I kept composite bow at level unless I could get the next crit shot, in which case I’d respec and throw as much into bow and get the highest crit shot available then as I continued to level pour points back into pierce/blades and CD.
My bow spec determined how high I speced melee.
My path finding spec was very low or nothing, it was for leftover spec points because I used pots for buffs instead. This allowed me to have much higher melee spec.
My stealth spec was 0 unless I wanted to run out into the frontiers to do kill tasks. I never speced stealth above maybe 10 or so because at lower levels enemies will see you a mile away regardless.
Edit: I’ll add that this spec allowed me to chain kill low to mid orange con mobs. The mobs would typically reach me but die after a couple melee swings and occasionally I’d finish them off with the bow before they got to me particularly when I’d get a bow proc.
I kept composite bow at level unless I could get the next crit shot, in which case I’d respec and throw as much into bow and get the highest crit shot available then as I continued to level pour points back into pierce/blades and CD.
My bow spec determined how high I speced melee.
My path finding spec was very low or nothing, it was for leftover spec points because I used pots for buffs instead. This allowed me to have much higher melee spec.
My stealth spec was 0 unless I wanted to run out into the frontiers to do kill tasks. I never speced stealth above maybe 10 or so because at lower levels enemies will see you a mile away regardless.
Edit: I’ll add that this spec allowed me to chain kill low to mid orange con mobs. The mobs would typically reach me but die after a couple melee swings and occasionally I’d finish them off with the bow before they got to me particularly when I’d get a bow proc.
If you don't have an alchemist/can't afford pots then keep PF close to your level while leveling. Even with pots I liked PF for leveling for the damage add. As far as melee/bow goes, choose one and keep that near level, just make sure you have enough Archery for at least the first crit shot. When it comes to melee go with either Pierce or Blades and don't worry about CD until you get to the battlegrounds.
I've leveled up 2 rangers here (one for melee, one for sniper).
My suggestion...purely for solo PvE
Keep PF spec = to level Keep Archery spec to level -1 (you almost always will have + archery gear so comp will always be > level) Put rest in stealth
Your goal is to never have to pull your melee weapons. That is the most efficient solo leveling. Find a yellow camp that it sensitive to a melee dmg type and use that arrow type. Always have at least a high yellow bow. If your bow gets blue, buy or ask if any has a spare to help you out. As soon as you can, hunt in the frontier or BG. The tinder drops are an awesome dmg add for bow dmg and they stack with the PF dmg add. Sure there are gankers, but many will not kill grays. This is the time to stock up on them. Get as many as you can. As soon as you get to a level where you can use draughts of invigoration, buy them. Invest your 1st RP into tireless. You can fire non stop and burn through the right camps with endo regen+tireless. Use the slowest bow you can. That 1st big crit is just too valuable. The extra points in stealth will help you at least a little bit when hunting in the frontier, also when kiting away from monsters and restealthing to make them stop chasing.
Always do the the exp item drop camps. Look at what mob types give the best bonus. That will make your leveling most efficient. When you get into your teens take an hour or so and get your fletching up to where you can make the best arrows. ALWAYS use the best arrows and make sure you are noting dmg resistance to match the type to the mob.
If you really feel unsettled by no melee spec, put 6 points into CD. This means you can use the best RoG drops you have at the time, blades or pierce, without feeling terrible committed to either. It gives you an off evade style and an anytimer.
As stated, this is just for solo PvE. You will be respeccing at 49/50...or if you want to rvr in the BG as you go.
The other benefit to this it is very cash efficient. All you need to ever buy is invigoration draughts and materials to make arrows. Who cares if your armor is crap? You are never getting hit in melee. By the time you hit 50 you should have a nice nest egg.