There will be a strategic mix; each faction will have varying income bonuses and objectives to push them towards certain playstyles. As an overview;
- Homeworlders will focus on mining and combat with other players
- Lexihad will focus on searching and subjugating planets
- Verwynn will focus on subjugation primarily but also trade and mining secondarily.
- Free League will focus on planet alignment and control of systems
- Hanstellartic League will be quite a pure trading faction with secondary science goals
- The Tangalak will be primarily science focussed with trade and mining as secondary.
- Adventurers will get a wide range of options on this front
Random encounters I'm thinking about, they will appear in some form I expect.