BACKWARDS_COWBOY'S PROFILE

I'll snag E2 while it's open. Seems like an easier panel for my spriting level.

Well, thanks for the feedback everybody. After reading it all, and looking at what would be easy to implement in RMVXAce without too much scripting, I'm thinking the following:

-Grid-based top-down movement (the default setting of RPG Maker! How convenient!)
-Rare drops from normal enemies, and semi-random chests (Example: it will always give gold, but the amount is random)
-Save points on every floor, with maybe a checkpoint on the larger ones, and the ability to warp to every nth floor of the dungeon as you get to it, with the later warp points having less floors between them
-Story-driven, with pre-set characters
-Customization via skill trees and class changing, skill points are gained through leveling up
-Town outside of the dungeon, with optional quests and little event scenes here and there
-Trick/trap floors, pits, forced movement tiles, etc.
-Mostly random encounters, with some event tiles having battles, and powerful enemies and bosses being represented on the map, so they could be avoided (the enemies, not the bosses) or have a floor where getting through without getting killed is based on watching their movement patterns. You could return to the floor later and kill them for their items.
-Escape spells and items, or items that create a temporary warp point.
-Shortcuts

I like the flow of ideas and examples that came from everybody. I hadn't even thought of an indoor/outdoor combination. I had thought about using a tower as the dungeon, so that seems like a high possibility as you get closer to the top. I'm also aiming to be opposite of games like Final Fantasy where bosses were immune to effect spells. Of course some bosses are going to be immune to some things, but for the most part, you can put them to sleep or poison them, etc.

When faced with a lack of music, there is a free RMN Music Pack out there that, as far as I know, doesn't see as much use as commercial rips due. On top of that, several users have entire music packs that they allow for use with non-commercial projects, and I don't think they see that much use either:

Aaron Krogh: http://rpgmaker.net/forums/topics/11322/
Scythuz: http://rpgmaker.net/forums/topics/13805/ (User allows the use of music for commercial projects)

Some of the music even meets or beats the music that people take from Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, etc. Personally, I prefer to use other user's music before taking things from commercial games, since it voids any fears of legal issues, and generally supports the community more.

I think Final Fantasy 3 did it right with limited Phoenix Down. The only way to obtain it was from chests, or rare monster drops. When your healer went down in a battle, or if you don't have Raise yet, you need to decide whether you can find a revival spot (Not an Inn, but a pot or body of water that somehow revives the dead) without a healer, and whether or not it is worth it to have the healer miss out on the experience. Less useful late in the game, but up until you have the ability to cast Raise 15 or so times, it's a difficult decision. The same goes with Elixirs later in the game, where you could be in the middle of a dungeon, and desperately need your MP restored. Can you make it out? If you have Teleport, sure, but if not, you need to use it.

Disgaea did it pretty well, as well as the early Fire Emblem games. You could only bring so many items into battle, and could only purchase them at certain times. In Disgaea it was between levels, and in earlier Fire Emblem games it was during a battle at shops on the current map, with later ones using the between-levels format. Weapon degradation in Fire Emblem also affected money and inventory management. It turned into "Can my tank make it through the level with just one spear, or does he need two? Will the healer need more than one Mend? How many Vulneraries will my mage need?" Of course those two game aren't typical RPGs, being story-driven strategy games.

It's not just Sony. Apple uses Foxconn, and Microsoft is using it for the new Xbox as well as their phones. Basically every major electronics company uses cheap underpaid/free labor. I also wouldn't call it "slave" labor, since they can leave if they want and aren't beaten into doing it. It's basically like the forced community services or fundraisers in many American high schools, except you learn something useful.