New Lands Online is a game I've been working on for a while, I just got a team to help so I decided to post about it.
Outline -
New Lands Online is a Medieval/Renaissance Fantasy MMORPG. It's set in two realms, which you start in depending on the faction you choose.
Gameplay -
The Gameplay is slightly different to other MMORPGs. At the start of the game you will be given a series of quests that will serve as a tutorial. These can not be skipped, but can be played at any time. You are free to explore before doin them. After doing these first few quests you will be given a Storyboard Quest. These are done in instanced areas so that other players can not help the player. These quests will follow the main storyboard throughout the game. There are also many side quests much like normal MMORPGs if you don't want to do the Storyboard Quests.
Primary Goals -
New Lands Online looks to be a self reliant game with a minimal fee to start playing the game and an Item Mall. We hope to accomplish an avanced AI system, and all around different aproach to MMO's.
Races -
There are two different factions in the game known as the Dioren, can be considered the "good" side. Also the Voidren, which can be considered as the "bad" side.
Dioren -
- Human
- Elf
- Half - Giant
- Korden
- Centaur
Voidren
- Demon
- Vampire
- Lycen
- Werewolf
- Drake
Storyboard - I'll show the begining of the storyboard for the Dioren, I go up to the end of the "tutorial quests".
- In a land were war was common, and even loved by some, there exists two great factions. The first, known as the Dioren, are peaceful and nurturing. Their king, Tioren, is thought of as a kind, and just king. The others, known as the Voidran, are ruthless and love war. Their king, Dune, is known as a greedy and cruel king. Only years ago the two great factions knew naught of the other, but now, that time has changed. A new realm had been found, one large enough to satisfy the growing needs of the two great factions. Only one problem pertains, who has the power to take it?
- The Elite Legion is the highly trained, personal guards for king Tioren. They have an incredibly dangerous job, and it is usually for life, although life, for them, is no great span of time. You, an aspiring young warrior, craves to be a part of the renowned Elite Legion, start your training. In the last stage of your training, you stumble upon a golden gem; happily you think to sell it. As the artisan strikes the gem with his hammer, a great burst of light erupts from the gem. Once the light clears, you astoundingly see a golden portal standing, were it seems like only seconds ago, stood a tiny, and incomparably small, golden gem.
The Main Storyboard Quests start here. The Voidren have a similar way of starting of the game also. The main quests are very intricate, and at some points difficult, the player will experience surprising defeat were they thought certain victory, returning to a land were they thought to be hero's and find their land in chaos, kings kidnapped, and more.
Once you finish the Storyboard Quests you will be allowed to fight in the pvp battles in the New Realm. There will be Guild vs. Guild battles betweeen Dioren and Voidren as well.
Unique Features -
Quad Wielding -
One of the playable race's unlocks a skill which allows it to use all four of its arms to wield weapons. You can either use 4 one handed weapons, 2 two handed weapons, or one of the few 4 handed weapons.
Guild System -
When you purchase your own guild it starts out as level 1, and as you gain members and resources your guild gains levels. Once it reaches level 3 your guild is able to create a hall. As you level up it gets bigger and easier to defend. If an enemy guild attacks your guild it has a chance of taking half of your items in the Guild Deposit if it defeats your guild. If you defeat the attacking guild you aquire the killed players most valuable item. These will have to be agreed upon by both sides before the battle. Guild hall guards are available for purchase also, although you are only allowed to have a certain amount depending on the level, and they gain ten levels per guild level.
Flight System -
Certain pets have the ability to fly, which allows you to fight other airborn enemies which would be unavailable to attack if you were on the ground. Also their are zones which are only available if you fly to them. These will have many high level enemies to fight on.
Storyboard -
The game will also a feature instanced storyboard quests, which later allow you access to the Neutral Realm which allows many types of PVP battles, and extrememly difficult dungeons which allow huge parties.
Bounty Hunter Gang - At level 20 you are able to join the Bounty Hunter Gang. There will be NPC's from level 20 and on to kill for generous rewards. These will all be difficult for their levels, and you may need a group to kill them. You are also able to kill players who have been put on the targets list. They become on of them by lowering their reputation very low. To lower your reputation you must kill players who do not have there PK mode on. This is only allowed in certain area's and only to players 10 levels higher or lower than you.
Outlaw Gang - Once your reputation is low enough you are allowed to join the Outlaw Gang. This allows you to attack traveling traders or officials and sell them or their good to a city. Usually traders or officials will be heavily guarded depending on their worth or the worth of their goods. Also unique items will be available at the gangs town.
Screenshots - Here are some screenshots of the houses in the Dioren city, Varlian, Capital of the Humans.
Please post comments or critiques below.
One thing to note is that the outline you give about the tutorial quests, and instanced storyline quests is exactly how Lord of the Rings: Online works. The only difference is that the tutorial in the beginning is instanced, and you cannot skip them while exploring the world (you don't enter the main world until the tutorial is done). But I would suggest checking out LotRO and see how they did the Storyline Quests. See what worked, and what veteran players did not like about it. I remember a couple of gripes (such as people not liking to go back and catch-up on lower-level storyline quests that they could have done at lower levels), but I bet the long-term community could give you more feedback. 
