Here is what I would suggest.

Play whatever you want, but make sure you have a ROLE you enjoy actually playing. I.E one that is easy to get into char with, and basically rps itself. That way you will keep the char even when things are pointless.

Then, rank. Make ranking your number one goal. Rank with anygroup, no matter how crappy, rank till your eyes bleed, till your fingers fall off. Have crappy gear? Screw it, go rank.

Now, during all this time, rp while you rank. Seems, difficult, but really it works well. RP while resting, rp while fighting, rp after you take a mobdeath in the Maus at rank 22, what ever, rank always, and rp while while you do it.

Rank rank rank.