Tim and I just finished ??? (Toaru Majutsu no Index). We have started the side story. While I don’t feel it needs a review (you will either like it or not get into it), I wanted to mention that I am very impressed with the story format. I really want to know if the anime adaptation reflects the pacing of the manga or the visual novel. I would say the story is told in blocks of almost unrelated plot lines that share the same general environment.
Academy City seems like a great setting for a role-playing setting, with players acting as various level ESPers, with maybe one or more magicians in the mix. This format is worth experimenting with.