In games with different terrain types, you can distinguish them by making some more expensive to traverse. This works well for video games like The Battle for Wesnoth that have range UI elements.
In many multiplayer games, players must decide who to cooperate with and who to attack. This makes politics important, as players try to convince others that they are not a threat. Some people
One thing that makes games fun is player creativity. Designing something in-game creates a greater sense of ownership and emotional attachment. But design can be a lot of work and sometimes matters
Some players refuse to trade because they fear giving their opponent an advantage. If your game revolves around trade, this is a problem. One of the simplest solutions is to give them resources
Upkeep in games feels tedious partly because it does not reward the player. Setting up the game board, shuffling cards, and restocking markets are the cost of playing. Rewarding players for these tasks