Player-built defences as a way to prevent rampant faction spread.

[Musuko42]

Idea: running cost for port defences. 

 

Port defences (towers, forts, etc) are also player-built buildings, and require investment to construct them, and regular fees to maintain them. Any player (of the appropriate faction) can contribute to the construction and maintainence of the defences by donating labor hours and money via donation buttons in the home screen of the port.

 

If a faction overextends, they'll find that they can't afford to maintain the defences on all their ports. Some of them will be neglected, end up defenceless, and fall to another faction. The ebb and flow of power will remain fluid and enjoyable, and factions will concentrate on taking/keeping ports of value to them, and ones they can defend, rather than steamrollering every port they can get hold of.