[geoschmo]

I like the idea some. I think it would help in the early game. However I am unconvinced it will accomplish what I want in the late game. The fact is no matter what you do to minesweepeing component cost it's still a formula. You change the values of the equation some, but there is still a solution. Once the player gets to the point where they can build and support enough sweepers mines become irrelevant to the attacking fleet. It's all or nothing. Your fleet will roll through field after field with no pause or concern from the mines. I want you to have to take your time. Not to stop you completely, but to make you take your time when going from planet to planet. I want to make wars in the late game be campaigns instead of just an inexorable drive from planet to planet towards the heart of the enemy empire. The only way to do that that I can think of is to make you take some damage from the mines. Not enough to critically damage the fleet, unless the other guy gets lucky or you don't prepare carefully, but enough to slow you down and make you more methodical about things.

Geoschmo