[Skuld]

Well, this is a good question. Let's see if I can make a list:

1. Please, for the love of whomever it is you pray to before you go to bed, let it have nothing to do with the previous two games, NPC's included.
2. Have it set in the same world, but somewhere that's been previously unused like Calimshan.
3. Latest ruleset would be cool.
4. Subraces would be OK as long as they're balanced and compliant with the dnd rules being used. Something along the lines of IWDII would work I guess.
5. 3D: I could really care less. If doing it in 3D didn't compromise the quality of gameplay go for it, but if it means that I'm gonna have a crappy game with system requirements that according to the box my computer should be able to handle but can't **cough NWN** I can do without it.
6. Explorable wilderness areas. I loved how in BG you could just wander around in the woods for days, which is exactly what I did my first run through because I neglected to read a certain plot required document. I kinda missed that aspect in BGII and IWD.
7. A deep story, with a good variable plotline dependent on the character's actions throughout the game. And a fair amount of non-plot related quests, but keep it realistic, as has been mentioned before. I like the idea of quests with some motivation like Fable said. And to go along with that, as previously mentioned, the alignment system from PS:T would be great.
8. Start at level ONE should be the only option here, and in addition make an exp cap that you won't hit before finishing the game if you're soloing.
9. Make the ridiculously powerful items hard to get, and make it a rewarding ordeal.
10. The option to be able to go through a game sheerly using your powers of wit, charm, diplomacy, and stealth would be nice. Sure it would be tough to do, but make it doable. I know there are a lot of people out there who would like to play a thief or bard that would be perfectly content going through the game killing nothing, unless of course you're required as part of a quest to bring back someone's head.
11. The newer rulesets for dnd make classes extremely customizable from the start, so I don't see a real reason for kits, but schemes kinda like NWN had would be OK for people unfamiliar with the system to get them started. And along the same lines prestige classes would be something I'd like to see.
12. It's a small thing, but someone suggested having limit
ed conversation choices based on class. Like a Paladin shouldn't be able to steal. So what if a Paladin steals, no one cares unless the church finds out, and then they send people after him. That's how it should work. It goes along the lines of how the game plays out is a consequence of your actions. If a paladin does enough bad deeds and the church finds out they'll send a bounty hunter or someone out to retrieve him and if he succums to them he'll be taken in front of the church and dealt with properly. Possibly being stripped of his status, or possibly forced to pay reparations.
13. NPC's with a detailed background and ongoing story. So, having different NPC's in your party will force different people throughout the game to respond differently to you. And each NPC should have some sort of sidequest that unfolds as the game progresses.
14. No battles including armys, gods, or anything ridiculous like that. I'd like to think the average CRPG gamer is NOT a male between the ages of 10 and 15 who wants to find the most absurdly uber weapon and flay everything in his path.

I think that's it. If I think of anything else I'll be sure to post it, but I think I've outdone myself as it is.