Hi, I just joined the forums, I've been playing a little bit of 2.1.1 (mostly because I don't want to spend 6 hours compiling maps and stuff). So this is also my first post.
I don't know if this has been suggested before, but after reading about the different groups on earth in the storyline, it really got me thinking about the location of bases. Mostly I was thinking that it would be neat to have the location of bases effect certain aspects of how the game starts out.
For instance, game-lore says that United America is making a come back through NASA, so if there is a base located in UA all ships are 50% more fuel efficient and/or 50% faster (etc.), but troops are fewer and less well equipped, and research is slower. If a base is placed in the Asian Republic troops start out more highly trained with better equipment, but costs are 50% higher because of buereaucracy. If started in New Africa everything starts off lower, but you have more soldiers to start with and their advancement is quicker.
Perhaps even have the first base established in different locations based on difficulty.
As more bases are created the advantages are gained and the disadvantages are covered from the gains of placements on other continents. Obviously having a base would greatly increase favor with that country while not having one in an area would make that country/power a lot less likely to fund PHALANX as well.
Sorry if this has already been suggested/discussed/implemented/etc. as I said I'm new and I did do a quick search.