[deccan]

Some elaborations on the Lego-design model for ships.

I really like this idea. Naturally, it would work best in a 3D, real-time combat system, with limited arcs of fire. A simple way to do this would be like in the MechWarrior game. You have predefined, 3-D mechs (hulls) with predefined component slots. Specific types of components go on specific types of slots. You also need to take into account component tonnage and physical size of the slot. Which component takes damage depends on where you hit the mech and what component is located there.

Perhaps, one way to do this for Space Empires would be to predefine a number of hull types (3-D models with predefined component slots) for each hull size. I believe that the model used in Starfleet Command 3 can be considered as a very simplistic way of doing this.

Some problems that I foresee: however you do it, you'll be deviating from the standard SE totally free-form design philosophy. Some hull types will definitely be superior to others and it would be very difficult to strike a balance amongst the different races. Also, it would take a lot of work to do. I'm willing to live with these limitations, but I'd bet that many are not.