Perhaps someone has already done this, perhaps it's not appropriate to do, but something I'd like to see is a breakdown of the viability of professions at various levels at various styles of play, both now, and Funcom's intended viability (or perhaps what the playerbase interpret as the intended viability from documents released so far).
As one possible presentation:
* Consider each profession in the range 1 - 100, 101 - 200 and 201 - 220 - viability clearly changes over the levels, perhaps another range, perhaps a few indicative levels (60, 150, 200, 220) instead. Perhaps even split a few professions (e.g. ranged and melee Advies)
* Consider the roles of Solo PvM, Solo PvP, Team PvM and Team PvP
* Consider some indication of support, knowledge and wealth - from credit-less n00b up to Billions of creds with a family of alts to buff/assist in quests and a strong org
* Choose a system of ranking.
Example rankings might be:
* Non-viable - don't bother, it's not possible; will never be invited to teams
* Marginal - really hard work to get anywhere; considered no better than leaving a team spot empty
* Viable - can be done, but don't shine; might get team invite to complete the six
* Thriving - good steady progression; will regularly get team invites, occasionally named in LFM announcements
* Dominant - regarded as overpowered; in teams considered a vital profession to have
Viability is not quite the same thing as fun to play but has some correlation.
Why do this - well, it might help balancing discussions. But for me it might point in the right direction in musing on what I might play after rebalancing. Personally I want significant Solo PvM viability, some teaming PvM viability, and don't really care about PvP. For instance, it seems to me my current high level and poorly supported Trader will be dropping down to Marginal Solo ability, so will get retired (yes, a trader was fun for solo PvM up to about level 200).
Oh, and a decent discussion of team vs. solo from both side in an MMORPG is over in
http://forums.anarchy-online.com/sho...d.php?t=581809
It perhaps doesn't need rehashing here.