SE4 by Committee

[Dan C.]

I have often thought that the 4X games suffered from an abundance of information. Ye Olde Emperor who is 12 turns of movement from the front somehow knows that they need to buid a few more minesweepers because the enemny is now using mines in larger numbers.

Perhaps quick and perfect communication between all the somewhat developed worlds in empire is good/normal/acceptable, but when you send that fleet through the warp point, and they all get eliminated? Now there may be auto-launching flight data recorders or something, but I think there should be a much greater Fog of war.

How about this for a concept. Have one large central empire which is say the size of 5 normal empires. You have 5 players (or AI) competing against them on more-or-less islolated fronts. Assign one Imperial player as Military commander of each district, with control of all the fleets and some limited production, and then a Emperor (or council) which allocates the majority of empire builds and all tech advances etc. based on the written reports of each district commander (with perhaps a turn or two delay until the Messages are recieved)?