would be nice to add an extra layer for p2ps to be able to level safely in (no pvp, bases)
A small area similar to the cadet outpost in ss1, where missions are given out at a "central" galaxy
that send u to ai ubers, dgs whatever and the further galaxies in the layer have roaming ai which u can kill to push past the f2p level limit so you stand out as a p2p.

DEBATE!

You mean, like Earthforce Layer?

This is what Earthforce Layer is for. I don't see why a duplicate but smaller version of it would add.

The concept has some merit: Go ptp and you can level more quickly in premium content areas.

In return players should expect increased difficulty, pvp, no perma drones/bases and less loot than would be expected from DGs and the like.

Personally I don't see the problem with someone making alts being able to level something like 30-50% more quickly at the expense of loot and ease.

I was thinking more along the lines of a set of daily missions that are only for p2p that give them nice ways to get extra XP and credits.

Another separate premium layer doesn't really make sense to me, because, really, to be useful at all level ranges, it would have to be nearly as big as EF space. We would just end up replicating EF space, except, what? Giving more XP for the guys there? Better to either give extra XP for p2p or extra daily missions for p2p and let them level in Earthforce space like they're supposed to.

Make more AIs that are killable for players level 2k and that give nice exp, thanks.

Instead of daily missions what about longer/more involving storylines?

Things such as 'factions' and large zones full of specific AI types would be fun.

An example would be having a mission chain based on an area (such as the Reaver's cathedral, or perhaps expanding upon some of the existing areas within the game via instances). Playing through the one-time missions would earn me 100~ levels whilst the daily missions would give me... 10/20?

One important thing to note is that in a game such as star sonata the missions must be easy to access; otherwise we end up with useless missions that take as long to reach as conventional leveling would OR end up with people leveling on nothing but missions.

Perhaps allow players to gain the majority of their level via storyline missions and then supplement this with mostly fixed EXP missions aimed at slightly higher levels.

I was thinking of a small xp boost for premium players. I know some other MMORPGs have that. At the moment there isn't any reason to go p2p before let's say.. level 400-500. XP boost would give a reason for subbing earlier. Staying f2p for longer would still be an option and players wouldn't feel they are forced to pay for a free-to-play game.

For some reason, a set XP boost just feels slightly more cheesy to me than premium-only daily missions. At least with dailies, you have to do something to get your extra XP and credits. But then there is the risk of things feeling a bit too grindy after a while, so I don't really know what's best.

There could be a different daily AI family that has maybe a 2.0 XP multiplier for different player levels. So for one day, all of the "pirate" class AI offer an XP multiplier etc.

If we had distinct factions, the daily missions could be really cool. There's huge potential here...like, you go to the center of the BG faction, and you take a mission to go into Forgone territory and take out a drone(which is, of course, guarded by like 40 forgies, spaced out throughout galaxies) and you can do it every day.

The coolest thing is that you could get some sort of "faction points" that let you become friendly to that faction. Lots of people would do them, if only to get BG's to stop attacking them