Hi there!
1. Really sorry about bad english. Hope it is understandable.
2. Sorry if already suggested. Lurked a bit, and didn't found any similar.
Yeah, iv`e found
that article and understand that it is a well known problem, which is soon to be reworked. But i doubt proposal solution will help.
My suggestion possibly could solve problem more effectively and easier. It consist of a two parts:
A) Fleet is limited of 30 units. Instead of allowing additional units over an upkeep penalty, maybe it is better to allow having more than one small ship as a single unit? The group of
same-fitted frigates combined into single battlewing, acting as a single combat unit, shearing orders and tactics just like a fighters already do, just like frigates
should do. And yes, an officer, who command that unit contribute to all ships in it, off course less effective than to a single ship. If you ask about numbers, i guess allowing 2-3(depending on shiphull strength, as some are stronger than another) destroyers and 4-8 frigates would be OK. Cruiser should be alone just like capitals, IMO.
B) There are obvious inconsistency between real combat strength of smaller ships and DP needed. Lets consider as an example wolf and conquest. If you have 40 DP to spend, you can choose 1 conquest or 8 wolfs (5 DP each). Obviously, conquest is stronger, no one will choose wolfs in that situation. Why don`t just change this according to point
A? No, the single wolf is still 5 DP, but a group of two is already 9 DP. Group of three - 12, four - 15, five - 18, maximal group of six wolfs is 20 DP or so. That means, you can use two groups of six wolfs, spending 40 DP, and a twelve wolfs are more comparable to conquest, especially if all twelve are under officer`s command. Numbers should be adjusted, no more than concept yet.
The only question to be asked: "What will stop frigate spam, not to create opposite problem?" Well, first off all maintenance, as group of 6 wolfs might be 20 DP on the battlefield, but still 6*5=30 recovery cost in supplies. Plus frigates dies more often than capitals, which makes frigatespam fleet weaker after each battle.
Of course there are lot of issues and problems to be solved:
-What to do if one frigates from group was disabled and recovered with its own unique D-mods? How it can be returned to group?
-Where player will get those amount of identical spendable material if not having colony with heavy industry?
-How can player control that group if personally control one of the ships in group? Opposite problem: AI is not able to control group as a single unit, making that tactics less effective it should be.
-Something i can not imagine.
Still, i think idea is promising as it can be easy adjusted and balanced by simply changing that values where needed.
