I've been looking at this game and I wanted to know a few things:

1. Is it based more on PvE, PvP, or a balance (i.e. RF online is PvP based. Just because it has both doesn't mean it's balanced)

2. Are the people online newb-haters, or will they actually help me?

3. Is there a lot of customization oppurtunities, or just a few cool looking weapons and armor?

4. Will I have to grind my brain out just to lvl up, or is it easy to level up?

5. Upgrades (weapons, armor, etc) expensive or not?

6. If I can't get this, what other games would you recommend?

Thanks so much! Btw, if I do join, anyone wanna help me pick a class ^.^  That's the reason I leave all my games, I can't find a right class and all I hear is the same "Just play what you want" which helps nothing...

Ditto to the questions above.

As with most of these kinds of posts, if 20 people answer, you will get 20 different opinions, so these are just my opinions. 

I have a level 88 Force Archer and a level 52 Force Shielder.  I play the US/Canada version.

1.  You can do PvP at any level, but there is quite a lot of PvE all the way up to level 95 or thereabouts.  Above 95, from what I understand, there tends to be more PvP.  So the game starts more PvE and then slowly, gradually, makes its way to more PvP, but you can PvP at any time.  High level characters can PK your low level character, and they will, but they suffer escalating penalties every time  they do that.  There are non-PK channels available where consentual PvP is allowed.

2.  I have always found people willing to help; the noob-haters don't seem to be out in excessive numbers. People tend to be more civilized on the non-PK channels.

3.  Very few customization options in the early game, but all characters get the ability to craft better looking armor after leveling up a ways, maybe level 40 or 50 or so if I remember correctly.  There are not unlimited crafting options, but there are a bunch.  You can also customize the performance of some non-crafted armors - somewhat rare armors, but you will get them as drops now and then.

4.  I've read lots of people say it's easy to lvl up, but in my opinion, the game is mostly grind.  However, I'm strangely still addicted to the game - I put on some good music and grind away.  I don't mind it.  I actually somehow like it, even though I've never liked it in any other game.

5.  Upgrades are free.  I've always gotten weapons and armor as drops that are more advanced than I can use - I put them in storage and wait until I level up enough to qualify to use them.  I've never spent any money on weapons or armor.  There are always people offering to sell advanced stuff, though, if through bad luck you don't get them as drops.  They tend  to charge what seems like a lot of money to me.

6.  Definitely try the free version first, play it for a while, and don't pay anything until you are convinced you will like to stay with the game.  You do gain advantages by paying, like gaining XP faster, gaining skill points faster, getting  more cash as drops, and a location-travel-warping ability that is convenient, to say the least.  But don't spend any real-life cash until you are sure you will be staying for a while.

7.  Picking a class - Wizard and Force Archer are similar and do lots of damage from a distance, but are not very strong defensively.  Warriors hit hard and are reasonably strong defensively, but most of their fighting is toe-to-toe.  Blader and Force Blader aren't a whole lot different than Warriors.  Force Shielders have a lot of defense, and can fight both from distance and toe-to-toe, but are not as strong offensively as the others.

8. Very important is how you level your character up.  You get lots of  kinds of points - experience, sword skill, magic skill, strength, intelligence, dexterity, attack, attack rate, defense, defense rate, honor, and more.  Different weapons and armor require different levels of these points, but that is all clearly spelled out by clicking on the item.  You will benefit if you train up your sword skills and magic skills together, even if ultimately you will be using one primarily, because you get extra attribute benefits by training everything up.

9.  Now we will hear from those with different opinions, and  they may be right (sometimes).  I'm not the most advanced player in the game, and some others know it better than I do.

I guess I will voice my opinion then. But I will keep mine short for reduced level of eye straining. :)

Level 105 blader and 50 force archer. (retired)

1. I was told it was a PvP MMO. So I'll stick to that.

2. There is a mix. Mostly helpers though, I did not meet anyone that was annoyed by me. Then again, I started once game was in CBT and OBT. But yes, a lot of people will help you. If you meet a newb-hater, they're the ones that are dressed in low level armor and challenge you to a duel and kill 1 second flat. :)

3. There is a limit to armor and weapons. But they get more glowy each + you add to them. :) Which will later one make it look much better.

4. For low levels, quests are what get them up and fast(including me). When the grind actually hits, is 43. It will last until around 50. Though, that's when you will start D.T. parties. Which will make it more exciting. And then tougher instances like Ruina Station and Tower of Undead later on.

5. I'm not sure on current prices for cores these days. But hopefully they're still at normal price. Which is not expensive. Unlike the inflation at the start of release where it went from 200k to 1 mil ea. x.x

6. Aion. :) When it releases of course.

1. You are kiling monsters to be stronger and you want to be stronger to be good in PvP. That's my opinion.

2. Most of them will help you, but there are some newb-haters too.

3. Just a few really cool looking armors and weapons

4. It is easy to level up but you have to remember about your skill ranks too so you have to grind to raise your skill rank and doing quests to gain EXP.

5. I think that upgrades are cheap .

6. You should try Cabal. I can't recommend you anything else cause i have the same problem. Cabal bored me and I'm playing 5minutes-worth games now.

I can recommend you Blader class cause of good looking skills and power to defeat anyone in PvP . Wizard is strong too, in ranged attacks. Read about all classes on Cabal Forums and you will see which class is cool.

Have Fun!