[sevenpointflaw]

I actually like the idea of chocobos not being player controled, though allowing for the queueing of commands. I suppose then there are some ideas that we can do to improve on that:

Jockies: Since we aren't the controlers of the chocobos, who is? Someone has to ride them right? As it is we have NPC buddies. Why not NPC jockies, or in this case, Chocies (pronounced with a long O sound like in Chocobo, not short as in jocky)!

I'm not saying they are someone we can "play" like we do with our NPCs, but having your own jockies opens up a whole new world of possibilities.

- Every Chocy starts out at same relative level
- Winning races increases your bond with your chocy/chocobo for improved performance
- New commands become available at higher levels, rewarding avid chocobo owners
- Quests to improve relationship between your Chocy and your chocobo

It could very easily handled through a randevouz system, menu driven through conversation like your current NPC is, and of course at any time you could "fire" them and start the process over. Its probably far fetched, but race has always had little significance in the game when push comes to shove, and some racial benifits could be added.

For example, Tarutaru could have better speed (smaller Chocy) on a janet chocobo than a Mithra would, but a mithra could likely have more finesse over them. Galaka might be heavier and thus slower, but they can certainly exert a lot more control over thier chobos. And lets not forget those firey red chocos that might have a better disposition to the riders of thier herritage - the Elvaan.

Just an idea, I guess.

Double Post Edited:
Oh yeah! Fooooood.... I would love to be able have a set time to have a moment alone with my chocobo before the race. Give it a little encouragement, maybe feed it some of that super rare Movement Speed +1% food that I want SE to add to the game.

Of course, feed it too much food and it will be affect them in a bad way. I'd hate to have my chocobo run by the way side mid-race.

Betting: Betting should not, should not, should NOT create new gil, IMO. I think at this point - at least in Odin - the economy seems to be fighting back but a new large influx of NPC generated gil in the form of "Big Wins" would just suck for all the efforts against RMT. It would also be a really crap and easy way for RMT to make it big, which is bad.

SOoo... Betting I think would have to be on system that was player driven, but NPC supported (to keep people from opening /sh loan sharks mroe than they already will).

Betting could be done with official Cocobo Circut races say, three times a week on the weekend, one race, or one set of multiple races during each peak time. If there were an official chocobo racing schedule, the week pririor (Starting after conequest tally, and extending through the week) various trial races for placement in the official races could work.

A point system like NASCAR uses seems like a winning idea. 10 points for a win, 9 for 2nd, and on down to 1 point. Could even have different tier circuts for people 1-50 points, 50-200 points, 200-500 points total, etc. That way, people who dominate lower level circuts must move on to bigger fish, preventing ringleaders and RMTers from dominating the bets.

A cool down time on races would be nice also. Only three races a week, for example, or 5 races a week.

This all assuming an "official" race schedule of course.

open races would totally rawk too. <.< I talk to much.