I would like to suggest a new option to be added for team play. The option would be to allow secret alliances. The use of the private posting as is done in team play could be used.
I believe private alliances would add a new element to the game. Of course anyone joining such a game would be aware that secret alliances could be in use.
Of course the mere fact that a secret alliance is being allow does not mean that an alliance has actually been negotiated. Also this concept could result in multiple alliances between players for different portions of each map. This would require the ability to direct postings to a specific player for the purposes of proposing an alliance, using an alliance and ending an alliance.
Again this would add many different dimensions to the same games we already play.