Best way to approach EQ untwinked

[kelsoider]

I'm returning to EQ after a year hiatus. Lost my old account so I'll be starting from scratch. I've played off an on since for a long time but always as a tank. This time I was thinking to roll a caster at first; with the thought of twinking a SK, warrior, or a Monk once I've amassed enough pp. However, I'm torn between choosing a Mage or a Necro. Both seem to do well ungeared, and they both seem to be able to solo/farm. I'm not really experienced farming anything solo; as I was always grouping. Also never made it past level 49 on p99.
So my question is, how would you approach EQ from scratch, if you were me? Furthermore, I hear velious is out now, and am wondering how this affected the market for melee equipment.