I have never really been good with introductions so I am going to dive right in to the actual post:
1. The number one problem that I have with Entrenchment is the starbases. I agree with most people on the resolution to this issue. The starbases need to have a much longer range to be able to combat any unit whatsoever, except the unit specifically designed to counter them. The starbases could also use cheaper/ more upgrades and a higher initial cost. (The whole moving of the starbases completely defeats teh purpose of the starBASE, and as for building in enemy gravity wells, this isn't neccesarily a bad idea as it gives it a Death Star-like feel, however an anti-planet upgrade would be mucch appreciated here.) Also it would be nice if starbases had powers and gained levels like cap ships. And the final problem I have with the starbase is that the constructor ship builds where it is and does not construct where I want, which is only a minor problem but still frustrating. PS the idea of having a starbase stop the traveling of phaselanes is also a great idea.
2. The number 2 problem I have currently is everyone elses number one and that is the mines. Obviously. What can I say that hasnt already been said? The TEC mine system is top notch but as for Advent and Vasari it is just annoying. I would like to see a 500 mine limit and also the ability for constructor ships to automatically replace a detonated mine. Also if a mine explodes, it should destroy everything around it, not just enemy ships. If I was dumb enough to leave my capital ship next to a mine field that enemies were coming into, well maybe I did not deserve that capital ship. Also I would like to see scout ships or robotics cruisers to be able to be upgraded with a greater mine clearing ability.
3. One major problem people seem to have is that no matter what, even if ranges were increased for starbases, is that they can still just be bypassed and the planet can be destoryed either way. Well something I have wanted from the beginning that would easily fix this problem would be to be able to upgrade the actual planets with physical planetary defenses. If I was the ruler of a particular gravity well, I sure as hell would not leave the actual planet undefended andWput my sole confidence in the constructions of the gravity well. Many of you now say, "Well that is great, but how does this help solve the problem?" Well, this would make it so if someone did decide to go through your defenses, they would be stuck between a rock(planetary defenses) and a hard place (orbital defenses, including the starbase) thus being assaulted from all sides and would never be able to actually destroy any defenseless orbital structure placed near the planet without first destroying the tactical structures and then attempting to destroy the plaetary ones. (A good way to implement this would be to have the planetary defenses targetable by teh antistructure firgates and thus increase the usage of these units.) And you could also have upgrade slots like the starbases that have diferent powers like missle bays or something but you could also do weapon upgrades, Im not sure at the moment but with some tweaking I think that this could be a very cool idea to implement.
4. These final suggestions are minor and would be nice changes to teh game howeve this just might be my opinion. First off I would like to see flak guns on cap ships like everyone else, also to increase the damage/health of cap ships to increase the usefulness(as well as that of the starbases because seriously my starbase was destroyed by 2 level 1 cap ships). Next, I would like to see a few more ship types, personally I would like to see a frigate with very fast engines but a powerful close range attack that would be a good counter to both LRMs and carriers, and also maybe some unique units with unique capabilities for each civilization. I would like the Novalith Cannon to be able to target starbases and have a damage multiplyer against tehm so its a 1 hit kill. And finally I am sick and tired of finding nothing after expending resources on exploring a plnet. I would like to see getting relics more often, and if there is no relic, the exploration should lead to a non permanent power with a cooldown timer, like rocket swarm or something I dont know. Or exploration will lead to more upgrade slots that you can use as mentioned above.
-My Two Cents