One feature I would welcome to the game is a 3D world map, similar to Mount & Blade or Final Fantasy.
Why? To visualize player's travel path between locations. In my opinion, that has a lot of potential. Zoom in, and you see small player's model on the 3D Map, zoom out all the way, and you see all the regions divided on the map, similar to 2D map. Of course, with all the original features, like search and filter (maybe grey out locations, not disable them on the map).
Here are some benefits of 3D map:
1) You can see player traveling cautiously, keeping to the roads(once roads are implemented), visiting inns and slowly getting closer to the destination. Or maybe you can see your character recklessly crossing mountains and forrests, trying to get to location ASAP.
2) Travel time can be seen in real time. You see days passing by, meanwhile your character finds a way to cross the river (once rivers are implemented
) It gives a better sense of progression.3) Travelling by foot, horse, cart and even ship can be represented with small 3D model, making it clear where exactly you embark. Maybe some rivers will even support boats in the future, who knows?
4) Great way to track player's position for Random Encounters. Not only does computer know where something happens, but player sees it too. Now imagine a random encounter in the middle of a sea, like a pirate ambush!
5) Many other features can be added in vain of M&B, e.g. travelling merchants, peasants, nobles, etc. Additional freedom can be given to the player, not only to travel to some destination, but to walk around the map! Of course, dungeons will stay hidden until found in real world, but maybe you can exit the map near one?
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Of course, it would take quite a bit of coding and even some modeling to achieve best result, but I think it's definitely worth it. If anyone with the skills would be interested in doing it, I would be grateful. If not, give me approximately a year and I think I'll be able to do it.
