Now with Entrenchment coming close to release it is becoming especially important to consider strategic notifications in Sins.
We have ample tactical iconography and feedback, but we need more strategic level iconography and feedback. In other strategy games of grand conquering scope we take notice of achievements of the empires. When somebody utilizes galaxy-shattering tech we are at the least informed that they have (i.e. Star Wars: Empire At War`s Death Star completion...). In Sins I zoom out to view the galactic map and I see very little strategic 'pickets'.
When a player builds a top tech tier cannon or influence projector, all other players should be informed of that fact *or* there should be a chance that any given Empire`s spies discover such a thing`s existence. Even if you were informed of such, you would not know precisely where they were until either you scouted the sector with any ship or until the thing was fired. Once fired of course these devices would be marked on the strategic map, perhaps only whilst the Alt. view button is held down to display sector names.
Starbases in Entrenchment strike me as assets of consequence requiring a notation of their existence strategically. The same sort of spy discovery chance checked per Empire would apply, per starbase.
These sorts of constructions/actions are remarkable achievements and should be treated as such. Strategically Sins is for the time somewhat weak in this regard; I would hope to see more emphasis on strategic accomplishments, which in turn would help dictate flow & pacing of any given game. It would help players play more in stride with the flow of the game: reactions would more readily keep pace with the endeavours of Empire competitors and help add purpose/direction to player actions. Particularly pertinent in larger maps.
Again, with the introduction of Starbases I think this is even more important now than it was before.
[SUPPLEMENTAL]
Spies
Perhaps spies are something to be researched? Multiple levels give greater & greater chances for intel gathering?
