I'll add to this thread.  I'd like to see more diplomacy options.  Being able to demand from and have missions for the other factions.  I'd like to see more trade abilities in order to bolster ones own economy or cripple another players economy beyond simply killing their trade ships. Things like trade sanctions and embargos might be a nice touch.

Other things that might be interesting would be the ability to create or destroy a planet/star system, but as a cooperative effort by multiple factions.  Or "terraforming" dead space spots to have a nebula or asteroid be "built" over time.  Further, upgrading a dead asteroid to one that can support population and such could be beneficial.  Or giving all of the planet types a "class" upgrade where a desert planet could become an actual terran planet, costing alot of resources and time mind you, but you get the idea.  Further an already Terran planet could become a heavenly planet that is basically perfect in every way.  This would take the longest and most resources (I'm thinking a literal hour to build in a large game but scaled to the size and speed of the game).  These limitations so that people dont go nuts, but still have the options to upgrade and save for if they like.

Other things, perhaps a new type of resources.  Perhaps more planet skins and types.  More cap ships as mentioned above couldnt hurt if more functionality was added like a diplomacy cap ship or terraforming cap ship.

As I am thinking about it now... Espionage!  Perhaps the second expn could be built around subverting the defenses in place while the third expn could be diplomatic and terraformation under a new life realm.  More types of fighter craft like assault drop ships where one can "take over" an enemy ship by having their marines assault it.  Like wise planet side could maintain their population, but come under enemy rule... at least until a rebellion can form and an uprising flips the sides.  Further on that, the player who lost the planet would have some control over the planet still and have different "planetary upgrade" options, like destroying structures or triggering the rebellion.  They'd have to have enough rebels of course, but the battle could take place between the two factions through the R&D of the planet with both sides having options toward that end.

Anyway, I've rambled long enough.  Lets hear more ideas!

I did have an idea about offense, able to build a big mothership for each race, but I don't know if they will do that or not.

i think a new race would be a nice addition, but you could be a mysterious one that shows up in the  second xpack but you cant play them until the 3rd or something of that fashion.  It would add a bit to the vasari side i guess at who they are running from.  Also more planet types would be nice as well as well as massive mother ships kind of like the starbases xcept actual ships.

He got it here and there by reading the forums.  A lot.  (check his Karma for an idea of how much is a lot)

It's good info.

Hey Annatar, I have been wondering why once a player upgrades to higher fleet capacity the player can not "down" grade to lower fleet capacity.  What I mean is I have been in situations where I either over extended or was sieged,losing structures and suddenly couldnt afford such large fleet cost.  Do you think it would be possible/feasible/realistic to have the ability in one way or another to downgrade fleet capacity if needed?

Valkajin

Well, everyone gets trade routes, but I think this would give TEC a little kick in early Games like I think they need.  Advent get an amazing IN-culture buff and get their culture research quicky, Vasari get access to wormholes and quick jumps to other star systems and their scouts are also Neutral resource capture units.  TEC gets their measly 2-3 credit (before tax) bonus, assuming you haven't used all your Logistics slots yet for research labs.  I suppose for more flavor, differences could be:

First off, the Maximum Ship Cap bonus is universal, there'd be no other way to really balance that, heh.

Alliance cap can probably be universal as well.

Advent: in Lieu of Faster Build times, Increased Shield effectiveness (Points and Mitigation): The collective will of the Unity is fortified through trade networks allowing besieged or contested worlds linked in trade to draw upon neighboring planets to bolster their shield effectiveness.

In Lieu of increased mineral Extraction: (Since no real refinery ships)  Culture Rate bonus: Each world linked in trade gains a slight increase to Culture planetary value, with enough links, the Will of the unity is so strong, it can begin to more easily overwhelm even the most devout followers of "lesser" beliefs.  Works in tandem with the Temple of Communion.

I havn't spent enough time with the Vasari to really guage what they could make most use out of, their Phase Mastery is pretty solid, Probably something to do with Nanomachines or being opressive dicks.

Someone suggested giving Siege frigates kind of an ability to drop soldiers instead, as long as there is no ground battle gameplay that'd be good, instead of completely bombing out the planet, you could take over the entire infrastrastructure, saving you thousands of resources at expense of greater time to take over.

Something I'd like to see also is an "Artifact research treaty" for alliances, allowing allied, or at least people with the treaty in place, to pay (A lot) to send research teams to research any artifacts controlled by another empire with whom you have the treaty.  If the owning player loses the planet, everyone who had research spent not only loses the bonus, but also has to research it again (Going back to those important choices Sins is all about).  A player (Either side) Breaking the Artifact research treaty also forces the other players to fork out more if a new treaty is reestablished.

Well, to be fair, any orbiting body around a planet is technically a moon (Or satallite as some people call them) but I know what you mean.  I'd like at least Aesthetic moons that serve no real purpose but are just there, kind of like the floating space debris and what-not.  I think this should go hand in hand with a planetary rescale and variation update (or hopefully th next Xpac) where many new skins, sizes and the like are added for planets, giving a little more variety.  Each planet needs seriously 4+ Skins I think, if not more.  I know there's mods for this, but c'mon, just fire up Mass Effect and browse the planets for a little inspiration.

Does anybody want more capital ships?! At least two I would think, Plus there aren't many to choose from just about five thats all.

I would prefer to see more smaller ships myself. A capture frigate, a dedicated mine sweeper, a ramming ship, a cloaking frigate that has the embargo ability but can only use it when not cloaked. Some kind of ship that can be used to maybe establish a phase lane, either it can open a phase lane for a limited amount of time, or you need two ships, one at the destination and one at the origin point. A cruiser that has no weapons at all, just huge amounts of shields and armor and a force attack ability to just try to draw fire off other ships. A specialized dedicated anti SC ship, with some good anti SC abilities.

Since pirates will be getting worked on, I would like to be able to buy mercenary pirate ships. I'd like to see 1 or 2 pirate ships per empire constantly jumping around targeting trade ships. Every now and then maybe get a msg from the pirates "pay X amount of Y resource for your trade ship crews we took hostage" If you give in to them you get a bonus to trade for a limited amount of time, and if you say no you get a trade decrease as well as maybe some additional bounty placed on you. Maybe rather then them just destroying your world like they do now, when they raid you you lose all production in the system, as well as all resources generated by the system, more like a embargo or blockade of the system.

Another thing I thought of would be to have the militias be more then just TEC, their should be advent and vasari militias as well.

I agree with you overall.