1. There aren't too many obvious items in an MMO based off vehicular combat. There are the obvious "armor" items, the obvious "weapon" items… but what else? I have attempted to solve this in two ways. First, the main types of objects in the game are separated into two types: Chassis and Weapons. Chassis are the armor in the game; you can have only one equipped at a time, and each one is specialized for a different purpose. Weapons are similarly applied (although you can cycle through all your equipped weapons easily), and make up the majority of the game's "class distinctions." Both of these item types are modified by the following attributes:

* Type. This is the overall type of weapon or armor - such as "Lightning Cannon" or "Buggy Chassis." This defines the base attributes of the item, as well as any special abilities it has.

* Subtype. This is a modifier that represents the item's combat role - for instance, a "Light" item is generally fast but weak, while a "Heavy" item is the opposite.

* Tier. This is the overall quality of the item, ranging from Tier 1 to Tier 5. This attribute is mainly affected by the level of the crafter - for instance, a newbie would be able to make a Tier 1 item with about 1/3 the normal attributes; while a high-level crafter could make a Tier 5 item with 3 times the normal attributes.

* Quality. This is one of two attributes that can be affected after the creation of an item. It represents the secondary quality of an item - from Q0 being only the smallest part more than a Q100 item of the next tier down, to Q100 being almost as much as a Q0 item of the next tier up. This attribute varies with use, with Conditions applied to the item, and with repair.

* Conditions. This attribute can be applied in multiples. It represents various things that can happen to that item, such as Rust, Age, and Battle Scarring. These conditions can be added or removed, but the removal of bad conditions may be quite difficult.

* Features. Similar to item Enchantments in games such as Guild Wars, these are user-applied objects that give an item special attributes, such as night vision. You can have only a limited number of such attributes on an item.

2. I have decided on the length of Lions' campaign. It will be about 15 missions, and will take you from the coast of Greenland to the farthest reaches of the Atlantic. Along the way, you will struggle with the fleets of the Black Cross, take on missions for some rather pompous rulers, and rebuild your once-grand fortune.