I KNOW THIS IS A LONG TEXT BUT PLEASE TELL ME IF YOU AGREE
I have an idea. I signed up in this forum just to tell you. I have a best friend who has a PS3 just like me and I think he will buy Skyrim.
I divided my ideas in topics:
Multiplayer:
Yeah, 10 players is too much, perhaps even 3 is too many. But what if, multiplayer was just a co-op. Like two people fighting. Imagine, dragonborn descendants, who met in their supposed execution (cousins because they should both be able to choose the race they want).
No tutorial:
Both of the players should have completed Dragonslayer or any of those advanced quests, because, instead of escaping with an NPC, they would escape with each other through the Helgan keep. There wouldn't be shown the Press L to crouch or anything like that. Plus, the items should be doubled so that both of them have all that they want without competing for items like the first axe you loot.
Time Stopping:
About the time stopping problem, I guess Slow Time shout should be abolished or just made enemies slow down, just like the archery Eagle Eye, it should just slow down the enemy in the crosshair. When equipping things in the O menu (in PS3 case) there should be the Become Ethereal effect on the player using that, so the enemies don't make damage until he is ready. The same should apply to looting corpses or containers.
Betrayals:
You may make your friend die against a strong enemy by becoming immortal with that, but whats the point of doing that on purpose? You may die after that. Also, no PvP, when you attack your partner, what should happen should be like when you attack a child, blood is spilled but no health points are taken.
Friends Only:
The people you play with should only be your Network buddies. You either add them on forums like this one or ask your known contacts if they have Skyrim.
Offline/Online trouble:
We all have different schedules. But you shouldn't be unable of playing a masterpiece like Skyrim just because your brother-in-arms is busy. You should be able to go on in evolving your skills and exploring the map. You should be warned whenever your friend enters the world and where is him. There also should be a Teleport to Friend option in the map, if he wasn't on any dungeon or fighting a dragon.
Respawning:
There should be a city where you respawn, instead of starting over the dungeon, which would be, in my opinion, Riverwood, because it's the beggining home of every champion of the realm.
Sleeping:
Yeah... That is one of the hardest. I guess that your character would only be seen sleeping in the bed for the amount of seconds you command it to. No hours, and no time changing.
Trading:
Whenever one of the two players trades with an NPC, the items he bought should no longer be available for only the buyer and not both. Trading with each other should also be possible, like bargaining a price for an Elven Mace. You should also be able to give the other player an item you crafted or found but wouldn't want. If you want him to carry your merchandise because he can carry more than you, be sure you trust him enough so that he won't sell your stuff.
Deaths:
Well, deaths may be troublemaking, but what if when you die and your friend is offline, you restart in any city with all your potions, apparel and money, and when he is online and fighting with you, his duty is to bring to (Ex: you respawn in Riverwood) Riverwood only one item that you have lost, like a sword or an armor you had equipped.
Odahviing/Call of Valor:
When one of the players has Call Dragon or Call of Valor equiped, it should be unavailable for he other player to use it. I mean, Odahviing is just one dragon. This would be pretty awesome because, can you imagine those two summoned at the same time? No one would stand a chance!
Speaking:
While NPCs' dialogue shows up in the bottom of the screen, your partner's should show up in a corner, chosen by him, either to you or to some NPC you two are talking to.
Communication:
You will need to talk to your partner about orders or hints. If you have a mic, how about it is like in Red Dead Redemption, holding SELECT (or other key in case of PC and XBox) would broadcast your voice to them anywhere in the map. If you don't have a mic, then square button (or other key in case of PC and XBox), instead of withdrawing your weapons, should show you a bunch of short sentences to send to your companion like: "Enemy!" "Don't move" "Dragon!" "Stay silent." "Loot these/those." "Imperials!" "Hehe!" "Fall back!" or "Don't attack!" "Lets sneak!" "Come on!" "I'm in jail." "Stormcloaks!" "Too strong!" "Stay away from that!" "Shout" "Don't get close to that creature." or even "I need you to cover me with a bow/magic/melee weapon.". Those would come in handy basically.
Quests:
First of all, instead of saying can I help you, there should be the option, can we help you. Either that or the NPC explains all he wants you to do at once, just like the inheritance man, when he shows up, he tells you everything you need to know.
Alduin:
I think perhaps Odahviing could take one in its paws and other on him. Not a big problem. You should press X to sit on him, like benches and thrones, and the last to reach the dragon has to go under it, which has no disadvantage.
Crime:
Only the outlaw should pay for his crimes. The other player shall remain untouched by the guards. The free player should be able to rescue the other from jail.
Imperials vs Stormcloaks:
Both players should agree previously which side they join. When they have the chance to kill Ulfric or Tullius, perhaps there should be options for each player to say either "You can kill him. I don't care." or waiting until the other says so.
Guilds:
Players should be invited at the same time to join the Thieves Guild, The Dark Brotherhood or The Companions. For example, when they are both in Riften, then they should be asked to do the task.
Skills:
When one player is smithing or lockpicking, the other can't do it in the same forge/lock. Simple.
Houses:
I think that is a matter of buying different houses, maybe creating another empty house and putting it for sale.
I have an evolving level 27 Argonian. All-around type, mostly One-Handed, Conjuration, Destruction. Also good at blocking, lockpicking, sneaking, archery and restoration. Kinda sucks in both-handed and smithing.