1) More starbases! If I were to add 1 different starbase design to each race, I would do:
a ring-station-style around the whole planet. For TEC probably. It would have defense as its strongest point, adding a force field around the planet (similar to the planetary structure they already have, maybe better - both could be combined)
Defense would encompass the whole world, but firepower would be less concentrated.
upgrades:
- weapons (2-3)
- hull (3-4)
- colonies (2)
- planetary shield (2)
- trade docks (2)
- planet lockdown (1)
- strike craft (3-4)
- ship production (2)
- tactical slots (2)
- logistic slots (2) - each level gives 4 additional slots
Advent would have an orbital station, which would be able to circle around the planet on a fixed path. a toggle button would allow the player to move it forward, backward,stand still or 'auto' (it would move closer to the action). It would have more support abilities for the fleet.
upgrades:
- weapons (2)
- hull(2)
- repair ship (2-3)
- antimater replenish (2-3)
- shield restore (2-3)
- strike craft (2-3)
- planet lockdown (1)
- culture spread (2)
The Vasari would have a stationary star base. This beast would work with different radiation emissions, and would behave differently depending on how close it is to the system star.
Closer to the sun the base star's dark energy core would harness more energy to itself, regenerating shields and antimatter faster, and shooting faster too. Farther from the star, the space-time fabric ir more subject to its dark energy core emissions, the base star has an effect of disrupting non-vasari technology, making ships move/shoot/regenerate slower. It would also have a devastating dark energy beam cannon which would be able to attack the whole gravity well
- dark energy core upgrade (3) - amplifies disruptive/regenerative effect
- dark energy cannon (3)
- weapons (2)
- hull(2)
- phase lane(2) - second level allows travelling between systems
- strike craft(3)
- trade(1)
- colonies(2)
- planet lockdown(1)
That's it, I guess. I would very much like to have more variation in planet/star sizes, not to mention bigger stars. And please make the AI pathfinding smarter.
thanks