This is something I've been considering for the R&D system, to make the cap more friendly towards advancing small technology as well as ships.

Essentially, each group is awarded a pool of "points". Every R&D they have detracts from this pool in certain ammounts -a set number for certain sized vessels, and another number if its a tech submitted to improve an already existing ship.

For example, say you start with 100 points. An SSD, 6000 - 8000 meters (for example) is worth 50 points. So you R&D that, and you're left with 50 points. Then you want to R&D a faster-firing turbolaser to put on all your ships. That would be another points, let's say 5.

So you still have 45 points to submit new R&Ds.

It provides a cap for R&Ds, but also gives some balance, instead of having a fighter R&D on the same level as a Super Star Destroyer.

The other thought I had, which is an extension of the pool system, is for the total number of available points to increase with the more construction worlds a group has. For example, a new group starts with 100 points, and when they take their third planet (giving them another CP) and build a yard there, they gain another 100 points.

IMO, it provides a realistic aspect to R&Ds as well. More resources = more ability to produce new technology.


Just some ideas... comments, anyone?

Actually, Ahnk had an idea close to this, not points per se, but the more worlds you have the more R&D slots you get....

I like your concept, but I dont like the implentation, the whole point determination is too arguable for my taste...

In that case TNO has -1000 some odd points.

Most R&Ds these days are combinations of smaller R&Ds like the faster-firing turbolasers. We're already making these R&Ds we just don't have them as seperate R&Ds.

Well, for ships they would be established beforehand. i.e. a 600 meter ship is X points, a 1500 meter ship is Y points, etc.

And the mods would agree on the number of points for other objects, or if there was a very powerful R&D, impose "penalties" to balance out the power.

I like it.

I'm currently working on a massive suggestion for rule retrofitting, regarding:

A R&D cap and acceptable guidelines
Reinforcements, availability of and bringing in of
Damages
Distances in a system
Roleplaying ettiquette and courtesies

Needless to say, Drayson, you are once again proposing something that we need, we all know we need, and we are currently working on.

I don't like your system. I agree that there is a need but a hard cap will not be implemented. Groups are not all the same.

It's not a hard cap, per say. It's a system where the harder you work, the more you're rewarded.

"the total number of available points to increase with the more construction worlds a group has. For example, a new group starts with 100 points, and when they take their third planet (giving them another CP) and build a yard there, they gain another 100 points."

By hard cap, I meant is the same for every group.

The Union should not have as many R&Ds as the Black Dragon Empire, no matter how many planets each has.

I have no idea who or what the Union is... so unless they're a non-fleet group or something, you've lost me.

Okay, well then...

The Observer Order should not have as many R&Ds as the New Order, no matter how many planets each has.