First part: On a scale of 1-10 with '0' being 'no value' plz rate the importance of the following (in your experience) in SEIV:
Weapon or Facility -- Value/Strategic/Tactical
Combat sensor -- NA/10/10 unless you are Religious
Tractor/repulse beam -- NA/5/5 - nice for star bases to shoot enemies away with then push them out of the enemy's weapons range, but otherwise not very useful
Shields -- NA/10/10 unless enemy likes PPB
Emissive armor -- NA/8/8 - I have 1.78 so -30 to every attack is helpful
Scattering armor -- NA/4/4 - too bulky, use Scanner Jammer instead, though +15 to defense is nice
Stealth armor -- NA/7/7 - it's a cheap cloak for early on, but it loses its value as soon as the enemy discovers penetrating scanners
Cloaking -- NA/7/7 - unless you research it soon the enemy will probably have penetrating scanners already, but if you do get lucky you can wreak some havoc
Tachyon (weapon destroying) cannon -- NA/??/?? - never used it, figure, why not destroy the whole ship anyway!
Ion Dispersal (engine destroying) cannon -- NA/??/?? - never used it, I guess it might be good for use in a combo with repulsor beams or something...
Frigates -- NA/5/5 - they make good scout ships but that's about it
APB cannon -- NA/7/7 - a decent weapon but the PPB is better, if somewhat shorter-ranged
Null space cannon -- NA/5/5 - Only if the enemy is really big on defenses. Divide 60 damage by a 3 turn reload rate and you're only getting 20 damage a turn! (Then again, take a look at the Shard cannon... it doesn't even pierce shields and it only gets up to 35 damage!)
Second part:
How far do you research propulsion and why? Quantum Engine I - what's the point of QE II and III? Oh boy, I spend hundreds of thousands of research points and what do I get? My engines are 40 minerals cheaper!
That's why I made a Holly Hop Drive at the maximum level of propulsion...
Do you use training facilities and why? Yes, they give you a +20 to attack and defense, though it takes a while to train your ships...
do you research Computer Complexes and why?? Yes, +30 to research plus another +30 from the system complexes is a BIG boost to research!
Third part:
Master computer -- NA/8/8 - Saves space and minerals on larger ships, and protects against subverters! Yay!
-- if you use an MR, do you add an Auxillary Bridge? -- Y/N What is a MR? Do you mean MC? If so then no, I hardly ever use auxiliary command anyway... I never even thought of putting one with a MC!
I add an AB to my larger ships with MC since MCII only costs 20kt and the AR 10kt. I do that in the event that the ship gets infected with a virus.
Good idea or bad and why?
Wouldn't you still have a big movement penalty from the lack of life support or crew quarters? I don't remember the exact penalties (what is it, reduced to 1 if no bridge, cut by 1/2 if no LS, cut by 1/2 again if no CQ, reduced to 1 if no supply?) but it's probably not worthwhile, unless your ships have 12 movement or something...
Smallest ship with QR -- __? Hardly ever research resupply anyway, but if I did get QR I would probably put one QR escort in every fleet.