[Midoo]

With only banded (or nothing) to start with and stock bronze weapons, what would be a fun melee class to level? (inb4 "none")

I mostly group up so I want to be useful but I also enjoy soloing. I don't plan on taking any of them to 50 but I just want a backup character to smack mobs up close and personal when I'm sick of magic, not to level seriously or invest in gearing.

I love all of these classes equally, but I'd love to hear veteran opinion on how fun they are post-20. This is what I know about them already:

Shadow Knight
+ Good steady aggro tank, can solo
- Faction and crippling XP penalty

Paladin
+ Great snap aggro tank, can solo
- XP penalty, already have a WIS character

Warrior
+ Good dps/tank I hear
- Disgustingly gear dependent and helpless outside of groups

Rogue
+ Killer DPS
- Miserable soloer, nearly impossible to level without a group

Bard
+ Can solo the whole game to max in one week
- ...but not until the 25 mob update

Not considering:

Monk
- Waiting for Iksar to drop

Ranger
- Mediocre performance, already have a druid