[grumbler]

IF: I guess my point is that there are lots and lots of "passive" armor type entries in the components file (making it bigger) but the differences between them are small. It seems disproportionate to research passive armor physics to level 1 and scattering armor engineering to level 1 (total cost 120,000 RPs) and get Scattering Armor 1, and then proceed all the way through the chain to its end at Emissive Armor VI (almost 1.6 million RPs later) and see that the differences are:
1. 5 tons lighter
2. Takes 25 tons less damage
3. Costs 50 min more
4. Reduces damage from weapons by 25 ADU vice 15.
5. Can withstand 25 ADU hits without damage vice 15.
6. Regenerates 25 shields per turn vice 15.

I guess my point is that if the game is going to have such small differences between armor types then they should either be made racial or else the research deltas should be much less. Even better would be to not have such subtle distinctions and simplify the components file.