Something I have pondered for a while is pressing civilian shipyards into military production during wartime perhaps should be a thing.
The same/ilar principle as an economy being limited by private sector generated wealth in a genocidal 'total war' conflict between two species run by monolithic regimes, and whilst the 'features of the engine to automate/enable expanded storytelling' motivation loves the idea, the 'i do hope Steve closes the gap between human and npr capability to exploit the mechanics' part really doesn't ;-)
Whilst I'm typing. . . .
If the user had a semi-automated(or more automated anyway) method of vessel design, it, or it's results could be co-opted by Steve and the AI. That is to say that if the user has a set of radio/sliders to play with to design ships based on current/next gen tech and the engine is equipped to generate vessels based on the requirements set. . and the ai uses the same set of mechanics then the userbase can be employed to refine ai design mechanics, a capability retained through future issues.
The system could generate for users a combined package of research for the entirety of the design (as per contract tendering) which results in a completed package, as opposed to researching individual components. (or retain the same system of individual components ofc. )
As we can sample from Mr Walmsley's example, the wonders need not cease with the initial release. I suggest that design revisions (efficiency gains in iterative steps) might be included as a potential r&d step for a fractional gain on components (and/or architectures. ) Where em6 to 8 gives a third gain, passive em sensor rating 6 size 1 'patch 2' might confer a 5% (or w/e) gain.
Yahyah, I can bemoan feature creep and suggest it in the same post =)
Re: FC revisions - If any code revision reduced the number of missiles thrown, any performance(engine) loss to more data being tracked per missile/salvo might be gained by limiting the total. I don't know how well my pc would cope with honor harrington. Speaking of - wasn't it Weber that had mfc boats that flotillas handed off fire control to?
Data export - Whilst I've seen it referenced many times in a 'gimme mod support' fashion, the ability to export/import certain data (not constituting a save game) would save an awful lot of time. . . even 'just' extended from what is already there (editable order lists as per templates, fc settings, race/empire starting setups, solar systems) the issue I see is that many paths would require extra work every time the subject of a 'savable' set of data receives revisions.
Sorry if repetitive or whatevs, I do read, but sometimes things go in one eye and out the other =)