[Tanus]

I also would like to have more of a SEIII type construction - lay down the hull, and then build it up from there.
That would add a whole new element and purpose in small "lightning strikes" to wipe out hulls in progress.

But to balance this (so that you can't lay the hull and complete in 1 turn with tons of repair facilities), it should combine SEIII and IV styles.

Where in SEIV it may take 6 turns to build the ship, then it appears fully complete in orbit, the hull should appear in orbit first turn, then take an additional 5 turns to complete, regardless of how many stacked repair facilities you have. The ship would still be 'being built', and use up 1 space yard for that time, but the ship would be in orbit and vulnerable.

eg. You decide to build battlecruiser A, which will take 5 turns. Next turn a BC hull appears in orbit, maybe with a counter on it - 4 turns remaining. Next turn, 3 turns remaining... etc, until it is complete, and then fully functional