Evolving NPC installations.

A player is able to start a small outpost, and with additional resources expand that outpost over time adding facilities and defences for as long as it is useful.

NPC bases in SE so far have been of a number of variants placed about to give the idea of occupation. Once the base has been visited it will not change when in range of the player unless the player causes a change to the NPC structure.

To take this one step further, NPC occupation could have that living universe feel by changing over time.

An NPC could deem an area worthy of territorial claim, scout it, survey the terrain, build an outpost. If the outpost proved it's location to be useful the NPC could engage in upgrading the installation through a number of expansion stages spawning additions over time.

The NPC could control the local area from their installation for either strategic, or commercial purposes for a while before bridging out or mothballing the facility.

If the usefulness of the base dwindled, the structures would be stripped of their most useful parts and eventually abandoned leaving a ruin with may be a lonely observation post and comms relay.

Some installations will endure, some will expand, contract, some will even change from an earlier purpose into a new one.

This evolutionary process will make static NPC installation encounters have more variety and be less predictable.

Good luck coding this one.