Just so we understand one another...

optimal sb placement with upgrades max overlap = 10 on the center:

http://imgur.com/a/pRP78

Have fun!!!

In GCII I mostly used the military star bases when the civilization I was fighting had better military tech than I did.  It was a way to even things out when I was either defending or invading.   The constructor limitation (1 module per ship counted) made it difficult to use them though.

I think the Military starbase. Need to change in galciv3 rather than having this standard one hex defences point until late game techs with aoe effects. (i am refering to have the Military starbases operate very differently from the usual way it has up to now)

1 Suggestions/idea( to make it more a vital defences point, for both the enemy and the player. perhaps a long range cannon that can sabotage and deal some damage (something like and emp thing+damage one shot per turn or two-three depending on damage/sabotage effect of this turret) ( a way to make the opponent split his fleet to avoid this damage/sabotage cannon)

make the ship yard have a benefit from staying within range of the military starbase such as exp boost and (if ships are docked and when they launced from the starbase they get some sort of boost to either mobilety or one turn buff to ships attack/defences or jammers/accuracy. like 5-10% or somthing around there depending on how many logistige points you have used and what type of ship it is (including what tech you got during the game (like what role does this ship have).)

perhaps give the starbase a repair bonus if it is close to your  planet or ally. as well i woulde have liked to see the starbase deploy mines from it and send it away within the range of it, taking one turn for each hexagon for it to move.

As well give it a aoe jammer/accuracy bonus to your ships when they engage in starbase territory (depending on how far you have gotten in your techtree that is.) (around 4-8% due to the amount of ships and to balance it so it dosent get to powerfull but the changes are noticeable.)

And give it a way to make nebula around the starbase and outwards (rather as a hige tech concept thing or in age of war.

(importent to note)

the point of this is to make the military starbase more valueable target for both sides and change the stiffness of how it operates just as a ship with just hp-damage and shields tied to only one hexagon (with only two things mainly in uncommen) in difference. the building processe and its immovable.