What would you say is the best one, and why? I've never really sunk my teeth into the class, and it's probably about time I did. I want to say a good slith, for all the racial benefits, plus chameleon for getting away when I'm in over my head. The exp penalty is killer, though. I'm playing a mino berserker right now, and that's frustrating enough as it is.
Best Newbie Blademaster Race
I'll give you another answer than what most people will give you, and that is instead of picking the most powerful race (or what is percieved as most powerful anyway), I'd go for the race that isn't maybe as powerful but trains faster. I'm ridiculously lazy and I HATE training. Blademasters = anatomies/skills needed.
I would pick Avian (IMO Avian would make a solid blademaster anyway in my opinion, shame you never see any). 21int/wis means a little more mana than many, (blademasters without mana are just people holding swords) also means slightly easier to train. Autoflight and 23 dex isn't bad either.
Slith Blademaster is a solid choice, but the EXP penalty will be the least of your worries when you train with them (it may not be as bad as I'm making it out to be, but I don't think anybody realises how lazy I actually am).
Dwarf/Halfer would survive very well, with Chrinchton/Taeim being recent examples of their strength (I hate referring to Bali in a positive light).
Meh. I personally would go Avian for that little bit easier training, and because it's different to the typical Blademaster race you see at pinn. And it's still an all-around choice for blademaster IMO. Feral would be incredibly strong, but you need to work around your fire vuln a little more (would be even stronger with a certain Cabal).
Dey
for quick training, half-elf.
I HATE training.
Word.
it's not training skills i dislike, but anatomies. it's why i only had one monk at 50. i assume it takes just as much work for blademasters, maybe i should give it a go though.
What about Elf or Drow?
What about human ?
Surely he will the fastest ranker, and groups are hard to come this times.
And you can master anatomies things at 40-50.
I personaly lost all apeal to fight bellow pinacle. Its just eating a cheese burger when you could be getting a Big Mac with fries. 
shrugs My first was a halfling... but for most newbs, I'd say go human. No huge strengths that you have to learn to maximize, no weaknesses you have to cover up. Neutral human won't have any natural enemies.
Whatever it is, I'll probably use the quick learning perk. Even if it's a half-elf. Mmm...quick learning...
It's an incredibly fun and balanced class. Don't expect to just quick-slaughter people, but don't expect anyone to be able to do the same to you either. You've got the most well-rounded defensive abilities of any normal class in the game.
Whatever it is' date=' I'll probably use the quick learning perk. Even if it's a half-elf. Mmm...quick learning...[/quote']
half-elf + sickly perk is quite nice for training...but there is a downside i'm pretty sure. i'll leave that to be discovered for others (or maybe i've just had some odd luck).