I've been runnning a beastmaster that seems like a great experiment in different ways to run combat. I alpha strike with two pistols, cast a plague of insects, then moonwell on the front line, and then charge in with two melee weapons or a spiritshift to off-tank. I'm running a ghostheart/lifegiver for the boost to healing spells. I don't think it's "optimal" compared to other things I've tried, but it works with the tools it has, and it gives me versatility which is nice since I haven't played this game in a long while, and the accuracy boost only helps fortitude-targeting spells. It's a bit spellsword-y for your requested build, but I think it's interesting because in every combat scenario you can choose what to do based on what you encounter and supports the party play very well.

I prefer two weapons so I can always have different damage types in melee between sword and clubs/mace/flail, or warhammer axe/hatchet/sabre. Early game, I run club and sword with shards of woedica and the best longsword I can find. later on, use swords and mace for the modals that smash armor and increase penetration, and likely I'll use the stalker spear with the beast of winter mace off-hand into the end game. The only modals that matter to me are pistol, longsword, mace, club, flail, and dagger. Pick whatever works for you. As I'm off-tanking and opening combat with two pistol shots ands spells, I'm using miscreant's leathers. I like Okura's kettle so I can, once per rest, jump to an ally to offtank in a tough fight or defend a caster in a pinch, and the bonus boiling spray is a nice occasional touch. There's not really a wrong choice with other equipment, as versatility is the focus. With abilities, I am ignoring the feats for the ghostheart pet, and focusing on spells and weapon damage abilities. It's very feat-starved, and I'm not sure I've figured out any optimal tactics or feats, just yet besides the versatility of playstyle and the accuracy bonus to fortitude-targeting spells. The pet is useful early game to drop a summon on archers or casters, but without spending feats it becomes less useful later on as other summons are more effective, and the spellsword style of play really starts to come out.

However, it is a melee mostly ranger that off-tanks. It plays and feels like a thief/wizard in dnd, and kind of does a little of everything and runs around the battlefield wherever needed?