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Well, two great games that come to mind are Harshlands and Shadows of Isildur. The former is based on the Harn gaming system, which is really a low-magic game, and the latter is set in Tolkien's Middle-Earth several hundred years prior to LOTR.
While the meaning confuses many, both are what's commonly refered to as Role-Playing Intensive.
Present in both though you will have to apprentice before owning your own. In SoI, good RP is rewarded through role-playing points which can be used in creating your next character and skipping apprenticeships, selecting exotic races, etc.
Harshlands' playerbase is smaller than SoI's and both are smaller than Arm's, but both have been growing lately.
Both feature crafting, with quite an impressive array of crafts.
Both are skill-based and even as a hunter, it won't be H&S. In fact, combat is pretty scary and realistically dangerous.
Both have an excellent staff.
While SoI's "religion" isn't very present aside from a cult, Harshlands features a pantheon of 10 gods and goddesses. Though the gods stay relatively out of contact with the people of the island (though one lives there), their followers nevertheless create incredible tension and conflict.
There's no better way to go. Both are permanent-death, all the more reason why combat is so intense.
Good luck in your quest!
Jason
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