In my ponderings, I created a rough idea of four empires for SoaSe:

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Empire 1:

A confederate authority, it must negotiate with it’s own planets for goods & resources.

The planets act as separate entities, they are subject to their own whims & judgements.

Planets provide nearly everything: ships, fleet supply & cap. ship commanders, resources, etc.

You may not have to manage an empire, but fail your duty & your empire may turn against you.

Empire 2:

A prosperous empire that takes advantage of economy to produce a robust military.

Robust economy. Strong culture spread.

Fleet supply depends a lot on the length of a trade route & number of active trade ships.

Base planet income level can influence various factors (pop growth, build speed, allegiance, etc.)

Possesses techs that give abilities to corner black market (artificially inflating & crashing prices)

Empire 3:

An oppressive empire that makes use of force & terror to subjugate its people.

Stationing a fleet near a planet raises max alliegance.

Defenses & “police stations” work to raise alliegance, oppress people, & defend.

Prone to foreign influence.

“Conscription” research gives fleet supply based on population.

Empire 4:
A rebel force & cybernation. Instead of operating through standard military conquest, it operates clandestinely & destroys empires through subterfuge.

Occupies planets through establishment of secret bases.

Ships are often stealthed.

Capital ships are the size of cruisers.

Possesses many sabotage & stealing abilities.

Team up with pirates!