I'll simply set a few things in stone now:
- SM3 will be a new world, an alternate reality to BattleMaster - this solves the problem of SM characters being awfully powerful in the BM context, but it leaves us the opportunity to allow for some limited interaction between the two worlds.
- SM3 will continue the SM2 storyline, but much later. It will be a new universe to discover, but the events of SM and SM2 are part of its history. Yes, that includes the parts of SM2 that were never played - there is stuff to discover here.
I will create some game-mechanics, but very lightly so. It will be a role-playing game with some role-playing rules.
I'm still thinking about the magic system, but for the "big picture" yes, there will be "council stones" again. A council needs to have a stone. If people want to form a new council, they will have to quest for a stone.
I'm thinking about giving the game two layers. One in which the characters compete for whatever they want to compete for, and one in which the councils compete for dominance over... something...
Give me a few more bursts of creativity and I'll have a concept. Until then - find us players. And GameMasters. I can't run this game as a solo GameMaster, we will need a few volunteers.