Many years ago I 'attempted' to play CF and finally gave up. I think a lvl 35 Transmuter is the best I managed and the only reason I made it that far was because 2 orcs kept dragging me around with them. In the end, I was essentially naked and clueless and gave up when both of them deleted.
The major problem I had was not knowing where the 'good stuff' is, no one being willing to educate new players, and getting perpetually ganked by those who did know where the 'good stuff' is. While I never mind a reasonably fair fight, it seems fights were never 'fair' in cf. Either I was beaten bloody incessantly because I was simply out geared or prepped, or when I finally managed to surprise my targets with what preps I knew of, I was still beaten bloody.
I've on occasion thot of coming back and trying it again. I've gone so far as to download a client... connect... train up and then... I have flashbacks and disconnect.
The one thing that always interested me in CF is the mortality. In MMO's, death is a temporary inconvenience. In CF, it's a bit more permanent and I like that idea.
So, now you have my dilemma.
Convince me to come back. Convince me that I won't need years of therapy if I do. Tell me I won't be beaten stupid by chars 10 lvls higher than I am. Convince me that it's a more balanced place that it was years ago and that soloing to hero is actually a remote possibility.