This seems like as good a place as any to post this...
Dear Someone,
I have a concept for my ideal MMORPG. An MMO that I, and I'm sure thousands of others, would play non-stop from here to judgement day. If this idea comes to fruition thru you or any other company I do not require any compensation or mention what so ever for bringing it to your or anyone's attention, I just want this game. Period.
So, first things first... The game is a mech MMO. The mech style I prefer would be the Orbital Frames from Zone of the Enders, but simply because they are light, agile, and in a constant "flight" mode, but can land on the ground thus shutting off the boosters (can recharge fuel cells this way?). Also the "sonic flight mode" or whatever you choose to call it where the arms and legs are locked in a rigid possition, boosters opened to maximum thrust, weapon systems disabled, could also be implemented for great distance travel. I also liked the idea, from Zone of the Enders, that every different style frame has different attacks and weaknesses unique to that frame. I think the combat gameplay itself should be handled to remain face-paced and action oriented like ZOE, but I would like to see some frames (or pilots) that rely on stealth tactics as well. An important note would be that you character in this game is a orbital frame pilot, not the frame. In towns you should dismount your frame and navigate the town as your pilot. Outside of towns you should always be in your frame, unless in the unhappy event that your frame takes too much damage, in which case your pilot should eject. Now on the ejection note I was thinking of having the pilot, himself, eject and afterwards have the ability to ride within a friends frame back to town for safety, but the cockpit of the frame detatching itself and becoming a escape pod on direct route to the last xvisited, or closest safe settlement would also work. It is important to note that there is no eperience loss associated with ejecting from an incapacitated frame. This would only occure if your frame is detroyed with you still inside, or your pilot is killed after having ejected. It should also be possible to repair your incapacitated frame in the field. This could be accomplished thru a few mechanic skills combined with some junk parts to make just enough repairs to get back to safety, or thru a fellow pilot towing your frame back to town for full repairs. If your frame is destroyed, pilots would have to have insurance on their frame, of some sort, to have it reimbursed with weapons/equipment intact, or purchase another one. Frames would of course be customizable, as well as the pilots. The customization goes far beyond the aesthetic, as each piece of equipment added would add weight and thus slow the frames agility, countered by upgrading the frame's boosters and so on. Not only should the pilot learn skills and abilities that apply to any frame he pilots (provided the frame's capable of pulling off the maneuver, i.e. a large, heavy battle frame could not pull off a light frame's extended boost maneuver) but the more he uses a certain type of frame (there should be categories of different frames, light-fast-weak, medium, heavy-strong-slow) and a certain make of frame (each race of the game would have their own variation on the basic styles of frames) the more of that particular frames special weaponry becomes available. By special weaponry I mean these are abilities inherent in the frame since it's manufacture date and cannot be transferred from one frame to another. They would be special attacks (like the chest of your frame opens to deliver a large beam attack) or optic-thermo stealth capabilites (ala Ghost in the Shell). There should be both long range and close range weaponry. Long range weapons range from SMGs to sniper rifles to colossal siege cannons. Close range weapons would range from energy knuckles for 'bare hand brawling' to energy swords to large booster-driven lances. These, of course, would be removable and transferable to any frame with the correct aperture.
The level system... Your pilot, of course, will be gaining levels. Gaining levels increases his skill and thus grants him higher grade licenses which are required to use more advanced frames. The frame the pilot is currently using should also gain levels. The levels gained by the frame make it's special weaponry or technology more powerful or advanced (a frame's chest beam weapon would do more damage as the frame gains levels, a frame's optic-thermo stealth camouflage would be less detectable as the frame gains levels).
The class system... Your pilot, at creation, would choose a class. Light, medium, or heavy. This will be the player deciding which type of frames best suit their play style as the player would start with a very rudimentary, basic version of the chosen style of frame. This does NOT mean that if you start out as a light class pilot that you cannot pilot a heavy frame, or vice versa, as anyone can pilot any frame provided they have attained the correct license. This would ensure that players can try out all aspects of the frames to decide which they are the most comfortable playing with without having to make several diferent characters.
The skill system... Your pilot gains access to a number of skills as he progresses in levels. Every pilot has access to the same skills as every other pilot, though not all skills are usable with every frame. So i guess one could say the only thing that will differentiate your character from another (beyond the aesthetic adjustments you've made, or course) is the frame you are piloting and how long you have been piloting that frame, how much of it's potential you have unlocked.
Other than the outlines I have provided, I'm sure there are moany more deatils that can be improved upon or added. This, in my opinion, would be the ultimate and best MMO ever created and I thuroughly hope someone will consider it.
Thank you.
Runner