Ryzom

Patch 1 is expected this week or next week.
Patch 2, one month after Patch 1

I wouldn't worry about being behind. From what I've seen, most people are going at their own pace and there isn't a standard level most people are at. I'd say we could explore around the world with eachother, but I'm on the North America server and am guessing you'd be on the European one.

Having played FFXI for a good six months (I imported from the States, so I got it way before the rest of most of us Brits ), I can tell you this game is nothing - nothing - like that offense against Squeenix. You usually don't have to go far to find trouble, although if you're looking a specific kind of yrouble you might. Right now quests are l4m3, but the improvements promised with patch 1 and 2 look good.

Also last thing thats off topic Ryzom.. Melee? If one trains melee is it just 1 standard type of melee or diffrent types like martial Arts, Swords, AXE etc etc?

This depends on your level and weapon. From level 1 - 20 in fighting, it doesn't matter what you hit the enemy with, you get XP. At level 20, it switches to melee and ranged combat, so using an axe only gets XP in the former, while a bowpistol will get you XP in the latter. Then melee splits into 1-handed, 2-handed and close combat (H2H, if I understand correctly) at level 50. They continue to branch, although I don't know through how many stages. Suffice to say in the end, you're only training one weapon at a time.

Hope you enjoy Ryzom, I know I am! The playerbase is almost entirely excellent, too. =) Have fun.