This is going to be long but I really like Ryzom a lot and see it having way more potential than the other MMORPGs I've played so I want to take the time to provide my initial feedback and suggestions.
There are a few client usability issues that I'd like to see addressed:
1) volume control. I talk to a couple of friends on Teamspeak while I play. For some reason, the Ryzom sounds are incredibly loud compared to other games we've played and I can't hear my friends even though I've got Teamspeak's volume maxed. Consequently, I play with all sounds disabled.
2) some different preset keymap schemes. It'd be nice to have some pre-configured keymap schemes that follow other game layouts and conventions. Most notably, it'd be nice to have a pre-configured 'wasd' keymap scheme so you don't have to set it up yourself and worry about reassigning things that were tied to those keys.
3) camera moving on its own. When I'm in combat and perform an action, the camera always changes to directly face the target of the action rather than staying put where I want it. I want the camera to be locked behind my character at all times. If I'm in combat with 2 friends and want to be able to heal both, the camera keeps bouncing back and forth as I switch targets and it's too easy for me to lose targets out of view.
4) chat usability. I'd like the cursor controls to work in chat. Yes, I realize that if they work in the chat line, you won't be able to control your character while typing. However, I rarely find that I'm trying to move my char while typing a chat message. I mean, my fingers are busy typing the message, not hitting the cursor keys
Also, if I enter a slash command (/who, etc.), I should have to open a chat line first. In other words, hitting the '/' key should just do that automatically.
5) a "quit to character selection" option. You shouldn't have to quit all the way to desktop to switch characters. It takes far too long to load the game from scratch each time.
In addition to these client usability issues, there's a couple of "nice to haves" I'd like to see in the client:
1) built in browser: A big part of the community on a game like this is the fan websites that get developed. Some games allow you to expose your fan website in the game using a simple in-game browser. With all of the reference sites that get created on games like this (loot and equipment lists, etc.), this really gives these website developers a way to enhance gameplay for people.
2) more detailed maps: I'd like to be able to zoom in and see much more detail on the maps. Like if I mark a resource location, the resolution of the map isn't sufficient to actually get me right back to the same spot, just the general vicinity. It'd be nice to have the map tie in with the prospecting skill somehow. Like maybe a higher level skill that let you find and mark veins of stuff on your map.
Finally, there's several things I'd like to see added to the gameplay and game content itself:
1) Crafting: This is a very important area of MMORPGs to me. I think the Ryzom crafting system is a good start, however, right now there's really no sense of accomplishment in the crafting system. My initial feeling is that it's going to boil down to a mindless grind to get the next recipe. In the last game I played, you had to analyze items (both vendor and loot-only items) to get the recipe. You could only analyze things at or below your skill level. This provided a great sense of accomplishment when you analyzed a rare item and could then build it for people. I think it's important to have a system where there's more to building than just grinding away making boots. As an aside to this, I think it's a bad idea to begin everyone with the same boot recipe. When I pick a craft pack, I should be able to pick the area I want to start crafting in.
2) Environments are a little plain and not much variation across one region. Like when I first appeared in the Trykker starting land, it basically looked like the Fyros land but with a little water. It sure seems desolate for a lake region. I haven't seen the Matis land since earlier beta but at the time I was pretty disappointed. I didn't see the huge trees like in the pictures (except for a few in towns). Rather, the place was filled with what looked like plum trees. It felt more like an orchard than a forest. I think the wildlife behavior is fantastic and i love the day-night and season change. But I think the overall "texture" of the world could be improved.
I'm sure I'll think of other things but this seems like a good start
