Hiya everyone. I'd like to preface this by echoing what every review source has said about ES2 so far- this game has a very, very strong foundation. I know Amplitude will build a fine looking and effective house on it, and i'd like to throw my hat in the ring to make it a bit nicer.

I personally will be occupied with the core of the game all throughout early access (exercise as many possible scenarios to make the cleanest game) and much time beyond it, so this idea would best be put in place muuuuuuuuuch later down the line as to not move the player's gaze away from the main dish of the feast amplitude is providing us with. This is more like a fancy looking dessert that will definitely be delicious when you get around to it but you're not entirely sure if you'd be ready to eat right at the moment.

Anyways, to the meat of the idea. 

a monthly challenge would start on, say, the 15th of a month. it would spice up the game in one way or another to make it, in true Amplitude style, even more masochistically difficult yet fun at the same time that would not be readily available through modifying in place game settings. Some ideas just coursing through my head right now:

• David and Goliath: You are only allowed to build the largest and the smallest ship class available to your empire (not sure how this would work with the Vodyani because of ark details that we aren't privy to yet) 
• Heroic Acts: Each star system you colonize, fleet you make, and political party you unlock is automatically assigned a random hero. They cannot be moved to different positions in your empire. 
• So close yet so far away: You automatically start with all Era 1 tech, but you cannot research anything after that. Science is converted into other FIDSI for your system (or if mercy is an afterthought, gone entirely) 
• The Endless really loved taco bell: Every planet save your homeworld is either <planet type that produces the most food> or a randomly selected gas giant.  you can colonize them from the start (unless compassion is conveniently forgotten) .

Regardless if this is never put in the game, it would be a lot of fun to see what monthly challenges we could all come up with. So, without further ado, the idea is yours! go nuts!

I think something similar to what Bungie did with Halo would be cool. Have different tiers of challenges that earn you points n stuff.

A monthly challenge would indeed be an idea for much later down the line, though a nice addition.

One feature that would help immensely with this, however, would be a proper and powerful scenario editor. Access to fixing or randomizing (with custom rules/restriction) the galaxy, anomalies, resources, factions, technology, events, ...

The-Cat-o-Nine-Tales wrote:

A monthly challenge would indeed be an idea for much later down the line, though a nice addition.

One feature that would help immensely with this, however, would be a proper and powerful scenario editor. Access to fixing or randomizing (with custom rules/restriction) the galaxy, anomalies, resources, factions, technology, events, ...

Yes! I can envisage mod 'scenario packs' cropping up on steam as a result, kinda similar to the 'Extra Events' mods in Stellaris. 

On a slightly similar note, I'd like there to be more multiplayer games amongst us. As well as the usual vanilla game, perhaps we could directly compete against/with each other within the parameters set by that particular challenge?

I like your idea, as long as it is an option (maybe through games2gether or workshop). I have little time ro play and some challenges may not be of everyone's taste.

I think they can put every month challenge 1 week before it starts, and let players subscribe or not in every challenge.

Also making it possible off-line will be a good idea (Most of time I can't play online).

As final thought, I think it is a good idea after definitive game release, and not for EA, or at least until EA has reached a nearly finished stage.

Said all that I voted in favour of your idea.