I've imagined this being more transactional. Like a constantly running game of StarCraft 2, where you're dropped onto a massive map, build up, fight for awhile, make alliances, have fun, do memes, then when you log off you have to do it all over again.

In Age of Empires you can share control, so 4 people can be controlling the same civilization, even giving conflicting orders. This could be done for for when people log off.