Starsector 0.97a is out! (02/02/24); New blog post: Save/Load UI, Autosave, Intel Map Markers, and More (04/10/24)
It’s interesting that people mention run-ending consequences, because Starsector doesn’t have them; it’s not permadeath and indeed the only things you lose in the absolute worst-case scenario of total fleet destruction are the ships you had with you at the time. By early midgame it’s trivially easy to have a few spare ships sitting around in docks, and in my experience that happens even without any intention on the player’s part as a result of normal fleet configuration optimisations in play. Before that, losing a few frigates and a destroyer or two is an almost immaterial setback.
Unless you are a speedrunner, there are no substantial negative gameplay consequences to defeat; only narrative complications and some fleet reshuffling which if anything keeps things fresh.
I'm not sure if I find slipstreams to be completely useless, or if it just takes too long to get the upgrades to make them useful, but I've played two games to level 15 and have yet to unlock reverse polarity, so slipstreams still remain "95% chance to press e-burn and waste supplies to get where you're going, with a 5% chance of being helpful".
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Ah, okey okey, I like use slipstreams to achieve +3 burn speed, it is ok, but it looks out just like a cheat for three invisible tugs...
In fact, they get in the way. The benefits are very doubtful, the challenge is how to break down them. Out of a hundred, only one is on the way, I think...
tl;dr -- this game clearly plays out very differently as a noob than a veteran.
That sums the situation quite well. It is very difficult to balance for both extremes and maybe the way forward are multiple modes like the existing iron mode.
An iron mode without Hull Restoration could be a solution to the money overflow. After every fight you need to buy new ships or repair your D-modded ones. Ship repairs would be a constant money sink, even in the late game.
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