Why MMO's are losing appeal.

First let's go with saying that Level based games are becoming and should be a thing of the past.

- Once you hit max level you are not left with many options beyond PvPing in designated zones (instants) and Raids.

- It becomes a grind of gear to get anywhere after you hit max level so it's doing the same thing over and over and over.

- You are hard pressed to play with friends as you might be more hardcore and they are casual, so you can't have them in your group with their level being 10 or more below yours.

Why is level based system still used? It's currently what works, as displayed by World of Warcraft and there are few who are being brave enough to leave this style.

Why skill based games work?

- You can pretty much go anywhere with low level skills. You will have difficult time with tougher areas, but still a chance.

- Friends could play together because there was no level requirements; and your friend will gain skill from fighting even if he/she doesn't hit as often.

What are some ideas to include (progressive list)

Crafting

- Skill gain by use of course, higher the skill the better you get at retrieving resources.

- Reading books to gain new ways to get more resources, special resources or new ways to build something

- Let's make it in-depth like Vanguards or Everquest 2, put the player into it, don't hand it to them like other games have. Adventures travel and sell some of the rare items they find to crafters.

1. Books are rare (maybe 1-5 copies)
2. Takes time to read
3. Can set up as an offline thing, but as soon as you start playing you are hit with consequences be it "Tired" where you are weaker or slower gain in skills.
4. Guilds or people would horde these but you can use another skill to try and copy the book, but it will take time and special materials to copy them.

Combat

- Skill use is still the best way to go with this. The more you use it the better you are.

- Use a stamina system for this. You have to get tired from using combat/spell/craft but the better you are the less impact to it the drain.

- Combat focus lets you center your skills in like One handed fighting to a certain weapon. But you can only go into this once you hit a certain skill level to show you are dedicated to that craft.

-Let's go with masters to learn this, but also books can be used to learn a certain stance once you have the basics from your masters you are able to go with the special abilities in your chosen field. Ex - If you want to learn to leap and kick then you need to find this master and then that master leads you to find a book or item to improve that attack.

- Being able to target spots of a body for special injuries but are harder to get at, would bring something new to combat and allows people to focus on healing skills.

Healing -

Spells seem to be a choice, but depending on the game how far do you want to go with them in this area. Where else could you go with this, well there's the bandaging similar to Ultima Online, which would work but hard to do while in combat (should be anyways). Similar to Star Wars Galaxies where doctors/medics were of value and fun to play where they were needed to fix a wound/sprain. Some actually enjoyed this job starting their own business and having customers come up to them, while they are herbing/crafting potions and ask if they can take a look at their leg/arm or some disease they can't cure with magic.

1. Alchemy items to heal.
2. Injuries from combat or other things like critical failure in crafting a new item; could make you have an broken arm that lowers your effectiveness and you need a skilled medical person to fix you.
3. Areas like a hospital or shrine give you that healing bonus when working.
4. Magic can't cure everything so other means of medicine need to be looked at.
5. Books teach special techniques.

Magic