The basic loop
You arrive on Ashenfall, gather what you need to survive, make tools and weapons, and build a place to work from. Progress comes from exploring new regions, completing quests, improving equipment and training skills. Magic is woven into those ordinary survival tasks: the opening tutorial, for example, introduces a spell that helps cut trees.
Jagex describes the game as a survival adventure in the RuneScape universe. It is a separate game experience, so someone who has never played RuneScape can start with the in-game tutorial. Familiar names, skills and lore will still matter to returning players.
Is it an MMO or a class-based game?
The official material describes solo play, co-op worlds and dedicated servers rather than a shared MMO world. Do not assume your RuneScape character or progress transfers into Dragonwilds. The official descriptions focus on skills, equipment and combat styles, rather than a fixed character-class selection at the start.
If your question is really “can I play with friends?”, the answer is yes: ordinary co-op supports up to four players. Dedicated servers are a separate hosting option and have their own setup and capacity rules. See Solo & Co-op for the distinction.
Where to begin
Play the offered tutorial. It introduces the Wise Old Man and three teachers: Doric for scavenging and crafting, Vannaka for cooking and combat, and Zanik for magic. Finish those lessons before you worry about late-game gear or a boss build. The beginner’s route turns those official steps into a short checklist.