The In-Game Support site has answers to many in-game questions.

Is the game easy to learn how to play?
Yes. We strive to make all of our games easy to learn how to play, yet difficult to master.

Is Blizzard aware of some of the game play problems that have been prevalent in other MMORPGs?
Yes. Blizzard employees are gamers first and foremost, and we have played more than our fair share of existing massively multiplayer games. We tend to agree with MMORPG gamers on the strengths and weaknesses of the genre to date. We have striven to advance the genre with World of Warcraft by building on the positives already established in the genre and eliminating as many of the negatives as possible. We think we've done a successful job, but we hope you will try the game to see for yourself.

How do you prevent camping and kill stealing?
There are several things that have been implemented to limit this problem. First, there is "tapping." If you damage a monster first, you have thereby "tapped" it and thus only you and your party will gain experience and loot from it, even if another player attacks and kills it. We also limit camping and kill-stealing issues by "instancing" certain areas of the game. No other players, unless they are part of your group, can enter your instance.

How do you prevent camping and kill stealing in non-instanced areas?
Competition over rare item drops and quest items is the primary cause of camping and kill stealing. In World of Warcraft, many rare item drops are not exclusive to any one creature. Several creatures will have a chance of dropping the same item. If the required item is a quest item, the player can join a group of other players on the same quest. Every player on the quest will receive a copy of the quest item from the monster or location where it was found.

Are there other things to do besides leveling?
There is a huge variety of things to do to keep players from feeling like they just have to grind through one creature battle after another. Characters can craft items, fight in vast battles against other players, and explore distant lands. Even when players do fight monsters, it will often be as part of a quest, or in search of special ingredients for their crafts.

Is there a party system for group adventuring?
Yes.

How large is the party size for players?
The maximum number for a party is five players, and the game is generally balanced for groups of five. Smaller groups can still be quite successful, and regardless of the group's size, everyone in the group can make important contributions. You can also create larger groups of players, which are called raid groups.

Are there ways to gain experience in the game besides fighting?
Yes, there are ways to gain experience other than by fighting. You can gain substantial experience from doing quests. Exploring is another example of how you can gain experience; a character can receive experience by simply journeying to areas where your character has yet to explore.

How does group experience work?
All players in a group share experience for a kill. However, to offset the lesser experience that comes from grouping, all players in the group also get a group xp bonus depending on the number of players in the group. You gain more experience for kills if you group with players closer to your level, while you gain less if you group with players more than a few levels higher than you.

Is there a way to finish World of Warcraft? How long can I play?
There are thousands of hours of game play in the game (and even more in The Burning Crusade), and nearly infinite goals for players. Because our live team is regularly adding new quests, creatures, and items, the game will never truly end.