"Ghost Ships"

The Concept of "Terrain"
VGAP4 has been notable as a wargame for lacking terrain. What Ghost Ships
shows is that we did have a terrain - it was a desert. Implementing Ghost
Ships would change terrain from the desert to a jungle, or better, an urban
area.

The best VGAP4 strategy HOWTOs show that an expeditionary push early on almost
always wins. Gain resources (and maybe territory) while the other players are
building up. Like Cecil Rhodes you are encouraged to grab while the resources
are still there.

With Ghost Ships this all changes. You are in a populated Galaxy. In the big
city with everyone from the Trolls, Luvvies and Hockey Dads around you. You
can buy the biggest guns, the fastest ships, the meanest High Guard. But what
happens when you step out onto the mean streets?

Now the game is a different one. No longer do resources lie passively on
planets. All is in trade and flux. A movie crew may be stalking you. How good
are your cloaks? Do the crowds scatter and flock when you fire your great
guns? Do the Generation X sheep send out ultrawave messages when you stomp
round.

Better get a new strategy. The old one may be broken.