"Is there any way to add component abilities? For example, certain beam weapons can peirce shields. "
Sigh,....I wish.
This is my fondest wish for this game, IMO it would be the most worthy addition in a patch (that and mount stacking where you could have more than one mount affecting a component..).
If they ever did this though I'd love to see the option of adding MORE than one damage type (ie, having a wepon both pierce armor and shields or skip armor as well as doing quad shield damage...or even killing off all boarding parties as well as doing normal damage..a la Moo Death Rays....
)