I will tell you that the Ranger is easier to level than the Engy. I will also tell you that the Engy is my favorite to play - based on the multitude of options they have from the kits. Between the Ranger and the engy I don't find a big difference in what they can handle in PvE once they have leveled up.
The engy hits a good stride once they hit 30 and can get the supply crate as an elite - it makes a big difference in fighting Vets and Champs. If you use dual pistols on the engy there isn't a huge problem leveling especially if you are any good at kiting and dodging. From personal exp forget turrets and concentrate on using bombs, grenades, elixir gun and flame thrower when available you get enough skill points - also tool kit. I find it easier to kite melee mobs using grenades and bombs and sticking like glue to ranged mobs with tool kit and bombs - and using your pistols when cool downs are off. I personally find it much more intriguing to play engy - I am biased though - I love my engy.
Because I do a lot of moving in PvE - as well as WvWvW I don't use turrets - even the healing turret. As soon as I had points available I got the med kit. It places a really good heal on your tool belt and swapping to it gives you bandages that heal for a small amount (the best heal is on the tool belt) but you also get a condition remover and a booster pack for speed and increase to crit chance.
Taking elixir gun gives you another heal on your tool belt and an AE heal (with just a 20 sec cooldown) as well as some various damage shots. Flame thrower is pretty good to great close range AE damage. (I'm trait specced for extra burns and 15% extra damage in Flame thrower/ Elixir gun so I do really good damage with these) Grenades good ranged AE - bombs good AE at your feet.
Ranger - like I said is probably easier to level early on especially using a bear or other tank pet. Using traps or poison on your attacks is really powerful. You might not think about it or notice it - but using a poison on your AE arrow attacks or your bouncing axe really puts a hurt on PvE mobs. Dodge rolling into mobs and placing a flame trap and then dodge rolling out is also a very effective maneuver. The ranger can be very powerful in PvE. From my point of view the regen heal - Troll Ungent - is the best ( I traited my ranger in "Regens last 33% longer" just remember to use it early and often in fights if you go that route.
The ranger also has a lot of flexibility and can go melee to ranged. Many rangers use two bows - short and long while I prefer bow (and use short a lot in PvE) and Axe with either torch or warhorn as the switch off. If you prepare based on your foe(s) it is hard to go wrong - although it is totally possible. Learning to switch out pets as soon as the one is dead is HUGE - and needs to be done - your pet is a dot and needs to be active at all times.
I have played both to 80 and I am far better versed on the Engy than the Ranger - mainly because I play the engy about 3x more. I chose the Engy as my fav because of their complexity and versatility... they are much more complex to play and have fun with because you really do have to change out your kits based on the situation to succeed the more difficult encounters. (As others have mentions and for me, too - Ranger compared to Engy is boring after a while). This means you have to learn 8 weapons - really - besides learning dual pistols, rifle, pistol/shield - you also have Bombs, grenades, elixir gun, flame thrower, and tool kit which change into your weapons they are not just a slot skill - then you have all the other slot skills. People who complain the Engy needs weapon swap just don't comprehend they have more available weapon combinations than most classes. My standard is to run with dual pistols, elixir gun, flame thrower, and bombs slotted along with med kit and supply crate. That gives me 4 weapon combinations instantly ready for use.
Anyway - sorry - I ramble...
» Edited on: 2013-05-07 17:19:51