of the mesmer. Actually, I think I would rather be a mesmer (they look cooler IMO), but the ranger primary seems a more powerful and versatile. I found out reading today that I could switch professions later on. I’m thinking that I should roll a toon that I really like the look of, but play secondaries that are better at Pvp first. Any suggestions? (and I’m not interested in being a monk. Or warrior. Don’t interest me)

Take as many henchies as you feel comfortable with, and don't worry about "good items" since you won't really be getting any right now anyway. Soloing is generally something you can do later on. Also, you can change your secondary at a much later point in the game... so if you want to get Monk or something to make surviving easier, then that is an option. Pets aren't supposed to be uber tanks... at any level of the game, unless you throw all your points into beast mastery and actually use them to fight with. Just play with people or henchies, have fun, and don't worry about losing "godly" items... since theres a 95% chance you won't get anything this early anyway, due to the anti-farm measures and just because you're so early in the game.

Oye... this game isnt about going through the game alone. There really shouldnt be any parts in post searing that you can solo. The game is made so that you have to be in groups to effectively do anything.

For henchies, I usually go with 1 to 2 less than the maximum, unless I'm doing a really hard quest. Usually its better to go with people, but henchies work too.

As for secondary, R/Me are one of the more popular choices, especially in the gvg battles. Many rangers go for interrupt builds, and what exemplifies interrupt besides mesmers? Anyway, dont worry about what class your secondary is at this point, it doesnt matter that much.

I think you are taking your character too seriously. Guild Wars is very different from other online RPGs in the way that you can (eventually) change any aspect of your character without having to pay money or anything. Well you cant change your primary class or looks, but everything else you can. Also, the most important part of your character is not your equipment, its the skills you choose for your skill bar and the attributes you pick. Besides, you can get near perfect items from the collectors anyway. Dont worry about farming until... I dunno a lot later. Just have fun!

I normally just take all the henchies I can, which means I usually only leave the mage behind (if Anet gave her/him decent skills I might, but firestorm and then spam it like crazy?). They take their share of drops and some experience, but then money is pretty much worthless, good stat items are trivial to get, and most of your experience to level 20 comes from missions and quests. Unlocks for PvP are fastest to run that profession through the game and get the rarer/harder to get stuff through faction, so still not really worried about money or experience at level 20+. Until end game your not going to get a rare high dollar skinned item with good stats anyway so who cares if they "steal" drops (only real steal is black dyes)?

You will generally find there are only specific areas and specific mobs you can solo. Even at level 20, full equipment, and skills there are lower leveled areas that are difficult to truly solo (these will generally be areas you are farming for good stat items with a rare skin - the rare skin being what makes it worth anything as crafters/collectors will offer pretty much the same stats). Best thing is to either learn to play with the henchies (what I mostly do) or make a few friends and join a guild that has players on when you do. If you want the "multi-player" part I suggest the friends thing, I like the "RPG" end so I don't really care.

It's a different attitude from other RPG's (online or not), took me a while to really get used too. Now that I have, I think it's great. I feel no pressure to do a lot of things and if I do them it's purely for fun (say, farming for example). It really seems wierd having to group, having best stat items purchasable on the cheap from vendors, and having no choice in your character progression even semi-permament. But, in the end I enjoy it much more than the old way.

And yes, the mobs do a little better job of realistic aggro - they go after backline characters some, though they are still quite managable once you learn how and many of us would like to see better. Wait until you start a character with AoE damage over time and they run from it instead of standing and taking it like everyother game

theres a lot of new guild in ascalon looking for members...you can join one and actualy go w/ people instead of henchies

I would recommend R/E (Elementalist) allowing you to become a Fire Slinger... Conjure Flame + Fiery Bow (Flame Damage) + Kinder Arrows would give you massive damage output, while you pet would be a meat shield.

But really its best to read some of the builds on this site any work out which would suit you.

A Warrior/Monk or Monk/Warrior is better for solo farming in the long run, but Rangers are great for PvP and PvE.

In regards to your pet not holding aggro like in WoW, this game doesn't have any aggro skills like other MMORPGs. It requires actual skill and positioning on behalf of the entire team to keep an enemy in place.

The most effective tactic is for the warriors to literally body block so they can't get past if they tried. If they do get past, the entire team should switch their position to swing around the warriors and set up formation in the opposite direction again to prevent another enemy breaking through.