I broke down and bought the Conqueror's package, the highest priced, justifying that I'd buy a piece of character creator software for the same price. I was disappointed in the character creator, because you must use the prototype character for each class and I couldn't modify the way I wanted to (for instance the classes are gender linked), but I also need to learn the system.
Since COX was the only game I played, and though I played it ever day, I didn't play it very scientifically -- the stories were always the most interesting to me -- I find the WASD movement very difficult, as well as the movement of the mouse. I really don't like seeing my character run across my screen at an angle. So retraining the fingers, especially in combat, has been tough, and it will take me a while to get up to speed. This is augmented by the fact that I chose the smallest toon and she sometimes gets lost in the bushes and I can't see her. I think I'll make a big hulk, next.
Closed beta is on through tomorrow evening (UST/Mountain Time).
I'd love others' reactions. Since, I think, I'm only at level 7 after a few hours of play, it would be nice to have input from someone who games more than I.