I'm not trying to be a stick in the mud but I personally feel that the system right now is based around the remort and skill level system... which is "ok" but not optimal, and that is what is making it old or boring or whatever.
To fix that a whole rehash of the system needs to be done, and by that I mean give actual classes actual differences (much like I hear is being planned for Particles rpg) as well as integrate some sort of more personal feeling to each place, each merchant, each npc... etc..
First of all I would release 3 or 4 versions. 1 is the server version which has all of the files needed to run the server. 2 is the full non-server version, ie; it has all the needed add ons to make the client side work, but that's all. 3 would be a client-side lite version, which would incorporate all the needed graphics and basic sounds on the client side, but would leave out the really huge music files and unneeded sound packs for the merchants. The fourth version would be like the 3rd lite version, but it would include the complex sound packs while leaving out the music files, among possibly a few other things.
That would help enable the mod itself to be used by people with all ammounts of RAM and video card specifications... or at least most.
Second that would keep the server's running a little more smooth because the servers would only have what they needed to run (ie; dedicated server style) and not be rendering and playing all the other stuff from the full client version.
To sum it up, I would say that a lot of work needs to be done, but to do anything you must first come up with a solid plan based on the engine, RAM, video, and playability parameters, then write in harmony with that. Of course, having good ideas helps too. :-)
Fun Fact: My Mom wanted to name me Harmony. My Dad said no (which I appreciate with my whole heart.) So my Mom named me after my Dad. :-)
