First idea:

One thing that I feel galactic Civ really needs are actual planetary invasions where the Player actually views or controls the battle.

It would play much as the space battles.

1st. Stage... A top down, leaning view to give us a 3Dish view of the planet surface, with building representations of what is there.

2. A representation of any planetary bombardment that`s taken place with craters and damaged smoking buildings- flashes in the background.

3. Your troop APCS and tanks affecting a landing, maybe some being shot down by anti-air defences (if any city defence is established).

4. Troops either drop out of APCs or run out and move slowly towards defences under fire. Tanks also land and move up.

5. Defences. Depending on kind of defences already present we can have troops behind barricades defended by close combat artillery and tanks. If no defences, then just some Home guard troops that won`t take much to wipe out.

6. I would depict infantry armies from a distance view, almost as dots, with tanks as larger rumbling forward, firing to scatter or kill defenders. Smaller troops would be defined by laser-type weapons firing in defender`s direction.

7. Defenders fire back in kind with what they have.

8. Add, random smoke and explosions, the sounds of war and screams, save maybe the Yor, who probably don`t scream. Really important this, as sounds make up for any lack of immersion mechanics.

9. The two sides could keep a certain distance until one side is wiped out. I suppose a mechanic could be added for hand-to-hand  close quarters combat if they get really close.

10. Have it play out automatically until win by either side.

11. I think there should be a `Retreat` option for losing attackers as well.

Controlled.

Defender. A controlled version could have the Player setting up defences just before the invasion, then directing troops on whom to attack during it. Artillery areas could be designated early to impact when invaders land. If fortifications enabled, they could be positioned before battle. Perhaps even tank mines could be set.

Attacker. Same basic principle for attackers who could direct slow-moving tanks and troops. Perhaps certain techs could add protective shield as they edge forward, or even attempt a rush forward.

Flanking or rear hits are always worse for troops or vehicles without shield protections.

I`m sure others have thought of this, but I want to put in my support. I`d pay for this as an expansion.

I may put up a graphical, stage by stage representation of this idea.

2nd lot of ideas:

These are simple things that just keep going through my mind as I play:

1. Could we have actual debris fall away from spaceships destroyed and float about until end of battle? Watching it just vanish isn`t very immersive to me.

2. Also, how about some speech of the crew such as, "Engaging, the enemy, Sir/ commander/ leader," and, "We are taking heavy damage!" and, "We cannae hold er togather, captain!" These voices would be different per Race of course.

3. It would be nice to have some kind of speech on Diplomacy as well. I know this would involve lyp-synching except in the case of aliens like the Yor, but it would certainly add to the immersion.

These things would make a decent expansion in my view and I would pay for that.