Instead of planets with random operation zones, every planet is divided into a mosaic of tiles.

https://preview.redd.it/dq8isomnw47h1.png?width=1125&format=png&auto=webp&s=2a185faa072e457c9ec2019fd69c2026cef8fa54

Features

Tile Modifiers

Each tile has:

• specific enemy structures (e.g. SAM site, stratagem jammer, mega-hive)
• environmental conditions (e.g. electric storm)
• terrain types (e.g. mountainous, plains, forest)

Inter-Tile Synergy (The "Tactical Web")

Tiles can affect their neighbors and can apply a buff or debuff to surrounding tiles. This creates an interconnected tactical web. For example:

• A SAM site in one tile might make it impossible to call in Eagle air strikes in surrounding tiles
• A munitions factory supplies shells to all tiles within a certain radius that have orbital canons and artillery
• The presence of a fuel depot and a mega factory in a region makes the tiles in a region Super Helldive difficulty, since it allows endless bot drops
• The presence of SEAF barracks in a region allows SEAF troops in surrounding areas

Dynamic Front Line

As players liberate certain tiles, a front-line begins to form. An operation on an enemy-controlled planet begins with tile difficulties determined by the fortifications of the inter-tile tactical web. Normally, as players perform missions within a tile, that tile’s difficulty is reduced by 1. If the tile is providing buffs to the surrounding tiles, you may see a drop in difficulty in all surrounding tiles, or a reduction in difficulty greater than 1.

Re-Playable Tiles

This is somewhat inferred. By switching to a mosaic tile system, it makes sense to save the tiles' seed, and sufficient state information regarding the tile to reconstruct its environment.

Player Factions/Squads

Currently, Helldivers 2 squads are formed on the fly, for a particular mission. Belonging to a faction with a name and banner would not only be cool, but it would also facilitate some features of frontline progression and player investment in that progression.

Player Investment

Players should be able to create their own defensive tactical web. Players who help liberate a tile get to vote on which defensive, offensive, or supporting tactical structures should be constructed in that tile. If player factions were a feature, that could be integrated into a sense of "ownership" over investment. Because of dependencies in the tactical web, certain structures either can't be built or won’t be operation unless they have appropriate supporting structures (e.g. artillery need a munitions factory nearby, or else shells are heavily rationed).

The cost for certain structures should be heavy (e.g. 200K req slips) to build a SEAF artillery, etc.

Events

Once a front has been established, various events could be programmed which threaten that front. A massive bot incursion force, a bug mega-hive eruption behind the frontline, or a voteless outbreak. Events should be designed to exploit weaknesses in territory claimed by Super Earth, which encourages player investment in defense.

Gameplay Implications

Depth, Purpose, and Meaningful Strategy

These features would infuse the gameplay with a sense of strategic planning and purpose. Maintaining fronts that feel earned gives players a sense of ownership and makes the game feel more meaningful. That sense of ownership will also encourage a more active player base. The smaller scale of strategic planning will feel more manageable to players.

Organic Progression of the Galactic War

Much of the progression of the Galactic War could be offloaded onto the players themselves, without contrived dilemmas. A massive Super Earth front on an important alien planet could trigger a multi-planet invasion fleet

Reputation

If players were able to form and join factions, they could develop a reputation and a sense of pride in their faction. Also, events in the areas liberated by those factions could become the focus of community events. It would be deeply satisfying to heed the call of fellow Helldivers who fought hard to liberate a front, come to their aid, and fight off an invasion fleet.