I also quit EQ almost 4 months ago after 3 1/2 years, but I digress. Ok here's my two cents worth on DAoC and I play on the Co-op server for PvE.
I love the newbie quests unlike the EQ newbie quests you can actually complete them and end up with a nice set of armor, weapons and jewelry by the time you reach level 5.
The newbie startup guild is such a great idea, why? Well not are there plenty of newbs in the guild there are many older established players starting thier new toons to answer questions.
The quest system works, you can quest yourself to death and get some pretty neat items.
You can actually kill mobs at your level that drop items you can use for your level or higher. Unlike EQ where the mob drops rusted weapons and crap items. I mean really how often did your level 50 palading kill a mob and got those very items, ok I am digressing again.
I like not having to practice my skills to get better, I like not having to purchase my spells, I don't, don't, don't, miss either of them from EQ.
I like the styles for different melee combat attacks. I stink at melee toons but DAoC is much more forgiving than EQ was for the melee handicapped like me.
As for soloing, melee's can solo but it is difficult, no where as difficult as in EQ. I found playing a Shadowblade the most difficult to level up. If you don't mind spending a little more time per exp the task dungeons a melee can solo easily.
Task dungeons I love them, on days I just don't have time to play or group, I still feel like I am accomplishing something.
Instance Dungeons are pretty darn cool and you can invite others while you are in and ID. I wish Mythic would offer more ID's for the level ranges, after a while you get them memorized.
Finally a customer service group that actually contacts you ingame and tries to help you. Wow what a concept people in the game helping the player, shssssh Sony may hear of that and implement a change in their customer service. Of the 5 /appeals I have made over the last couple months 4 were corrected within 1 day, the other was just something they couldn't fix. After 3 1/2 years in EQ I never, never had a problem resolved by the guides, never, did I say never?
Now what I don't like;
Pet pathing in DAoC just plain sucks, dungeons are extremly dangerous as the pets will run close to the mobs and arrgo them. Or you turn and your pet disappears into the wall behind you. Look out because now the mobs on the other side are arrgoed, you die, the group dies. EQ did have this down pat and my hats off to them for that. Mythic needs to make a big effort to correct, this is a game buster for me.
"Can't see target" message is just ridiculous, there are instances where I can be on top of the mob and still get the "can't see target" message. And it's not just the mobs, as a healer there have been several instances where I get the same message when trying to heal a group member. Last thing you want to hear from your healer is "hey I can't target you, get ready to die". It is absolutely terrible in dungeons, again this is a game breaker for me.
Why a game breaker well these two problems practically eliminate dungeons for me to explore or group in. Since I am paying Mythic to experience all of the game I am paying for what I can't use. Yes there are plenty of outdoor zones to experience but I should not be limited to the outdoor zones because of poor programing.
Anyway try DAoC, get the platinum edition advertised here, you get the new classes and go ahead and invest in the Catacombs expansion well worth it for the Instanced Dungeons.
Good luck!
Bellator