Live picks: Human, Minotaur, Elf x Mage, Brawler, Shadow. Each pairing gets a race tree, a class tree, and a unique archetype tree. The three clean "on-identity" first characters: Minotaur Brawler (frontline), Human Mage (skills/DoTs), Elf Shadow (normal-attack speed). Fairy and the rest are roadmap, not the create screen.

1The Three Races' Real Identities

Human
Skills & DoTs
Weakest basic attacks, strongest skills and damage-over-time. Indirect, tricky. Basic attacks are Strike damage.
Minotaur
Pressure Tank
Buffs make normal attacks hit like trucks. Almost no magic nodes. Strike basics, plus a node that converts autos to Blunt (pairs with stun buildup).
Elf
Speed & Precision
Almost everything boosts normal-attack DPS. Fewest defenses. Thrust basics. The high-APM race - skip if you want methodical combat.
BrawlerMageShadow
HumanWild StriderElemental Ranger ★DoT / affliction outlier
MinotaurHorned Vanguard ★EarthshakerOff-identity ("feels silly")
ElfMelee speedEcho WeaverNormal-attack assassin ★
★ = the three on-identity pairings the community recommends for a first character. Do not mix for flavor on character one.

2Lock a Pairing That Won't Fight You

3Match the Fantasy to the Pair

I want...Pick
Easiest first clear / group-friendly frontlineMinotaur Brawler (Vanguard)
Stand back and delete packsHuman Mage - or Elf Mage with 100% Intelligence + right-side fire tree + mana potions (reported one-shotting most packs)
Fast dagger / crit kitElf Shadow (crit + attack speed; poison/bleed are supplements only)
Poison as the actual buildHuman Mage or Human Shadow - the racial DoT nodes are Human's, not Elf's
SpellswordNo paladin class exists. Closest: Elf Magician, or Human Mage with the Blizzard-follows-you modifier so you can melee inside the storm
Group note: do not stack three Elves. Human is currently the only real ranged DPS race, Minotaur holds the line, Elf wants to hit and not get hit. Co-op is drop-in online for 1-8 players - no couch co-op.

Mistakes on the Create Screen

One character tonight? Minotaur Brawler to learn combat from the front, Human Mage if you want skills and DoTs to carry. Save Elf for when you already know stamina and telegraphs.