A clever mechanic here would be to give the player even a small amount of control over that as opposed to RNG being the end all, perhaps something to do with how much damage per second was done to the hull to signify particularly catastrophic impacts that would split a ship apart (e.g. the impact of a Reaper in a single second versus that same damage spread out over time by a Mark IX), and one person on the forum by the name Ad Astra suggested finishing a ship via EMP damage (I'd argue for 'majority of damage was EMP'); any good XCOM player can tell you that RNG is acceptable if you're able to manipulate the inputs and outcomes in a meaningful manner, which is essentially what I'm on about here. But I digress. Again.
Damnit! I came here to berate this guy but now he agreed with me so I just have to shut up...
Just kidding
Well buddy, that was a long text! A long text I agree with quite a bit.
Some have said that story points are not in any way different from skill points, well I have to disagree, while a skill point symbolizes the expertise gained by an individual through their experiences within the game world, just like what a real person goes through in real life, story points would at best be moments of inspiration, which are not really good to implement in a game system, you want those from the player themselves (like when you hit a hound with a reaper and you can almost hear the pirates go like "Hawt dayum").
Your character without story points can already do great deeds and achieve feats unheard of throughout the sector, WITHOUT any SP usage, so how does disengaging when you have a pure frigate fleet require great divine intervention, as opposed to starting a successful colony in a sector ravaged by infighting and stagnation like its doing groceries? No idea...
SP are just another resource, just another coin, just another thing distracting us from making ACTUAL money more worthwhile, making faction and personal relations worthwhile, making skills worthwhile and making colonies worthwhile.
Do I need to BE an expert on ships to get a better Onslaught that what the XIV could field? Nope
Do I need to HIRE an expert to get it? Nope
Do I need to FIND rare pre domain tech that justifies such a cool and powerful modification? Nope
Then do I need a strong colony with considerable resources to make a powerful special fleet? Nope
Did I need to find or hang around luddies to convince this one? Nope
Did I need to achieve a trusting relationship and friends in high places to tell the AI bois to leg it? Nope.
Did I need to sha...ehm forge a trusting relationship with Ms Sun so that her blue fellows don't attack me for my 3% market share in adult diapers? Nope
Did I need to learn a skill or prepare my fleet specially to make sure even Space Davy Jones 'imself can't catch me?. LOL Nope.
Green boi go Kaplink! HAHAHA
So green point make do where nothing else make do. This isn't good, not good at all, you already HAVE the resources which could do everything you do with story points, and actually feel you made them yourself, feel you prepared for them yourself, feel like you planned after certain benefit and worked towards it, not just went around salvaging and "What do you know? I can now make the best Tempest that ever graced the sector". Again, this just isn't a good way to go about it, after all, the grind is still there, just make the grind worth it through the mechanics you already play with, instead of adding "Will Smith" as this genie obsessed fellow so eloquently put it.
I ALREADY HAVE TO GRIND! I ALREADY HAVE ALL THOSE COLOURED BARS ALL THE WAY PAST 75! ALREADY COLONIES! (caps for comedic effect, I am in fact very relaxed and totally not shouting)
I'm a strong independent spacer who don't need no green point!
Have the rep grind do what SP do, have skill points do what SP do, have player choices WHITHIN the game world do what SP do, what feels better, clicking on a green thingy to get a better ship or having to build your OWN docks so you can do it? Your own heavy industry? Your own research lab? (Industry idea). This is not having a pawn promotion in chess, this is being able to hit the table every 5th move, a pawn promotion would be to become more suave and seductive the more you spend your time doing jobs for who knows who in a shady bar in who knows were, you shouldn't be able to do that as an antisocial Apogee captain who communicates with grunts and body language Ludd dangit!
The game already has what it needs, just tie those systems together, with a world as rich as what we see here, as exciting and enthralling as what the devs have put together, we have little need for magic, for where we are going we don't need magic, we only need a loaded anti matter rifle, a spacesuit, and a heart lusting for adventure! Disclaimer: Spaceship, crew, supplies and fuel sold separately.