If you look at 2012 right before the server shut down the character creation is almost identical to this, which is what you want.
The gameplay is as i remember it incredibly fun and engaging and a very rare thing to see these days a mature community.
I also played DAOC, Asheron's Call, Ultima Online on freeshards and like this they all have great communities, you can't find them in any online game today which is why i returned to this, communities is what really make or break a game.