Anybody ever heard of this game? Silkroad Online.
Heres the link
www.silkroadonline.net The download is about 500 odd megabytes, and updates bring the total install up to about 800 MB, so broadband is a good idea.
It's supposed to be like WoW but FREE!!! (Which I've never played because they charge for it.) I've been playing for about a week, and have my character up to level 22 so far. I like it pretty well and am meeting a few people in the game, getting into the community a little bit there.
They have an Item Mall where you can buy certain things (they're listed on the site) but you dont actually have to pay for anything if you dont want to.
Graphically, it looks pretty good and settings can be adjusted up or down for top level systems, or not, as per your need. I dont have a top of the line system and its pleasing enough with the settings on medium for me.
Controls are simple and quick to learn. Maps and quest guides can easily be found on the net, as well as theres a built in map in the game.
As RPGers youll be interested in the character classes. There arent any. YOU decide how you want your character to play. Nukers are pretty much pure mages. Bladers are fighters. Priests area combination with about 2/3 of the points awarded per level pu to strength, and 1/3 put on intelligence, as strength and intelligence being the only 2 attributes.
There are heaps of monster types to fight. There are also heaps of quests too.
http://sro.mmosite.com/guides/index.shtml for a quick look at some guides to help educate you about character building ect.
http://sro.mmosite.com/database/quests.shtml for a look at some of the quests.
You gain extra XP by joining parties and its more fun to play with people than by yourself.
BTW, this is a heavily Quest based game. Playing without doing the quests is difficult to level and pretty pointless.
Have a read a look at the links. I've already got about 15 people hopelessly addicted...... and its FREEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!
The only drawback is you can't take a character from server to server. You have to start a new character on any server you play on. You can, however, start multiple characters on any server, so you can play differnt styles.