Permadeath is a good thing in a low-combat game, but it's hard to implement correctly. Random/technical (Lags and the like) deaths shouldn't be allowed, and generally it should be hard to actually die. If a game is heavily combat-oriented, however, permadeath just isn't the way.

Actually, Seed's injury system seems to be the best for that - let's say a character dies if his pain, trauma and depletion meters all hit 100. It was pretty hard to reach these levels even with several injuries, given a good supply of meds. I can't see why a similar system can't be used for combat.

((Aww, another event I'm going to miss. I have some problems and am incapable of playing games requiring any mental effort. Hope it all passes soon and I can finally return for good.))

True, classes are a bad idea. Especially strict ones, like in D&D. On multiple occasions I failed to realize a character concept just because it didn't fit one of the classes available.
But they have one benefit: they save time for creation. That's not much of a benefit, actually, if all the players know the rules and can create their characters beforehand - but it comes in handy when there are newbies in hand.

In MMOG's, classes are definitely a bad idea, resulting in lots of secondary characters. Crafting classes are usually most affected, as are hard to level-up (Think Ragnarok's merchant and Lineage's Dwarves). And phrases like "Wait a sec, I'm gonna relog as my crafter" are seriously immersion-breaking.

I am returning now. I can't even for sure tell why I suddenly lost my interest in Ryzom - probably it was just getting interesting when I left. I guess I've not managed to reach a sort of union with my character, which definitely is necessary for good roleplay.

Anyway, I don't really care what game we play as long as there are a good world, a plot and a decent roleplayer base so I don't keep playing with the same people. Quite a lot of wishes, eh?

Ok, now that big patch, called "teh ZOMG patch" did bring a lot of stuff. The game's a lot more fun, as battles are no longer tied to gate camping and all gears recieved 4-6 new skills.

Frenchman? I think I have to go to the nearest rental <_<

What options do we have besides Zion?

Oh. Then I think I should humbly ask for one *^_^*

Buddy keys? But you still need to buy the game so someone can give them to you, right?

This may be interesting. I'd play it for a while for my "research" if there is some kind of free trial.

I don't think any NPC's who don't have a living person (GM) behind them are useless and pointless. Same goes for quests: tasks for the PC's should be rewarding by themselves, and the closest thing to a quest would be mastered and not recurring (Think of the tree in Seed).
Skill systems and character development are IMHO needed - I like to know there are people who can do things better than my character as well as worse. But (I think it was mentioned here earlier) lower skill levels should be playable and useful by themselves and actually more needed than higher level (Example: a Master Smith can forge a Great Sword for the Mighty Warrior to defeat the Fearsome Beast with. But who's gonna make pots for him to eat from and shoes for his horse?).

The best way is to either keep non-roleplayers out or make them roleplay. Hidden skill levels, reducing the grind factor and the amount of numbers involved in the game will all further this cause.

Ya got m'con-fir-ma'n t' let 'is thin' go! ((Semi-IC))