Digging for artifacts could add some nice features as people love to dig+gather+combine. Something i've seen in Unification Wars



It could allow creation of "Auction House" or "Interstellar Trading" between players (maybe only in multiplayer), giving them possibility to expand through combining artifacts which could lead to random discoveries, random destruction etc.



http://uc.gamestotal.com/wiki/?/v/Artifacts

http://uc.gamestotal.com/wiki/?/v/Artifacts_List

If artefacts were linked to the global events then it sounds like a good idea. I don't like how the global events just randomly happen and cause misery or happiness for no real reason...

I guess it's to add some surprise to the game, but I don't like surprises when I'm just about to win and my science gets cut by 20%.

It could be linked to many things, events, unique/epic weapons or ship designs which could be obtained only by artifacts, but also could be gathered by plundering planets on which it was first discovered/combined. Many possibilities, many artifacts, lots of digging