Game design from the beginning

[ixnay]

That's a good idea. As Margaret Mead once said (paraphrasing here) "Never underestimate the power of individuals to change the course of history -- indeed they're the only ones who ever have."

I'm inclined to say let's put it in the second round of development (intermediate rules set), unless there is popular demand to have characters play a role even at the simplest level.