Just add another whole level of depth into strategy, that is interesting and not counter-productive to the fun element.. After all fun is the greatest element of all.
Just a few intriguing thoughts (they intrigue me, I just hope though I doubt, it might inspire some of the people making it).
Just random things that pop up and require in immediate action, like a step out the current track into something interesting are good. And also an interesting yet balanced and effective espionage with more then a few viable options is also great.
Add more unique characteristics to each planet (We all war over the most effective planets, once these are in our hands victory is much quicker).... Make each planet we choose to develop upon an even more strategic choice;
- like Jungle - (increase in ground troop defense through guerrilla warfare )
- Ancient technology - (increase in all types of weird and wonderful and as yet unknown thingies)
- Abandoned Defenses - Some or all defenses of previous civ already up and running
- Alien Technology - A planet that is highly artistic creative in all of their thoughts on all sciences/diplomacy, counter-productive to any useless scientist pursuing backward agendas and and production of unholy masters of espionage; there for an increase is in science in certain tech-trees, an add to the diplomatic factor and maybe a few new highly effective alien espionage techniques.. Also this planet must be hard to capture and the must be only one and always in the center of the map.
- Finite resources - Every planet should have a set amount of resources to harvest, some may last most of the game, others less to varying degrees
Add abilities to ships? give each fleet a leveling capacity?.. After alot of war-experience, the ships learn greater abilites or more hp/attack?? or is this just a little to far...
Just a few random thoughts, they are good for us all...
I don't care if any of these ideas are far out or even work, that is up to the reader... I just hope they inspire someone creating this game somehow... Even if it just is, adding to their abstract thought...