[Weson102]

Wouldn't be nice to have different levels of improvement for each ship size.

Let me explain, you research from escort I to dreadnought I ,then go to the next ship level escort II to dreadnought II , and so forth.

Each level of ship development will improve the ship's basic structure allowing the ship to carry heavier armour, improved weapons, improved sensors, shields, etc.

This way there will not always be a tendency that bigger is better. The reasearch of the components and ships go hand in hand in most cases. You never see later in the game a new race come along suprise you with their technology and blow your dreadnought off the map with a much smaller ship.