[Laugher]

1. How is the population on the server from say 4am ET to 10am ET ?

Usually I think it takes a dip during those hours, but there's still usually 4-800 people on at that time.

2. Are there many Aussie/Oceanic/Asian guilds ?

Not sure about that, but since there's variance on raid mob spawn timers (ex. if something died at 10 PM EST Tuesday and has normally a 4 day respawn, it would be 4 days +/-8 hours, so it would then have a 16 hour spawn window instead of a 5 minute spawn window) on the high end many raid kills can and will happen in your time window; big guilds will at times make a point of recruiting people in non-US timezones

As for leveling, I don't know who would be best given your timezone.

3. I have read through some of the guild recruitment messages regarding what classes are needed etc and not much seems to have changed in a lot of ways. Would anybody like to give us a guide on how each class is percieved in the old world on this server ? I would like to play something different but I want to be able to group also if possible clearly. I'd like feedback on all classes if anybody would like to go to the effort, but feedback on Ranger is definitely needed.

Druid: Ports, PLs, around the high end they are less practical, but good money
cleric: always a solid choice if you like to heal
shaman: lots of em around, but easy to solo and root/rot here; a good option for someone who wants to be needed by a group but be just as able to kill solo
Warriors: Taunt works differently here than I remember- may want some stun weps, still good tanks and they get their discs here so a necassary class to have around at times
Pal/SK/ranger: bite the classic hybrid penatly; play only if you feel comitted to one of these classes imo

*edit* emphasis on ranger here: They can slow down a group's experience and bite a 40% penalty for themselves (in Velious I think the penalty for your group gets removed) they are gear dependent too, but I should say here I've had a couple good ranger tanks around 50 before. If you have your heart set on a ranger be mindful of the fact that it may impede who will invite you to a group in this era (although people have done the math and your penalty on your group is less than someone 5 levels higher than you being in your group) also /autofire doesn't work in case you remember that command from post-velious

bard: that 40% hybrid penalty; AE kiting kind of works, good utility class
monk: also bites a xp penalty, lots of em around and you should be expected to pull as a monk
rogue: fun, but epic level 15 rogues will make you look bad if you're ungeared (lotsa rogue epic MQs flying around 3 yrs into Kunark)
Wizards: Ports, DPS, lazing around medding.. would be better off in a lot of cases quad kiting as a wizzy vs trying to find a group
Mag: Mags are deso, but there's a 99-specific nerf wherein if your pet does over 50% damage you get less xp for the kill
necro: Fun; DPS/mana battery etc. Old almost insta cast circlet of shadow still drops atm
enc: always needed, being an ench might just get you into a chardok AE one day.

*edit* If you want to feel needed take a conventional role (Tank, CC or heals) DPS has by far the most classes to fill spots and while they can fill more group slots than any other class genre it would be harder to say get a group started and find a tank CC or heals vs. DPS

*edit edit* Ok so reading back on this I think I gave you the negative side of just about every class here.. I guess weigh it accordingly and perhaps read up on the wiki (wiki.project1999.org) in the mechanics page and on the class specific pages to get more specific (and positive) info on any class you think you'd like to choose hehe

4. I understand the server has been on Kunark for 4 years. Any timeframe on Velious opening ? Is there ever likely to be expansions beyond that ?

Velious is in beta currently, should be out sometime this year

5. Tell me the perfect group for experience ? Forget who the person is behind the keyboard. Please don't say Warrior, Cleric, Enchanter and 3 Rogues.

Ideally anything that works: CC is nice, but of course as long as you have some way of taking or avoiding damage and staying alive while things die=working fine

6. Tradeskills - are all at saturation point ? Is there high demand for raw mats ?

Yes, as a nub farm HQ bear pelts. Not sure about other ones for tailoring but I know mats for JC are pretty expensive