While travelling through space on new explorations you're bound to come across space junk and vagabonds/pirates/slave traders.
I propose an addition that at random intervals (maybe never, depending on your luck) you:
- encounter space junk which your scientists could reverse engineer, giving either bonus research points OR merely research points towards a specific technology (if technology previously unlocked, 50% of those points turn into research points toward any tech).
- encounter pirates who have a low chance of attacking and hijacking pods only fleets.
- run into slave traders who, at the site of your fleet, give a tribute (persons) to your workforce earning you a construction unit bonus available to be spent how you see fit.
- run into vagabonds who, at the site of your fleet, give a tribute (resources) earning you a resource bonus to be spent as you see fit for right of safe passage as fast as possible in the opposite direction.
Advantages: rewards users who regularly fly fleets. Rare chance to cut down on pods only landings. More interesting and adds a little more fun to those constant defence recalls!
Disadvantages: we all love moaning so please discuss below, build on this idea if you can?