[Talenn]

On the subject of changing prototypes etc...

I, for one, would like to see some sort of added cost for the first ship in a class. Maybe a 'design fee' or 'prototype penalty' or somesuch. Not a huge cost, but something to encourage (and reward) a bit of preplanning and forethought. It would also help reduce some tedium as it wouldnt always be the optimum to redesign all of your ship as soon as you get one new component the way it is now.

It might make some financial sense to keep a class in production until a few changes are in order instead of for each new gadget. In fact, the cost wouldnt even have to be a resources cost (although that is certainly not a bad option) but perhaps a time cost...ie prototypes take 50% more time to construct or somesuch.

As far as a resource cost? Maybe 15-20%? I'm not sure if that would be enough to encourage some standardization or not. Perhapss a combo of the two?

Anyways, bottom line is that IMO, it should not always be in a player's best interest to constantly redesign their ships. It should go in cycles and not incessantly. This would definately reduce micromanagement and would prolly be adding some 'realism' to game as the same time.

Anyone else?

Thanx,
Talenn