I know that PArc Minecraft is only in early days and I'm not seriously suggesting this as a mode for implementation any time soon, but I just wanted to run the idea past people here for feedback to the idea
Currently, PArc Minecraft has a creative server, an SMP server and an Equestria (i.e. roleplay) server. Discounting the creative server, this leaves us with:
Equestria server - Great for roleplay, but static in terms of player construction. SMP server - Some amazing building and good roleplay, but it's not governed by any overall unifying factors.
What I have in mind is a server which exists in the middle ground between these two. It would possibly have the following attributes:
A unifying lore, not necessarily a direct port of Equestria (we have a server for that already) but that wouldn't stop it being MLP:FiM related. SMP aspects: enemies, hunger, no flying (unless race specific) etc. Players can buy plots/build property in the 'countryside' or purchase housing in player-built (but heavily designed) cities that serve as the hubs of the server: Everyone is entitled to start off with a basic 'shack' in a city. Built housing has to conform to area aesthetics (e.g. a 'Norse' themed village would not have a sandstone tower in it.) Mining/resource gathering highly regulated. Profession-based plugins. A respawning community mine/lumber area. Non-instance, required RP: All RP has lasting consequences. (Optional) If it was an MLP-related lore, all characters would be OCs for fairness.
That's the basics of it. I don't know of any examples of over servers which still operate something like this at present, though these ideas are largely based off a server called 'Mel-Lenxia' which shut down years ago but was one of the best RP experiences I ever had.
So what do you guys think? I think it would be a lot of work, maybe too much, but practicalities aside, what do you think of the core idea?