This applies to every single class and every single stat build. It's very generic advice, let me warn you.

SKILLS

Often there are “cookie cutter” builds floating around. They are called “cookie cutter” for a reason, they are soild and proven builds. But everyone plays differently. The perfect build for another might not be the perfect build for you.

When you are building a character you have to decide what role(s) you want it to fill and what skills would help you fill that role. How can you decide that?

One good way is to observe other players. See what skills they have, how they use it, how you think you would use it, and in what ways you think it would benefit you. You will probably see a lot of skills that would be nice but you don't have infinite skill points. You need to pick a set of skills that work well together and leave you with the least weaknesses for your intended role, or at least a weakness that you can play around.

Another way is experience. This is why I said this advice might not matter so much for a first character, where cookie cutter skills are probably a good idea unless you do tons of research. Even researching a lot can often leave you with a build that you aren't happy with. It’s true that nothing can substitute actual experience. If you actually have a skill and you have used it in the situations you want to use it in you will know if you want it in your build. You can also properly weight it against other skills.

I wouldn't recommend copying skills from a "rate my skills" post, because often even the critiqued skill build is not the right build for you. What you should look for in these posts is the advice given about their skills and then try to apply that to your own skills.

Another thing worth mentioning is looking at skills and thinking of ways to “abuse” them(read: optimized use), or use them to their full potential. There's always a possibility you will see a way to use the skill that you never thought of before.

NOW TO MAKE IT

Now it is time to actually make the character. The order you get stats in should be for ease of leveling but also in a way that allows you to perform your role in an optimal way. As a melee character, you will almost always gain faster EXP if you raise STR sooner. It will be somewhat harder to level since you lack a strong defensive stat. It can also slow down EXP if you constantly have to go for pots.

You might find that a certain stat you thought would be acceptable is lacking, or in a worst case scenario a certain stat you now have is far too high. This is when a smart player will modify their build. Sometimes they will make a new character if they find that they took a stat too far, other times they will try and build around it. It depends how much the stat being too high hinders your goal.

If you are not sure that you want to bring a stat beyond a certain point leave it at that point, get a stat you are sure you will be getting, then when the time comes, raise what you feel need more between the two stats you were debating.

Even if you end up with a cookie cutter or almost cookie cutter build after doing all of this you will have a greater understanding of your character. Knowing why you have the skills/stats you have and the roles they play is never a bad thing. Knowing why people get skill A rather than skill B is better than blindly getting skill A because everyone else does it. There is always the chance skill B is not so bad after all.