I'd definitely go DF, it was the first one I played of the AQ,DF,MQ,orAQW set. It's better than AQ and costs the same for membership. Mechquest ain't as good and I don't know about AQW.
As for RS and WoW. If you have the money go for it. I personally hate forking out dough on a regular basis, Xbox Live is enough for me.
I've never been into MMORPGs, so I choose AQ. Other reasons: AQ is 110% a joke and definetely not ment to be taken seriously.
Why not Runescape: It looks too horrible and most of the players are either idiots or 10-year-old-children who can't behave themselves. And if you can't co-operate with other players.. That's bad.
Why not WOW: I'm not willing to pay 12 ⬠a month for it. I have played it on my friends' computers and it's just boring. Killing monsters doesn't give the same feeling of "satisfaction" than - for instance - Diablo does; brutal hack and slash for the win.
But the truth is that these games are way too different in gameplay.. Thought, who cares.
I like RuneScape 1: its 3d fun 2: no downloads 3: has good story lines
I also like Runescape buuuuut... 1: Its 3d in the same sense final fantasy (one) was 3d, you can't jump or move freely and it only offers the illusion or depth through graphics and some traversable obstacles. Ultimately you're just moving on a rather uneven flat plane. >_> 2: True! 3: That is 50% subjective opinion and 50% B.S., a man missing the top half of his skull could write a better story with his brain being mauled by voracious penguins. To elaborate on that, here is a link to the Runescape Wiki, You should notice that it doesn't even devote a tab to the storyline. In comparison to its competition it only rivals the AQ trio of games, and even that might be giving it more credit than is due.