I have a suggestion to make the outerworld more fun.
Have a few (based on terrain type) randomly popping (not too often tho) areas.
These areas would be a maze generated when the player finds it (i.e. the
outworld room loads) there could be the possibility of an eq mob at then end
of the area. The area could dest once it has been abandoned (You hear a
rumble as you walk out of the cave. Looking back, you see the mouth collapse
sealing the entrance forever. (correct me if i\'m wrong but shins area
duplicating combined with existing random layout technology (sewer) could be
used to make this work)

Possible areas:
Farm on the plains
Secluded hamlet in the valley
Penguin outpost on the frozen tundra
Desert tunnels
Abandonded mine shaft in the hills
Cave high up in the mountains
Lair of the Swamp monster
Under the blue lagoon
Cannibals of the jungle
Lost in the forrest
Orc/goblin/kobold/hobbit/thing you want to kill village.