I am sorry that AIC is not for you and that you do not think a level 3 AIC Destroyer should cost 1000. Your AIC home world alone gives you about 15000 minerals and with mineral extraction right from the start and you should be able to get another destroyer or more then several smaller combat missile ships for every 2 or three Mining Facilities as long as you develope your Planets then your economy will develope and then you can aford a large fleet.
I like this about AIC there is a great deal that goes into infurstruture first but I can see how this can be frustrating. You really should play TDM it is a MOD with just a very basic economy and the AI is up to date.
I would like to say this. I just built a level two Destroyer in se4 with the STOCK Abidon. With only 2 level III Shields and Emisive Armors both at level 2 and 2 Phychic Projecters with lvl 2 Combat Sensor and ECM and it cost 1600 maintenance EACH, thats about 500 more maintenance then AIC. 
Tim what do you think a Destroyers maintenance cost should be?
[ May 14, 2004, 12:28: Message edited by: QBrigid ]