Best Party Combo for Newbies?

[generalhenry]

newbies and wizards have always been a bad mix

sword and board fighter
two hander paladin
cleric with a spiked chain
archery ranger
warlock

 

[drothgery]

newbies and wizards have always been a bad mix

... but 4e wizards really aren't significantly more complicated than other classes.

 

[Karui_Kage]

That is one thing I really like about 4.0, is the roles. No longer is the recommendation based around 'fighter, rogue, wizard, cleric' but instead is 'defender, striker, controller, leader'.

That said, 4.0 is now built for a party of 5. The books recommend a second defender first. If you have 6, then a second striker. I'm sure whatever you pick past then doesn't matter as much.

 

[Kraydak]

I would suggest 2 X defender, leader, striker or defender, 2 X leader (at least 1 with a melee bent, so not 2 X lazor cleric), striker. 4e's wizard is hard to use well, especially once melee has started.