City states/agents

[Zergslayer]

Adding city states although not a very unique idea but one with a lot of potential. For instance let’s say you do add them in the game, how would half of the factions even interact with them?

Simple, I’ll use the nids as an example. Add a gene stealer “agent” one that doesn’t attack but can only perform actions.
Anyway have it so it can go and “infect” city states, with a few turns of the agent setting up the cult then boom, the city state will be infected and start giving let’s say, 25% of there resources to the nids in the form of bio mass, but have an extra layer to this.
Having “trade” set up will give you access to unique units, for instance for the nids getting gene stealer cultists, the guard getting even cheaper infantry in the form of PDF guard that comes out in 3s. But let’s add another layer to this. If a imperial guard faction starts trading with a city state that has been infected, the pdf units from said city state will do reduce damage but also take reduce damage, for lore reasons it’s because they’re not really fighting for the guard. Anyway have it so the nids player can still see these pdf guard troops, then when the time is right have it so the genestealer in the city can enact an action a “revolt” action which turns all the pdf guards on the guard player, as well as giving the city state to the nids player so they can produce unique units that only city states can make. This is just but one interaction between factions. Each city state has to be influenced by each faction differently, for instance space marines “pledge” their stewardship over a city state, which allows them to get a boost in resources, as well as periodically giving them neophytes. Until eventually the space marine chapter can “annex” the city state so as to give them an extra city to work with. I’m not gonna list off how every faction interacts with these “city states” but I’m sure you get the idea now. Consult with people who know the lore on how to give each faction a different interaction for each city state.