R&D caps should also be based on dependancy. Empire or Rebel based groups not as much as the more creative groups like the Cree'Ar or BDE, where they have to spend 10-15 R&Ds just on simply technology alone.

The Union

Yeah the Union was a recently approved TRF Fleet RPing group/faction, I think. Criminal organization, or something like that.

That SOUNDS fair, at first, Kyric, but you forget that R&D technology is very powerful, so powerful in fact that much of it can only be defeated by more R&D technology.

What I think would work better, would be a point-rating given to each group, and for every planet they have they earn that many points. They then spend these points as detailed above.

So a tech-heavy group could have a very high rating, to reflect the fact that despite their lack of worlds they command a lot of technology. More conventional faction like GC and TNO could have lower ratings, but because they take more planets they could keep pace with technologically inclined but planetarily challenged factions.

Well if you were going to go more realistic wouldn't a large faction like the Empire be able to R&D much more than a smaller group simply because they have the funds and resources to R&D that much more... there just needs to be balance... I don't necessarily think the rules should be different for separate factions... there just need to be one set of rules that ensures balance and fairness between all groups...