An idea I had which might be fun would be an "auto plot" option. It would create a sequence of bonus objectives from a list for each player at the start of each game alongside a reason for them, with rewards if they were achieved. Each would be tailored to who else was in the game, and what the map had available. For example....
"Hostilities between the TEC and Vasari in this region of the galaxy have recently become incredibly vicious, after the bombing of TEC colonies throughout the area. As such there can be no peace between you and any Vasari players. The TEC central command has tasked you with achieving the following goals if you can.
i) We must replace our lost colonies! --- Expand and occupy three planets. Asteroids do not count. You must hold these three planets for 5 minutes. On achievement of this goal each planet in the three will have its population cap increased 5%.
ii) The TEC needs supplies to rebuild --- Send 20000 credits and 3000 metal to the TEC. On achievement of this goal the TEC will be able to send additional starship instructors to your area, increasing the level to which you can train starship crews by 1.
iii) The enemy of my enemy --- Forge an alliance with an Advent player. If you are succesful in doing this the relations between the advent player and any vasari players will decrease by 1 point every 2 minutes, and relations between you and the advent player will increase 1 point every 3 minutes.
iv) Vengeance and Death --- Kill X vasari citizens. On success the growth rate of vasari colonies will be reduced by 15%.
Throughout this game relations between your faction and any Vasari factions will decrease 1 point every 4 minutes. This effect will end if you complete all your assigned tasks.
Throughout this game destroying Vasari capitol ships will reward you with a 1% boost to your economy for each ship destroyed, this effect will last 10 minutes after each ship is destroyed."
Or...
"Bankruptcy --- The Advent Unity is running desperately low on supplies for its attack on the TEC, without additional resources it is likely that our advance will stall within months. Then a TEC counterattack is inevitable, and our Psychics doubt we will be able to hold onto our new territories. You must aid us in rebuilding our reserves.
i) Additional resources --- Occupy 3 asteroid mines in uncolonisable gravity wells. Hold them for 5 minutes. On completion these mines will give you 25% more resources for the remainder of the game whenever you hold them.
ii) Denial of economy --- If the TEC is also bankrupt, they will be unable to effect a useful counterattack. Destroy X TEC trade ports, asteroid mines, or orbital refineries. On completion of this task all TEC players will recieve a 5% penalty to their economy for 2 hours.
iii) Economies of scale and compound interest --- Only with a large reserve of funds can we hope to continue our advance. You must stockpile 20000 metal in your accounts and 5000 crystal. If you succeed then the Advent union will be able to support further advances into this region and for each 4 ships of each hull size you build, the next will be built instantly
iv) Pacts of convenience --- We must seek resources from other areas of the galaxy, even TEC players may unwittingly finance our advances. Enter into 3 trade pacts and remain in them for 10 minutes. On completion of this task we will be able to refocus our researchers efforts on our attacks, and your ships weapons will deal 2% more damage.
Throughout the game your economy will be reduced by 2%. This effect will end if you complete all your objectives, at which point it will be increased by 1%.
Throughout the game your trade ships and resource ships will have their speed increased by 100%."
Then each game could have a little story to it. The TEC might be here trying to recover from a virus bombing of a nearby sector, the Advent are desperate for resources and the Vasari are searching for information about their pursuers or something.
Does the game have events and suchlike yet? It clearly tracks nearly everything that happens and records when it happens, so surely events and triggers will be a logical event if it occurs.
The "story" screen could pop up below the artifacts tab in the science screen, and be initially announced to the player in a pop up. At the end of a game you could be told how well you, and your eneamies had done at their respective plots.
