1. It would be nifty to be able to specify at least a list of candidate images for a hull type, rather than just one; one per type might be a bit much (many of the types won't be for many of the hulls, for instance. And I usually add certain new types -- Planetary Bomber, Biowarfare, Stellar Manipulation, Shipyard Ship, Unarmed Scout, Utility Ship -- as well.)
2. Definitely would be nifty. The whole idea of negative traits, or at least traits with some negative aspects, could be tapped. One nicely suited to an alien race: uncontrollable population growth, ala Moties.
3. MOO II-ish.
Additional abilities/flags that come to mind:
- Point-defense: auto-firing against ftr/seekers
- Automatic: ala point-defense, but against ships
- accuracy
- minimum range ?
- range modifier, relative (e.g. weapon damage attenuates as if distance were halved, or doubled, etc)
- linked (linked weapons all firing at once as one weapon bLast)
Perhaps changing RoF into (RoF -> shots per round if loaded/ready, capacity -> shots until reloading/recharging, reload time -> turns for a reload) might be nice, albeit perhaps too complicated, but it'd allow, say, for missile racks that fire a few salvos quickly, but then need forever to reload, and so forth.
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-- The thing that goes bump in the night