As a new member you will be met by demands to buy a VIP membership and until you do, refine costs are 10x. When asked on the forum a GM admitted it was deliberate in order to make people buy VIP-membership and said that no one forces you to stay. With about 25 players online at any given time, 28 is the max I've encountered, there is precious little WoE and Events except automated ones. It would seem that this server is only out to make money with little or no respect for players.