just want to keep this out there
One aspect that helps is an economy, which creates convoys and raiders.
The other aspect to add to longevity is real game death, and large scale customization.
One aspect of death... You lose soldiers.. You than need more. You need more equipment, need to skill them back up. Also lose a ship.. Need a new one. And level caps... With death.. Not necessary... If someone gets to big or powerful... The incentive to kill them increases. You gain more skill off a high level ship or army.
The Ghost, the Melenium Falcon, Home One, Slave One... They are all custom ships, if they where stock ships... Would be unspecial and likely charred parts floating in space, by mission 2.
Customization needs to be sensible.. Eves approach as an example... Way to tedious.... And inefficient, millions of pieces most not in use... Than empire at war.. Far to simple for long term play. The balance needs to be, you get a stock ship, that ship requires generic parts to upgrade systems, which upgrades stats. Also sector upgrades... Like Edua makes kyber crystal weaponry, Naboo makes advanced shields.. And so on
