about 2,500 people on my server. Theres about 12 different servers, and Lancelot the one is play is the 2nd most populated. Theres 3 Realms in a server and each realm is at war. The graphics are not dark and they will be updated in the new expansion pack due out right before christmas. Very easy to meet new people lots of noob guilds out there and people are very generous. You ask for hand me downs and you won't have enough room to hold everything people wuill hand you. There is a story line if you play the role playing servers. I play the pvp where iti s realm v realm go out to a batle ground and you fight over a castle and a couple towers. You don't realy counter spells. The main spells in the game are called bolts. One class from each realm can cast them. If you use a shield you can counter them by blocking them (they are like a fire ball) or if you are in combat they have no effect. The other main spell is Area of Affect. Couple mage class can use these. Only way to real counter theses is to max your resist. They hurt hit very hard ^^. The combat is similar to nwn where as you dont have to keep clicking to swing, but there is some different things which makes it very nice. lets say I block with my shield. if I am a fighting class I will have a style for blocking. I block I hit the style buttong for blocking which does more dmg and some of the styles have effects if you hit them at the right time. I play thisg ame on a 40kbs connections and if you have dsl or cabel you will own. If i can play on dial up and still go to the batle grounds with over 200 people fighting then no one should have problems. Very good game you can get the gold edition for 20 dollars and have a 30 day free trial. If you dont like it then it is easy to resell your cd keys on ebay. or just download it from file planet I will let you use my account to see how you lik it.