It's not impossible to make maps that retain the element of randomness- after all, the basic Sins random maps can be viewed and edited in GalaxyForge. My earliest maps were 5 player random FFAs, after I noticed that if you used a six player map with five players, two of the players had an advantage. The example above differs from normal Sins random maps in that no player will be roided and the phase lanes are fixed rather than randomised, but it doesn't have to be done that way. Despite players moaning at the devs for problems with the existing random maps, quite frankly we could have better random maps if we chose to make them.
However there still exists the problem of imagining space faring races that have yet to develop the telescope. Perhaps this is the advantage that the much-vaunted nemesis of the Vasari possess? They came from a research lab, after all...
Also I disagree entirely that random maps are the greatest element of the game, I don't even consider them to be good for the game. I hope much will change when and if we get ladder maps, and the long reign of 5v5s, which have done so much to stultify the game, is finally over.
