Make sure that early game class decisions affect where the player's character reaches in the late game (statwise). Greatest downfall of western rpg style imo is class consolidation in late game. Half way thru you max out your most-used stat and branch out-which is quite fun and refreshing sometimes- but before the end of the game this has happened several times and despite your original class your character ends up being the same Superman he would have been had he started as a mage, thief, archer, etc