Firs of all thanks Code Force and Matrix for a great game, i really love. But I want to help improve this game. Most of all in 4x games i like space combat and designing my own ships, I think in DW its a bit plain, so here is my suggestion:
1.Add firing arcs
Master of orion 2 was an inspiration.
Spinal mounts can be either overpowered standard weapons or specially researched one (it will work great for world devastator weapon or heavy ion cannon)
In design screen it should be 5 separate weapon loadouts for each firing arc.
It will also increase importance of thrust components, as i don't care about it much right now.
Torpedoes and missiles: don't really care where to put them, they are guided.
2.Fighting tactic
As firing arcs will be limited there must be different combat tactics, as current system will not work. So i have some examples:
Red circle - target
Black circle - own ship
Gunboat attack: ship will fly around target firing its port or starboard weapons on a set distance(you choose wich side it will face the target):
Spinal mount facing: ship will face target with its spinal mount and will not move(start fleeing when target is at point blank range
Keep distance: ship will keep its set distance to a target moving from target if its closing
Point blank (close range): ship will rush to the target and will try to be as close to it as possible(good for powerful close ranged beams or lasers
Point defense: ship will try to stand between friendly bigger ship and target to shoot down incoming fighters and missiles
Its just first few that came to my mind, there can be much more of tactics.
3.Weapon abilities and new components
Missiles and torpedoes CAN be shot down but only with point defense weapons, missiles must have better evasion then torpedoes.
I think there MUST be some sort of abilities, like ion cannon right now.
Also every weapon should have shield penetration chance, bigger for beams, less for lasers and missiles etc.
Shields should have different resistance to penetration, or it will be interesting to add new components like shield boosters etc.
It will increase armor importance, as don't really care about it, just add more shields and its done.
4.Weapon variations
3 different blasters, missiles and torpedoes is good, but we NEED more.
For example add long range artillery cannons,not energy based, 1500-5000 range, maybe they must use ammo(one more component - ammo storage)).
One more example: spinal mount, shield piercing fusion beam, with low damage to shield but devastating against armor ant hull...
Just imagine: Long range cruiser trying to destroy capital ship using its artillery cannons flying around it(gunship tactic), few escort-class try to destroy incoming torpedoes from Cap. ship, so they don't reach cruiser. And Cap. ship tries to face cruiser with its one powerful spinal mounted fusion beam, which will crush through cruisers shields in second destroying it (Cap ship captain does not know that enemy have high resistance shields and his fusion cannon will only slightly damage them... etc... etc... etc...
Right now its more important to add more guns and more shields, and the battle is won. I DON'T like it, tactic must be more useful.
I think this thread can be a good inspiration on weapon variations: http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=2724868
ALL of this is just quick examples and can evolve much more.
Sorry for my english, it was really hard to explain what i want, i hope you understand everything.
Please leave your comments and let me know if im not alone in my wishes.
