These are various suggestions I have ranging from simple to complex ideas. Constructive comments are encouraged, especially on the more complex ideas that need more than one viewpoint.
Planets: Currently planets don't have much to them. I might suggest making planets vary in sizes and perhaps have more then one climate zone. You could make climate based off distance from the star the planet is orbiting and the planets tilt, but that seems like a lot of work and math, Also, perhaps add alien civilizations to some planets with varying levels of technological advancements. Some planets will have an existing alien civilization with advanced defenses and their own starships, as well as shops on the planet. Other planets will have barbaric aliens that may attack you on first sight. Having huge planets opens up a window for more advanced gameplay, especially if we ever get a modding community on here.
AI Factions: Currently the only faction is pirates. Maybe there should be trade factions introduced, as well as other factions that have civilizations and bases spread out across several planets. Killing pirates and destroying pirate bases will grant you with a certain block that can be used to trade to AI factions to gain their "trust". Once they trust you enough, they become your ally. However, if you attack them, they become your enemy. All factions would start off neutral to human players. A planet must reach a certain size requirement to host an AI cilization (we don't want small planets with a civilization crammed on it). Perhaps some planets will have a "lost civilization" where there is towns and houses, maybe something of worth you can find there but no AI.
**Edit: Instead of civilizations automatically becaming your enemy when you attack them, they attack you back but remain neutral. (Once they you are out of your sight and no longer pursuing you, that constitutes one attack) If you attack them 3 or more times, they then become your enemy.
Shops: Shops are just one long stick with rings around them at the moment, Maybe they could be made larger and more interesting, with area inside for people to walk around etc.
Banks: Separate from shops and only found on planets with an advanced alien civlization, there should be banks where you can deposit your credits which then can be accessed from any bank and are completely safe while in the bank. Similar to shops, attacking a bank will result in the AI attacking you.
Stations: If possible, have a few varying designs for stations and maybe more areas like sleeping quarters. Also the top part of the station could have control panels and other stuff added to make it look like a command area. This being said, this one is more of a personal preference, and players can do this on their own but I feel having these designs in game may inspire other players and make stations more interesting because they are not all the same.
Civilization Technology Levels: This is just an idea, there probably is a better way
Level 1- Barbaric, populations live in a few small scattered villages, not capable of space travel, primitive weapons
Level 2- Primitive, small villages and towns, perhaps something like renaissance era weapons, no space travel
Level 3- Modern, small towns and one large capital city, small turrets and modern weapons, only capable of trade space travel (no weapons on ships). A bank is located on these planets.
Level 4- Advanced, some towns and a few cities (still one capital), small-medium turrets and a small station orbitting planet, space travel capable (trade ships and small-medium fighters). A bank and shop is located on these planets.
Level 5- Highly Advanced, some cities and a capital, a variety of turrets in strategic locations, may conquer nearby planets (or already own), station orbitting home planet, bank and shop located here, capable of space travel (trade ships, fighters, and one or two frigates).
I think these changes would help singleplayer a lot and it would also be good on private multiplayer servers where trolls are limited.
Ground Vehicles/Weapons: Just an idea, perhaps small hovercraft vehicles could be added to the game which hover slightly above the ground, located on level 4 and 5 civilization planets. Also can be built by human players.
Level 1 weapons: swords and bows, etc.
Level 2: swords and bows, simple gunpowder weapons
Level 3: Automatic gunpower weapons, small ground vehicles like jeeps and tanks
Level 4: Automatic laser weapons, variety of ground vehicles, some with AA guns
Level 5: Same as level 4 but maybe stronger and these planets have more of
If you read all of this congratulations, give yourself a cookie.
Planets: Currently planets don't have much to them. I might suggest making planets vary in sizes and perhaps have more then one climate zone. You could make climate based off distance from the star the planet is orbiting and the planets tilt, but that seems like a lot of work and math, Also, perhaps add alien civilizations to some planets with varying levels of technological advancements. Some planets will have an existing alien civilization with advanced defenses and their own starships, as well as shops on the planet. Other planets will have barbaric aliens that may attack you on first sight. Having huge planets opens up a window for more advanced gameplay, especially if we ever get a modding community on here.
AI Factions: Currently the only faction is pirates. Maybe there should be trade factions introduced, as well as other factions that have civilizations and bases spread out across several planets. Killing pirates and destroying pirate bases will grant you with a certain block that can be used to trade to AI factions to gain their "trust". Once they trust you enough, they become your ally. However, if you attack them, they become your enemy. All factions would start off neutral to human players. A planet must reach a certain size requirement to host an AI cilization (we don't want small planets with a civilization crammed on it). Perhaps some planets will have a "lost civilization" where there is towns and houses, maybe something of worth you can find there but no AI.
**Edit: Instead of civilizations automatically becaming your enemy when you attack them, they attack you back but remain neutral. (Once they you are out of your sight and no longer pursuing you, that constitutes one attack) If you attack them 3 or more times, they then become your enemy.
Shops: Shops are just one long stick with rings around them at the moment, Maybe they could be made larger and more interesting, with area inside for people to walk around etc.
Banks: Separate from shops and only found on planets with an advanced alien civlization, there should be banks where you can deposit your credits which then can be accessed from any bank and are completely safe while in the bank. Similar to shops, attacking a bank will result in the AI attacking you.
Stations: If possible, have a few varying designs for stations and maybe more areas like sleeping quarters. Also the top part of the station could have control panels and other stuff added to make it look like a command area. This being said, this one is more of a personal preference, and players can do this on their own but I feel having these designs in game may inspire other players and make stations more interesting because they are not all the same.
Civilization Technology Levels: This is just an idea, there probably is a better way
Level 1- Barbaric, populations live in a few small scattered villages, not capable of space travel, primitive weapons
Level 2- Primitive, small villages and towns, perhaps something like renaissance era weapons, no space travel
Level 3- Modern, small towns and one large capital city, small turrets and modern weapons, only capable of trade space travel (no weapons on ships). A bank is located on these planets.
Level 4- Advanced, some towns and a few cities (still one capital), small-medium turrets and a small station orbitting planet, space travel capable (trade ships and small-medium fighters). A bank and shop is located on these planets.
Level 5- Highly Advanced, some cities and a capital, a variety of turrets in strategic locations, may conquer nearby planets (or already own), station orbitting home planet, bank and shop located here, capable of space travel (trade ships, fighters, and one or two frigates).
I think these changes would help singleplayer a lot and it would also be good on private multiplayer servers where trolls are limited.
Ground Vehicles/Weapons: Just an idea, perhaps small hovercraft vehicles could be added to the game which hover slightly above the ground, located on level 4 and 5 civilization planets. Also can be built by human players.
Level 1 weapons: swords and bows, etc.
Level 2: swords and bows, simple gunpowder weapons
Level 3: Automatic gunpower weapons, small ground vehicles like jeeps and tanks
Level 4: Automatic laser weapons, variety of ground vehicles, some with AA guns
Level 5: Same as level 4 but maybe stronger and these planets have more of
If you read all of this congratulations, give yourself a cookie.