What is the soloability of this game at lower levels like?
It depends. If all you want to do is stand around and chat, the soloability is fair. That aspect of the game is social by nature and it's hard to "break in" because everyone is the most concerned with themselves and their own characters. Guilds are typically elitist and exclusive by nature, with exceptions. All things come with patience though.
Are the people friendly?
Yes and no. People are generally friendly if you're friendly to them. However, there is a big dueling culture in the game and there are people who will kill other players at the drop of the hat because they enjoy player killing. Those players then go to justify their actions as "a matter of honor" or something equally useless. There's also an attitude that you own a mob if you intend to kill it. So if you kill a mob at the other side of the map, it's considered kill stealing if the other guy "intended" to kill it. The other guy will then make three petitions about you using multiple characters, then he'll get all his guildmates and buddies to harass you and drag your name through the dirt in game, on the forums, and on IRC. So don't kill things when other people are around and you'll be fine.
IRC is a big flame fest most of the time and it's been poorly moderated in the past. The forums are well moderated and the flame baiting and personal insults are almost exclusively acts of personal grudges.
What can I expect from actual gameplay?
It's not safe to have any expectations at all. One
might expect a game with a decent interface and visual component with above average music and a mixed RP community.
