I am intrigued by this, but I must admit a bit confused. I haven't quite grasped the implications of the 1.5x/sqr root stuff. If I understand it correctly large ships are much more expensive to build per kt, but somewhat cheaper to maintain per Kt then small ships. Does that about sum it up?
If so then I don't really think it makes small ships any better, just more available. Since you haven't changed the mounts at all a player is still much better off with a fleet of large ships totaling X Kt then a fleet of small ships totalling X Kt. Actually in this mod the large ship fleet would be even better then in the stock game since they would be cheaper to maintain.
The only place the small ships would be useful is when trying to construct a war fleet in a hurry. The exponential build costs would make this extremely problematic for large ships.
If a player has time to prepare for war by building and mothballing ships they are much more advised to build and mothball large ships then small ships. I see no difference in this point between the stock game and this mod.
So I would have to agree with Roanon that unless you wish to change the nature of mothballing, which would be a separate issue then the mod to begin with, you should not increase but in fact decrease the mothball costs. Unfortunatly there is now way to decrease the mothball costs proprtionally to the size of the ship, which is what really needs to happen for this to be acurate.
From a game balance perspective I wouldn't worry about the mothballed fleet of escorts, because they aren't going to be very effective agasint the fleet of dreadnaughts attacking them anyway. What you need is a mothballed fleet of dreadnaughts.
Geoschmo
[ August 04, 2003, 17:38: Message edited by: geoschmo ]