Hello there! After a long break, I am about to start playing lineage 2 again. The server I am going to play on is going live at the end of the week. Given the fact that I'm not exactly the most experienced player nor do I possess a vast amount of knowledge about the game, I would like to know your opinion about the course of action I should follow. In other words, what class should I play and why? I'm interested in a class that really pays off at higher levels if I work hard to level and equip it ( I am talking about pvp, ofc) and keep in mind that the chronicle the server will be using is Hellbound and the rates are low (about 5x if I'm not mistaken). I, myself, am more of a solo player, I'm trying not to rely on anyone to help me succeed. Friends can only help me so much, as for clans...well, almost every clan I've been in since I've started playing lineage hasn't done sh*t for me, even though I was a very active player and I did my best to help out others and "earn" my place. Last server I played on I was playing a sps with an ee as my personal support in dual box. I got to a point where lvling up got hard and i was stuck in C or B-grade equipment ( I think I was 63 if I remember it correctly). The lack of clan support/activities + the situation mentioned above got me to quit. This time I would like to do it right so that's why I'm asking for your help. I would like some advice on what class should I choose, and ways to get good xp and equipment on my own, should the attempts to get help fail.

Welcome to l2citadel , this game is meant to be played with other people in a party or clan so it won't be easy for you to get high lvl or good gear if you are playing alone, given the fact that in HB endgame is way beyond IL and you really need a strong group to reach it.
About chars: it's kind of a balanced chronicle, most classes have their place in each and every situation.
Nukers are really strong in HB because things like magic crits, elemental attributes, etc., so nuker+se is a good option.
Daggers are pretty good too, nice skill crits and lethal attacks, with good gear and buffs they are deadly.. they have always been a fun class to play.
Archers are strong, as always, but they really need good gear and buff to do something, otherwise they are not so scary.
There are plenty of other classes like tanks and other DD melees but they have to reach something like edngame in order to truly shine. Destroyer is still a class that can exp very fast, although frenzy got nerf.
Pick up a class that you really like, that's the only way to enjoy this game
Hope I was useful.

If you are planning play almost all the time solo and don't wanna rely on gear, then go summoner. You can be in Karmian until like lvl 70+ But exp is going to be a little slow and boring. They are good in 1v1 or oly. Something more intersting is nuker + SE (or maybe +kookaburra and BD and farm where mana herbs drop) In end game they rock. But in order to get Dynasty you need clan help or lot of money.

Once in a physics examination, Nick finished the first question very soon, while his classmates were thinking it hard.The question was: When it thunders why do we see the lighting first, then hear the thunderrolls? Nick\'s answer: Because our eyes are before ears.