OK, some stuff (mainly for TI, but I'm sure if we need it, then others must as well, for various reasons)
- More species! Even if it's just a fourth spot for the briefing icons - in fact, that's really all I'm asking. Any other species stuff would be great (diff colours in FRED, etc.) but a fourth slot for each briefing icon is the most important.
- Layered mission backgrounds (just add an overlay checkbox in FRED - this would only give you two layers, but that'd be enough for planetary rings, moons over planets (as opposed to offset as they must be now), planets at dawn, etc.)
- More control over weapons animations - primary/secondary impact animations defined by the ship (overriding weapon impact anis from weapons.tbl) - multiple, definable shockwaves.
There's probably more I haven't thought of - will add to the list if I think of any more.
Out of all these though, the first is definitely the most important.