Never hold back on your suggestions, let's see if we can make it something epic with everyone's ideas combined
This is your fault
I thought about friendship, as an alternative to guild, in a building like a tavern, where you could unlock slots (based on the number of your neighbors) and then invite people for support and trade.
But with this idea, I'm thinking something like "clear a path to your friend":
- when both of you accept friend reqs, game generates a quest line
- based on the shortest distance between you two, you get a quest to win some battles (1 battle for each hex in the path, but we need a system where you wouldn't have to go to world map every time; win a battle -> accept next step from the quest menu)
- you have to clear a path even in those hexes you previously conquered
- content of defending army is based on the hex and the strength is based on your squad size (possibly not the same for you and your friend)
- battles could be negotiated and you could get a small reward for winning (based on the type of sector, but no relics since you're not actually conquering a sector, you're just passing through)
- when both of you finish this quest (possible time limit) you become friends, you can trade without penalty and visit and support each other
- this idea would really need a more efficient way of visiting people than just the current world map
Also, Tavern, special building that would generate group quests (I like the idea of defending against hordes or a Big Boss). A group of people would have to apply for a quest and finish it in a limited amount of time for a premium reward (huge pile of resources, special building,...). What would be really cool if INNO would let us write and design these quests (or just put out a template that someone ingame would have to sponsor with his/hers own resources, e.g. hire your own Magnificent Seven)