Warhammer Online
I've been playing Warhmmer Online for abit, about to weeks now. I started because of the free trial. Mythic Entertainment had a good idea, IMHO, making a free trial that never exprires, though it has created some problem players, (more on that later). The reason I started was actually because I ordered WOW from Best Buy and it was on backorder, so I started playing Warhammer Online while I waited (I'm still waiting, incidentally).
On the Volkmar server, I started with an elven archer named Sywyn, named after one of my characters on NWN/FRC. I got him up to 10th level (the limit in the free trial), and managed to start three other characters, two elves (Archmage and Swordmaster) and a human Bright Wizard.
I've tried both WoW and Everquest II (the free trials), so I have a fair bit of beginners experience in MMORPGs. Regarding gameplay, user interface and mechanics, they seem pretty similar. I think people expect things to work a certain way in any of this type of game and Warhammer delivers on the basics. Of the three, I prefer WoW and Warhammer Online because they are native to Mac. Unfortunately, whenever I wanted to play Everquest, I had to boot to Windows on my Mac. The game played just fine, but if I have to choose, I'm going with one that's Mac compatible. I understand Warhammer Online only recently made a Mac client, but since I only just started that really doesn't affect me.
They all have quests, leveling happens in a timely manner, no too fast or too slow. In WHOL I like the storyline, that you start in the middle of a war and are put to work in the war effort. I started a destruction character as well on Badlands server, and you are similarly thrust into the invasion effort.
So far, Order is my favorite side. They seem to be outnumbered and outgunned by Destruction players at my level. It seems (from what I'm hearing) that there are free trial players who have been playing the same character for months and months, and who have incredible equipment which makes them much more powerful than the typical Order character of the same rank (10). I have to say I've experienced this, being on the receiving end of incredible amounts of damage from a Squig Herder and only being able to reply with about a third as much damage myself.
Still, that one thing aside, I'm having fun.
What I like -
1. Backstory - Warhammer is a very old franchise and has a rich history with incredible detail. I bought the Warhammer RPG after being aware of the miniatures game from Games Workship, and liking what I'd seen of the background story (this was way back in the late 80s and early 90s, he says, dating himself incredibly). The Warhammer RPG was full of interesting information and backstory, including characters. It was the first game with prestige classes (as far as I know, could be wrong). Your character's career branched in and out of different classes, such as Witch Hunter, Templar Knight, etc. I was never able to play Warhammer RPG, but I still have the original book.
2. RVR - I like that player vs player fighting is team based. Everything about it encourages you to form Warbands (extended parties) and go take objectives and keeps from the enemy rather than just pointless arena fighting. I'm a little frustrated at the so called "twinks" who seem to be everywhere on the opposing side, but we probably have the same twinks on other servers. I like sieges, the rams and other siege equipment you can operate, dropping oil on the players as they try to batter down your keep door, and all of that. It's a lot of fun, even though I have no idea what the hell I'm doing at this point. I'm sure I'll know later.