So, currently downloading the client, gonna try its 21-day trial and see how it goes (and maybe sub if i like it 10USD/month sounds fair)

The question is, anything i should know before hand?

Any vets that could share your experience is apprieciated.

I don't play it anymore, but I can still give you some pointers.

1. Take your time. Don't rush into any fights.
2. Always watch your back. Predators roam and can sneak up on you if you're not paying attention.
3. Join a guild. It makes the game much more enjoyable when you have other people to do things with.
4. Ask questions. The community is friendly and will answer your questions.
5. Stick with it until you at least reach the mainland. The newb island is fun, but the real game begins once you reach the mainland.
6. Adjust your graphics settings to max. Most computers 3 years old or newer can easily handle it, and the game looks so much better.

It took me two tries before I stuck with Ryzom for a while. The first time I tried it, it was so different I couldn't get used to it. The default graphics looks like crap. The controls were different. No jump.

The second time I tried it, I stopped and smelled the roses along the way. I bumped the graphics. I noticed how "intelligent" the animals were. How predators and prey interacted. How animals roamed. I noticed the seasons. I took my time to learn more about building my spells. I didn't try to blast my way through the newb island quests. You can't rush Ryzom, so just relax and enjoy the experience and friendly community.