After a 5 year break i started the game back up over the weekend.    I'm so freaking lost from all the changes.  I have several questions.
I have all content up through sharn.
 

1. Can any one point me towards an alchemist build that is solo friendly and not gear dependent just to get the past life done and get completionist back on my main? 

2. I had both a 20 monk shuiken thrower and a shiradi 16wizard 2 monk 2 fvs at 30 (previous cap) i would use to farm tokens/seeds for the reincarnation trade on my main.  How can I make these viable in today's game to fill the same purpose?

3. Wtf did they do to epic destinies?

4.  Once I get the alchemist past life I'll go back to finishing the radials on my main.   In today's game what is the most efficient build for that purpose?

Again, I have all content up through the sharn expansion. And I will get vip so will have any packs races classes etc that come with that.   If I stay playing I'll probably buy the newer expansions but not going to shell out the cash for them right away. This means I have access to the old iconic if they are preferable too get the alchemist pl.

Thanks for any help/ advice.