Suggestions for a SOD mod.

I definitely prefer the second option.
And the most challenging part here is figuring out what and how to "polish" so that it appeals to players.

Ideas like the ones mentioned in the header won't appeal to players. There's the Rose Cavalier plugin for single-player, and multiplayer has its own features, such as restructuring the guild of mages. What else can be "improved" here, and more importantly, for whom?