Why 2D?
Like, an order of magnitude less money. That pretty 3D world and characters that you're covering up with raid huds? It ain't cheap. With 2D, we don't need dozens of artists to do models and skins and normal maps and rigging and animation. We don't need to spend millions licensing Unreal Engine 3.
Flexibility
Hmm, so what should we do now that we're not spending all our time and money trying to dig into the uncanny valley? ...Anything! Anything my artists can draw up I can put in the game. After all, it's just a sprite, maybe a collision shape, and some code. We'll be able to fix bugs and try out new ideas faster than anyone.
Twitch! But...easier
Ah, MMO combat. Push hotkey, make sandwich. Some players are yearning for action, instead of watching cooldown timers. They want in-game success to be determined by something other than ass-in-seat time. Others can't stand the idea of being 1-shotted by 12 year-olds with near-precognition reflexes. Navigating and shooting in a 3D world with a mouse and keyboard is just much harder than a 2D one--especially if you don't play FPSs. 2D levels the playing field. Combine that with well paced combat, and I think we'll have a system where you can show off your skills and your tactics.
Oh, yeah
It's way less laggy 
Play from your netbook!
June 22nd, 2009 - 09:13
I agree. Although, I feel like it may be difficult to display something 3D in a 2D. For Example, I call in the ‘Air Strike’. Having bombs fly from the sky onto a building may be a bit difficult to display. None the less, your going to save hundreds of hours going 2D than 3D.
Amen
Ken
June 24th, 2009 - 13:59
If they’re low-flying aircraft (the AxO equivalent of an A-10), then I could show them actually flyby just below the camera. Mid-level I could perhaps show the shadow. High-altitude bombers you wouldn’t see until just before things start going boom.
Those are just examples. I’m more worried about displaying enough individuality for players. Depending on how small units show up on the screen, this could be a challenge. I’m hoping to use custom weapon loadouts, shields, and colors. And lots of cool particle effects.