Here is an idea. It would be cool to be able to sell bases and their land squares to other nations.
Also, the way maps work now countries end up expanding in a star shape until reaching other nations. This isn't natural and could be corrected by adding rivers and mountain tiles. CT's would need to build bridges over rivers to cross and mountains would only be passable by foot soldiers. Perhaps CT's could built roads across?

Posted this before but no one responded so I figured put it under its own heading.

Some of that would be cool. I 'think' mountains 'may' show up in GT2.

Selling bases to other nations would change the game way too much. Imagine having one country that is attacking you that sells 6 bases to 6 separate people in his alliance. Then you would quickly and automatically be forced to fight all 7. You could do the same, however, but it really eliminates the whole traveling idea. It could also help players cheat a lot easier.