those ideas sound good. perhaps I\'m saying the same as Tygerwilde, but how \'bout if a person\'s legs get stronger the more he runs? then the person would run slowly at first (to get to know the layout better) and speed up to keep from getting bored. (one simple thing that makes UT2003 feel like more fun than Q3 is that you run faster in UT2003.) this would discourage creating lots of characters.
I understand that it\'s not going to have leveling up, and I like that idea, but the running exercise could be a good compromise.
(hopefully, characters also get tired and hungry and will have to eat high-protein food to get stronger...eh?)
I still like the idea of the horses (or Chocobo anyone?) and the caravan... the more unique methods of transportation, the better...