Fantasy Games

I know there are a large number of fantasy based games in the world but I have two that I have played extensively. The first is World of Warcraft. My son got me hooked on this one and I played for quite a while both as Horde and Alliance. Unfortunately my studies have left little time for playing so our membership is on hold for the time being. The other is Runescape. I know how could anyone spend much time playing a java based on line game but it is fun.
As plot lines go WOW has a decent one. The developers have managed to create a deep and diverse history which you can delve into or not based on your interests. I will mention that I have read one of the WoW books and found it just ok. Runescape has some pretty decent story lines as well.
In graphics WoW wins hands down with very realistic worlds although as my son can testify there are several glitches that have provided him with amusement. While Runescape has made many improvements over the original it has a long way to go.
If you can only play one, and with the time required to really get into a game you probably will, the decision often comes down to money. If you have $50+ dollars to drop on WoW and don't mind the $15 a month fee then go for it. If you prefer to save your money for more important things like food then Runescape is free or p2p of only $6 a month.
Also if you are just starting out in the world of MMORPG's then Runescape is the way to go as it provides an excellent introduction to on line game play.