To be a miner, go mine for ore at the local mountainside. Thankfully, it is not quite that simple. The game has an ongoing economy. If there are to many trappers, you may not be able to sell your furs. This goes for the entire economy in the game.
Prices fluctuate, and markets drop out.
By far the biggest problem of the game is lag. Even on a cable modem, there are times when lag can become overwhelming. When you are lagged out, the game goes on. You may be attacked and killed. Thankfully in the game, you can mantain your skills after death.