[General Hawkwing]

I like your ideas for life pods and moving a crew from an older ship to a newer ship. However, this would imply that all ship component follow the same basic design principles. Otherwise, how can a repair bonus (or weapons)be used on a new ship with components never before seen (in combat) by a crew. For example, a crew from a destroyer with depleted unranium cannons and armor beng moved to a cruiser with meson bLasters and phased shields. Maybe you could require 1 turn being spent at a planet with crew training facility after ship changes.