1) I know that you can respec skills, but not stats so what is the most versatile was to increase stats? I was thinking that I would try to be pretty even between DEX and Vitality (2 dex, 1 vitality one level, then reverse on the next level) with the 4th point going to strength. Is this sensible? do I need to be adding some to other stats? Conversely, do I need to be specializing more?
That's a tricky character. I haven't played one like it, so I can't recommend a good stat point build. You don't get enough stat points to be good at both ranged and melee, and rangers need points in Spirit if they are to use their skills without running dry on mana all the time. I would not worry about putting points into Vitality at all. Maybe hold some in reserve in case you run into a tough fight.
2) Suggestions on good skills for the type of char I described above? During the demo I really liked stun arrow and poison arrow. I also like the idea of ranger stealth and the vanish skill to get out of trouble and regroup. what are good melee skills to mix in for a mostly ranged char?
Rangers these days tend to go for Explosive Arrow, it's a very powerful skill. Stun arrow and Poison arrows are of questionable value.
What melee skills are good to mix with a ranged character? None! There are good skills for melee characters and good for ranged, but you'll need to constantly swap weapons when switching between melee and ranged combat. You want a point into Rush Attack so you can flee from the center of a fight to the edge, I guess.
But Splitting Arrow is good up close, you can stick multiple arrows into one target.
3) Back to stats...Is is possible to build stats in such a manner that you can respec skills into magic, melee or ranged and still be a viable character.
Say you reach level 40, which is a high level. That's 160 stat points. Subtract 70 for your primary skill (+30 for the set bonus armor), and you can have 90 remaining. There are other mind-read bonuses to stats, but you won't be able to get all three offensive stats up high, and even getting two up high is dubious.
4) Finally, how useful is it to keep points in mindreading or lockpicking? By, nature it bugs me to not be able to open a chest, but is it worth using the points on those two skills.
Max Lockpicking, but do it slowly, get it up to level 5 on Sentinel Island. Don't waste skill points into Mind Reading or Wisdom, ever.
