From the sound if it you’re looking for a sniper type class, but thats not always going to be an option. Even kiting takes place in either close or mid-range, also projectiles do not home in, the farther you are, the less likely you are to hit due to a target’s movement. Many enemies will close the gap quickly, Risen in particular can run faster than you can, and some enemies can even shadowstep and close the gap to you instantly. In short, you won’t find a situation with any class where you won’t be forced into close and mid-range combat at some point (usually quite often)
That’s just the way the game is, there’s no clear threat system, so if the mob decide to switch to you and attack, you have to deal with it by dodging and kiting. In PvP, almost every class has multiple means of closing the gap on ranged attackers. So remaining a pure ranged isn’t always doable.
Engineer excels at mid-range combat, think of their rifle more like a shotgun, and with the grenade kit can even dish out a LOT of long range ground targeted AoE, but the majority of their abilities aren’t long range.
The thief is not really a ranged class and I don’t recommend trying to pay it as one. The shortbow is great but is often a backup for when you need to get away or do a lot of AoE damage, and the pistols are just… well… terrible.
Don’t turn your nose up at the warrior. Just because the warrior wears heavy armor doesn’t make it a meatshield. Guild Wars 2 doesn’t have the trinity format of other games, so think of it less as a tanky type class and more like a DPS with more armor. it just means you’re more survivable.
Warriors have access to both the Rifle and Longbow, and both I find to be excellent ranged weapons (bow for more AoE rifle for high single target damage) They also have several utility skills to punish enemies that get too close, such as AoE fear, knock backs, and more, including a signet that speeds endurance regent o fuel dodges. The adrenaline skill on the rifle is essentially a sniper shot that does massive damage, and the weapon itself can cripple (skill 2) and has yet another knockback (skill 5), whereas the longbow can flat out immobilize a foe (skill 5) and lay a down a huge AoE fire field as it’s burst skill.
The warrior might be just what you’re looking for, but I would suggest to keep a melee weapon for secondary, maybe a hammer so you can swap and have access to AoE cripple, knockback and knock down (and AoE stun burst skill) if things force you into close range.
As for ranger there’s really no way around the pet. Many of your abilities work with it, and it does account for a percentage of your damage. They’re going to be doing some work on the ranger class soon so keep your ear to the ground but if you don’t like the pet there’s really no getting past it.
Finally, take another look at mesmer. They are pretty great at range and are godly in 1v1 pvp. The greatsword is your longest ranged weapon. Let me repeat that. The GREATSWORD is your long range weapon. You shoot lasers out of it, can knock enemies down back in a wave, and stab the ground to make an energy blade shoot up underneath an enemy.
