I feel like the answer changes depending on what his goals are. Are they:

1. Explore and learn some gear while not dying all the time,
2. All of the above + get into some fights,
3. All of the above + actually make some people flee from you,
4. All of the above + actually kill some people.

My recs are still: assassin, ranger, shield paladin, healer, transmuter, bard.

If (as a newbie) you actually want to kill people (outside of assassinate) then probably shield paladin or ranger. If you just want easy ranking and the ability to explore (or get taken on trips to exotic places) then healer/transmuter/bard.