My next thought on games… (perhaps more practical than the previous one, and also more likely to attract mainstream players)

===== Colonization =====

The year is 2101. Europe has been at war for 200 years and nothing has changed… except technology: Every player has invented space travel.

Each player may now attempt to either play like normal (on a standard 7-player map) or, send a unit out to colonize one of two planets (moons?). The planets can either be pre-drawn and known to all, or hidden discovery.

Each player has 3 spaceports, one in each of his home centers (Russia-4). An army (not fleet) may order to colonize… (coloninze planet alpha or colonize planet beta)… in which case it would then go up into space, and land on one of the planets. The planets would have around 15 sc each. The player would choose their intended landing space (must be a city)… conflicting landings will bounce and result in a failed trip (no movement). If landed successfully, they can capture the sc in the fall. Then use that sc to build… either back on earth, or, in their spaceports on one of the planets.

Additional spaceports may be built by ordering an army to build a port in a captured supply center. That port then becomes a home center / space port, allowing the player to build on the moons if they so desire. Any unit in a space port may order back into space, either back to earth (again, choosing where to land – must be a city). If an enemy city, the enemy must approve it. If neutral, the neutral residents don’t mind you landing there. If your own, obviously ok.

To win: Capture 18 sc on Earth… or… fully colonize both moons. (i.e. capture 8 sc on both of them).

Some caveats:
The decision to stay on earth or travel abroad would be paramount. The first person to lay claim to a moon could get established there and have access to a swathe of uncontested neutral centers, which may be used to build at home. However sending units off in the first turn means you aren’t capturing neutrals on earth, and are sacrificing position there.

My initial take on balance is that the game would favor England and Italy, for they could send a traditionally useless first year army to colonize with little recourse… thereby ensuring them 2 builds instead of the usual 1 build. Central nations like Germany and Austria would be hard pressed to spare a unit away from defense so early.

Thoughts?
-mike