The server is awesome indeed. I didn't really enjoyed the start, but once you left that very early beginner state it's getting amazing. Something people might like to hear: you will really need people who are building their characters defensively and those who trained their sio spell.
Edit:
Some tips for new players:
- read about the weapons
http://otland.net/f43/usa-project-xdc-8-6-a-165607/index12.html#post1771908
- add gold and dusty spell tomes to your auto loot list with !looting add, gold coin (not all items can be auto looted and there's a max of 5 different items).
- activate the giant rat hunting mission and keep doing it till you can hunt hill giants (npc is west of temple)
- spend your first 100 gold on a scrap saw that can be bought from the blacksmith (middle of town)
- buy the light healing spell and one attack spell south in town. The spells get better the more you use them. Magic level has no influence on them, but magic power does has influence on magic spells, ranged power on ranged spells, etc.
- the different fighting stances do make a huge difference. Full defence increases your armour with 200% I've been told and the armour reduces a percentage of damage, not a flat amount.
- buy a pick for 5k at the blacksmith
Once you can hunt hill giants a bit everything starts becoming awesome and you will start making money.