I love the idea, I really do - and what I love too is the idea of collaboratively building a 'dream game'.
Thank you for thinking about and responding to my comment so thoughtfully!
Some follow ons -
Maybe winning happens locally instead of globally. This is a point that will require a lot of thought, especially since most new players tend to join the 'winning team', look at the gym fiasco with pokemon go, the winning gym is the winning gym, and new players also join that one, creating a 'pile-on' problem. I think its lightning faction but I don't remember right now.
Just be sure to avoid the problem with ponzi schemes. I think AI can make up for that, but you shouldn't 'need' a constant and growing stream of new player to be successful, since it eventually becomes a mathematical impossibility.
Perfect!
Cheers!