How about trying RL. As in Real Life. Really big rpg. Meet people, grow, get money, change classes occasionally. The combat system is scary though, it has permadeath. :| The npcs can be nice or real jerks, depending on your attitude towards them (Though be warned some will always be jerks) and quests can be rewarding.
Thankfully the noobs start as useless anklebiters, and experienced players are responsible for the massive numbers of them as well as training them. Due to this uselessness and apprenticeship, being a jerk gets you trouble unless your apprentice is also a jerk (Different story).
Random events plague the world. The GMs are few in number, but there is at least one for every country.
How do you play? Just walk out your front door. O_o