A lot of it really depends on what you're looking for, as some have said. Luckily there are still some good roleplaying worlds out there, with a fair variety of settings, rules, attitudes towards various things, haks (sizeable, none, or in between). Some also take a looser attitude towards things like Forgotten Realms canon, or PVP, level advancement, and so forth. There's really no "right" or "wrong" answer on any of these, and thankfully there's still some variety worth trying. Since it seems the topic here, I'll provide a few details on the one I work with:
Cormyr and the Dalelands
Gamespy Category: Persistent World - Story
Forum Address:
http://www.createfor...lands/index.php
Setting: Forgotten Realms, centered on Cormyr (Arabel) and surroundings to include Deepingdale, the Stonelands, and Western Regions beyond High Horn - present server date is Winter 1374 DR.
Size: Large (Presently on two servers, with a Primary server and a Dungeon/DM Event server)
Age: 5+ Years (Started November 2005)
DM Activity/Plots/Quests: High
Custom Content: High (Custom spells, feats, prestige classes, subraces, some updates to use 3.5e ruleset aspects)
Haks: Large (Significant Clothing, Item, Placeable, Tileset, Creature, etc additions)
Level Range: Up to 40, though the highest level PC is presently 29 (See below)
Level Progression: Starting Level of 3, Quick Progression to ~9, Gradually slowing to 14th, then slower from there on due to restrictions on amount of XP from monster kills per level.
Magic Level - Moderate. (While a fair amount of magic is present, items do not exceed standard D&D abilities generally, with +5 items highly rare. Stores will offer better items to players as they gain levels, up to +3.)
PVP: Permitted with restrictions, primarily story based, and generally not required.
Special Subraces: Permitted on a by request basis. The goal is to allow players to play what they want, while ensuring that resulting burdens on other players are not excessive. Full ECL/Spell-like Ability/Stats are granted for a number of special subraces, and unusual ones can generally be accomodated as well (at least mechanics-wise).
Average Player Count: Roughly 30 to 40 during peak hours, 10 to 20 during off-hours.
Other notes: Although we generally attempt to adhere to the basic setting, the ultimate focus is on roleplaying and having fun, and thus exceptions may be made if need be. Server storyline begins from the 3rd Edition Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting Date (Summer 1372 DR), and has progressed based on story adjustments. Book IV's plotline is just beginning, and while the server timeline deviates from official FR history at the 1372 point, the changes thus far are not so great that anyone new would likely feel lost or confused.
