I think this sounds like it could be cool, and a challange. 5 - 10 players. A randomly generated map edited to add starting positions. Each player will start in the same system with a stock AI race. You are the "Caretaker" for this race. The idea is to kill all the other players AI races. The players whose AI Lasts the longest wins.
Your AI may not particularly appreciate being cared for. It may attack you, a lot. You will need to defend yourself, without doing it too much damage. You could beat it down to one planet and blockade it to protect it. But that would be a big chance. All it would take is one player getting to your homesystems and getting lucky to kill them off then. A better idea is to find a way to live with the AI and get them to tolerate you enough so you can protect them. It might even mean relocating your homeworld.
The AI has to be an empire of some size. You can't merely conquer it and keep it's population as a trophy.
Players would get their choice of AI's. A smart player would choose an AI that is a different planet type and atmosphere as their race. A really smart player would try various combinations to see which AI seems to stay the happiest with this situation the longest.
If your AI is killed you could not win, but it wouldn't have to end your game. You could remain in the game and hunt the other players AI's to bring a quick end to the game. Or just to be a pain and get revenge on the player that killed your AI.
You could also play the game as a straight up Last man standing and kill everybody, AI and human alike. That would not be against the rules, but it would be frowned upon.
It also wouldn't be a very efficent use of your resources.
So, whatdaya think?
Geoschmo
New PBW Game idea - "Caretaker"
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