When you typically think of a minis game - you don't think about a "game within a game"... This is a *fresh* and exciting IDEA about how to use minis as an Expansion for "Tradewars - Homeworld".
The early concept includes 1" hexagonal tiles with various types of space occurrences like "asteroids", "homeworlds", and at the heart of the map, the only planet rich in quickSilver (Name to be determined).
This would add a minis + Tactics dimension to the game. Blended with the cards and other expansions this makes for a pretty complex game something much more difficult to master than the original game (Exterra Edition).
Obviously we would have one (1) master set. The problem I see is the minis: how to include enough starships in with the box so that you can play the cards from your hand (to match). There would be a link between the cards you play (in the space lane) and those you can control on the Tactical Map.
But maybe we can make the smaller starships more affordable and the Destroyer class starships more expensive to own. So maybe you only have one (1) of these minis available to you. I'm not certain - YET. These are just some ideas that I have had knowing that MAYBE a minis game could be made out of this pure card game...
Definitely interesting to explore further.
Comments
Control over the planet
A simple idea to controlling the planet would be that the player on the Planet's hex earns +1d6 quickSilver per turn. This isn't too much - but at the same it's FREE credits that go into that player's bank.
Players can co-operate to oust an opponent from the planet and can make diplomatic agreements such as sharing income earned from the mysterious planet.
I really like this idea and think it could make for a great expansion. Something totally out-of-the-box that would build upon the previous game and all a whole other dimension to the game's experience.
I see much potential - only thing to resolve are the minis. Right now, my idea is to allow players to bring their own minis and use a shared pool of hex tiles (with the Planet in the middle of the Tactics area).
Another aspect are trade routes. Like roads in Settler of Catan, the trade routes can be established to earn more credit from a planet (by trade). This also could add dimension to the "Planetary Expansion". Instead of just having a white dice, you would need to define a route from your Homeworld to a planet. And an enemy can occupy that route to halt the transfer of bonus resources to your Homeworld.
Again more thought about HOW to use these mechanics together. However I like the idea of establishing trade routes to planets. Just not 100% sure on how to execute the idea.