Well the login servers are up for Aion Online now, and people are creating there characters during its pre-select phase.  I was able to create mine this morning before I headed out to work, and I’ll be good to go once the head start phase goes live this Sunday. You will then see a list of all the items or item packs that may be applied to that character. You will then get a message saying that the items/item packs were successfully given to that character. You should have these items when you log into the game - simply pay a visit to your in-game mail box. It sounds like its going to be a real pain in the butt if you like to create lots of little alts to play. 

30-40 is more or less a nightmare for 1v1 PvP when it comes to being a Chanter. Everyone can run from you due to a lack of slows (that crappy five second stigma snare doesn't count) and immobilizes and many of the high DPS classes will out-damage your healing rate. It's not impossible to beat any specific class, just really tough. Get a group in those levels, the PvP is balanced around that and you'll be much better off. At 40-50 I'm told it picks up again due to all those nice abilities. And, if the Korean video I saw of a level 50 Chanter destroying tons of people in the Abyss solo is to be believed, they'll become quite strong again. As you level, you'll quickly notice that your only ranged attack will become weaker and weaker, especially since it never gets upgraded. It'll slowly go from a damage tool to a pulling tool, at which point you're better off ignoring it if you're locked in melee combat.