Why not treat the core internal modules like the Optional modules?
It would allow a lot more customization for each ship, role, and player style.
Nothing needs to change except each "Core Internal" slot can fit any of the Core modules.
Take the Anaconda for instance; Its core layout is: 8, 7, 6, 5, 8, 8, 5 on the core layout.
The extreme explorer could build it the following way:
8 Thruster (or an 8 FSD if they existed)
8 Fuel tank
8 distro
7 FSD
6 powerplant
5 sensor
5 life support
That would give it greater agility and jump range, but the limited power plant would make it not so great at combat or have an arsenal of power hungry modules.
I feel Life support and Sensors would need a rework along with this as they would be the smallest possible on every ship at this point to allow larger fuel tanks, PP, PD, and FSDs.
Make it so 1E life support is 2 min duration and adds 50% time for each rank; 3m for 1D, 4m for 1C, ect. Each size increase adds 2 minutes to the life support duration; so a 2E would be 4 mins, 3E is 6 mins ect.
For Sensors, Have them affect missile lock times, chaff and ECM effects, ect. Smaller sensors would have a hard time targeting through Chaff so gimballed/turrets would drift around a lot (like they currently do) whereas having a large sensor, the Chaff effects are reduced (so the drift is much less). For comparison, a size 2 sensor would be similar to a burst laser with 7.5 degrees of jitter while that size 8 sensor will only have 1.5 degrees of jitter. The larger sensor suite can "see" the ship through the chaff easier.
Also, a larger sensor suite an see a ship with a lower heat signature. Larger sensors will also be less susceptible to ECM effects. I am not saying it will negate the effects completely; This would also have minimal effects against fixed weapons as well.
These changes will now directly compete with larger slots (especially for combat oriented ships). Do you want that size 8 powerplant? Or that size 8 Sensor? How about that size 7 Distributor or the Size 7 Sensor?
It would make having larger life support or Sensors worth the sacrifice of other components; bringing it all back into balance.
It would allow a lot more customization for each ship, role, and player style.
Nothing needs to change except each "Core Internal" slot can fit any of the Core modules.
Take the Anaconda for instance; Its core layout is: 8, 7, 6, 5, 8, 8, 5 on the core layout.
The extreme explorer could build it the following way:
8 Thruster (or an 8 FSD if they existed)
8 Fuel tank
8 distro
7 FSD
6 powerplant
5 sensor
5 life support
That would give it greater agility and jump range, but the limited power plant would make it not so great at combat or have an arsenal of power hungry modules.
I feel Life support and Sensors would need a rework along with this as they would be the smallest possible on every ship at this point to allow larger fuel tanks, PP, PD, and FSDs.
Make it so 1E life support is 2 min duration and adds 50% time for each rank; 3m for 1D, 4m for 1C, ect. Each size increase adds 2 minutes to the life support duration; so a 2E would be 4 mins, 3E is 6 mins ect.
For Sensors, Have them affect missile lock times, chaff and ECM effects, ect. Smaller sensors would have a hard time targeting through Chaff so gimballed/turrets would drift around a lot (like they currently do) whereas having a large sensor, the Chaff effects are reduced (so the drift is much less). For comparison, a size 2 sensor would be similar to a burst laser with 7.5 degrees of jitter while that size 8 sensor will only have 1.5 degrees of jitter. The larger sensor suite can "see" the ship through the chaff easier.
Also, a larger sensor suite an see a ship with a lower heat signature. Larger sensors will also be less susceptible to ECM effects. I am not saying it will negate the effects completely; This would also have minimal effects against fixed weapons as well.
These changes will now directly compete with larger slots (especially for combat oriented ships). Do you want that size 8 powerplant? Or that size 8 Sensor? How about that size 7 Distributor or the Size 7 Sensor?
It would make having larger life support or Sensors worth the sacrifice of other components; bringing it all back into balance.
