Re: Support ship design
 

But Gandalf, arn't you assuming you can build larger ships at the same rate as smaller ones? I think I should be able to build more of them in the same amount of time?

I agree about the advanced part.

One point for larger support ships is that you get more components per overhead (bridge, engines, etc.) I'll have to try it next time and see.

It sure doesn't seem like adding weapons is that helpful. Or having mixed ships (half weapons half repair or supply)

Re: Support ship design
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Actually... (from my current game)

Support Ship III (BB) - 16000/1000/2140
Warship V (BB) - 20000/1000/4760
Increase in cost of 40%

Support Cruiser IX (BC) - 14000/1000/2110
Assault Cruiser X (BC) - 17000/1000/4730
Increase in cost of 30%

It helps that they all use master computers, which cost a lot more than a bridge & life support & crew. The higher the cost of the support ship, the easier it is to retrofit it into a full warship.

I do sometimes use retro-series building, usually when upgrading small transports (try adding a master computer, upgrading the cargo storage and engines to an old design and you'll easily go over the 50% limit)

Re: Support ship design
 

"It helps that they all use master computers, which cost a lot more than a bridge & life support & crew. The higher the cost of the support ship, the easier it is to retrofit it into a full warship."

That would explain my confusion. I ran into upgrade problems when going to imporve a light cruiser W/O MC. I had made the original design as mineral cheap as I could so that I could complete them in one turn. The upgrade had several changes made to it.