Missiles and point-defense

[sgqwonkian]

Another thought related to your post:

Look at the SIZE rating on missile projectiles down in the weapon data blocks. (This is the second or subsequent SIZE line, for example on the fission missile, I'm talking about the "SIZE 11" line, not the "SIZE 2" line that's well above it.)

Rather than having "hit points" or otherwise tracking damage to the missile, a missile is automatically destroyed by any weapon that strikes a circle whose dimensions are defined by that SIZE entry. (I think the SIZE entry is a radius measurement from the middle of the projectile.)

Reducing the number there will make it harder on point-defense, and greatly reduce the chance of accidental collisions. I suspect (but have not tested) that if you set all missile SIZE entries to 1 or 2, they'd rarely get hit by random debris and unguided projectiles, but still be easy pickings for a good point-def gun with a decent targeting computer. If my instinct is correct there, that may be an easy fix to the problem you're seeking to solve.