I'm quite new to this game, and I must admit I am feeling quite... alone. Every guild I see wants you to be over level 50, and in my first 10 levels or so I have been running around by myself. It feels like I'm playing a single player role-playing game.
I have played many many many MMORPGs, and this is the first one where I actually cannot meet people. It is really really frustrating me.
its hard for new players to get into the mix when the games sucha high lvl centered as L2 is right now.
But i have been seeing lots and lots of new people on the forums/in game. So if they are all saying that around 20 you'll hit more people then you def will.
Also check some of the community sites i think they run like Voice chat servers and stuff. Mabye some RP clan or somethign has one you can get on and at least talk to them.
Don't listen to anyone who says "quit"--especially if you don't want to. The game is what the game is. It is RUN by maxed out, twinked people who have been playing since it's first inception. They think they are the only ones who matter. As far as 'game control' they are pretty much right--they are the only ones who matter. But that's only part of the picture as there is MUCH in the game that is cool. I've never played a MMORPG before--I started playing L2 in January of this year. I've had fun (you have to define your own), I'm met some fun folks, I joined a clan, I've continued grinding way past the bored point, I've made some game money....and it's all been a great diversion and a blast. There are quite a few legitimate newer players that I've met that started around the first of this year--many are part-timers like me who aren't quite to lvl 40 yet (2nd class change). You can tell the difference between a new player and one of the jaded and cynical just goofing around with their 30th alt out of boredom--the genuine 'new player' is a human being and for the most part the alt generators are lvl 10's wearing 4 million dollars worth of gear with 75+ level buddies hanging around them. They won't talk to you, they won't help you, they won't answer your questions--they'll mostly just heckle and belittle you. Just don't judge your progress by others! A person who plays 10 hours a week over 5 days isn't going to hit lvl 40 in two weeks. It's a big game, it's a complex game, it's a great game--and it's not just for the first players who started with it--as long as you don't let it be. If you compare yourself to someone who's been playing for 12 or 18 months it will be very frustrating.
If you shout at any "drakkos" player you see I'll try to give you a hand...there have been a number of people who have helped me out, too.