Some of you may know what FS Economy is - it's a client creating an economy background for flight sims (cross-platform).
There's a property-model in it which gives the pilot a chance to run his/her operations in a personal way from and to a certain airport.
Every airport has the slots to build up these FBOs by players but only in a limited number, depending on how big the airport is.
Practically there's a very keen competition for these properties and there are auctions where everyone can throw a lot of money to the seller of a prestige location property.
Basically the "value" is related to how limited the accessibility is.
In FSE of course it caused a huge inflation over the years and the new players entering this world have very less chance to acquire a property on their favourite locations but FSE is in a kind of "frozen" state without any significant development (it's an achievement already as it's free and volunteers are keeping it up for the public).
So in ED one way to introduce interesting properties could be along certain limitations.
How many private properties are there to acquire at a station? Does it depend on the political form or the number of inhabitants on the planet? Or maybe the economy level? Or all?
What can the property owners do TOGETHER as a community in the station they have their home at? Is that another way to affect the political power locally like a "diplomacy" option along the classical shoot'n'trade?
Which areas of the galaxy become prestigous and how does it affect the local economy? (Assuming there's a background sim working along these inputs.)
Does the player population create an extra supply or demand in certain goods like food, medicines or fuel? Are there new missions appearing in relation to these changes? What's the extra reward for the commander who completes these missions originated from the fact that there are player properties?
Will the pubs being built on the stations by the effort of the players living there?
So I see a massive potential of meaningful player interaction other than shooting or escorting each other.
I know it's not the first priority and it takes a long time to even lay down the fundaments of anything like this but it doesn't hurt thinking about it.
