Experience

[Alpha Kodiak]

Perhaps crew deaths could be part of the calculation of ship damage for this purpose. I just know that now, when a fleet is beating up on a pirate ship, I try to hold my shot for the moment at which I can get the kill so that I can get the experience. Then there is the great frustration of single-handedly beating a superior ship into submission in a prolonged running battle, only to have a passing freighter take a single shot and blow it up, thus giving you no experience.