Monster Numbers:
Re-spawning over time? I wouldn't worry about that, RP's don't last long enough for things such as these to be a problem.
Jerks and Levelling up? There's no levels here, although if you're looking to increase your stats, this'll be achieved by completing GM-given quests.
Jerks clearing out dungeons/areas? Then you'll be able to walk across the landscape, picking up the odd discarded item that the one-man army couldn't carry,
Dungeons already being fuck-yeah-aventured? GM quests will repopulate them. For example, if someone else goes there, clears it out- hold on, let me run ahead and cover the quest system.
Ahem.
I post a series of quests on the OOC. You guys team up and go do them. Once you've done them, you get your promised rewards.
Quest plots will account for cleared areas, when needs be. I.e, a cleared dungeon may suddenly become home to a group of bandits holding a nobleman's daughter captive.
Quests will not overrun someone else' presence in a dungeon or area if it is considered 'game breaking' to them.
You go off, doing you're own thang, wandering across the hostile landscape, killing stuff and harvesting weapons, meeting all kinds of strange characters.
Sometimes you'll encounter a hapless NPC in need of aid.
Sometimes you'll encounter a competent NPC in need of your head.
Monsters are background noise, the dungeons are explorable. Your life is meaningless like in Skyrim after the intro quest.
Your needs are considered secondary though; so if I send someone after that golden amulet in the Temple of Tears, and you decide suddenly you want it, then you better explain to everyone how your guy/gal suddenly knew it was there.
This will be expanded upon. Freedom basically, is what the sandbox life style gives. The quests give structure and direction. Both have their pros and cons, and both can coincide under the warm and watchful eye of yours truly.
.................
Getting back on track.
You think an iron clad warrior is invulnerable to a skeleton using a bow? I don't. I really don't.
I see the point you're trying to make. OMFG guys walking around with OMFG weapons and armour like this is WoW, clearing out the level 1 starting area. This is not WoW. Weapons and armour certainly offer bonuses, but not on that scale. I'm getting to the loot levels, just give me time, then all will be clear. If I start letting players decide what spawns and where, I will probably see fallouts. Let me mull over this, if you would be so kind.
Deciding on this at the moment; not sure if to let players have more than one character, or for me to allot NPCs to them. If I let them have more than one character, then we'll get bands of adventurers played by one guy going solo across the land, defeating the point of the RP. If I allot them NPCs, then I can see myself spending hours each night designing them or answering innate questions about their hair styles.
Will be mulling this over tomorrow, whilst at work. However, your/everyone's thoughts on this will be valued.
It's a good question, and a painful one too. I know what you're asking.
Mr. SyrianHamster sir, please can you give me a fully fledged description of Ironshore's animal and plant life, along with their latin names, mating rituals and osmosis levels?
The short answer is: Unless you want this to be in development for the next ten years, then we'll have to rely on player in-put for this. I'll draw boundaries, you guys fill them... you know, so like I draw a circle in the sand, and you guys draw shapes inside said circle - but if you EVER GO OUTSIDE THE LINES I WILL END YOU.
Thanks for bringing it up though, I'll be sure to address this.
Another good question that requires more than a half arsed answer.
I'll get back to this tomorrow, but the plan was to focus on traditional dungeon crawling magic lore. So yes to potions, yes to fireballs, yes to everyone knowing what magic is.