This site is dedicated to altering the user interface to suit our needs. We really don't field questions about game fundamentals, but that being said, I direct you toward the official forums and their FAQ section which should answer all your questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/f...w.m?forum_id=2
Using Chat Channels in EQII
http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/p...opic_id=421231