I like a lot of things in this mod, but the ship sections are not my favorite part.

Here's the sort of progression I'd like to see instead -- simplified, with advanced sections being a bit stronger but not "L-slot Corvette" strong.

Overall, the idea is that early ship designs are balanced against available threats, and by investing in a hull type (with improved -> advanced sections), you're getting more powerful hulls. There are no hulls like "Patrol Boat" which just have fewer slots -- it's assumed that a player can leave slots empty if that's desirable.



Corvettes (basic): only two choices, both have Point Defense. AI can't screw this up. Supports all weapon focus types.
- p + 2S
- p + G

Corvettes (improved): new section has 4 utility slots and no PD. This is stronger against other Corvettes, but loses harder against carriers & missiles (including starbases).
- 3S

Corvettes (advanced): have only two utility slots, but have two aux slots. Specialized for evasion tanking.
- 2G
- 2p + M



Destroyers (basic): only one aft, and it kinda sucks!
-fore- M + 2S
-fore- 2G
-aft- 2p

Destroyers (improved): putting the L slot here removes some value from early Destroyers but the initial designs are strong enough against Corvettes to justify the delay.
-fore- L
-aft- G

Destroyers (advanced): stronger defensive options here, sacrificing attack power
-fore- 4p, 4 medium utility slots
-aft- p, 2 small utility slots and 2 aux slots



Cruisers (basic): the most variety of all hulls
-fore- L
-fore- 2G
-mid- 3G
-mid- G + H
-aft- G
-aft- M

Cruiser (improved): more short-range options, with better defenses
-fore- 2p + M, two L-sized utility slots
-core- 3M, three L-sized utility slots
-aft- 2p, one L-sized utility slot and 3 aux slots

Cruiser (advanced): more carrier options, mid section sacrifices defense, no new aft.
-fore- H
-mid- 2H, no utility slots



Battleship (basic): restricted to a single excellent design. Note they get no PD ever, requires coverage from other ship types (or requires advancing into carriers). The least flexible hull category, it can only really excel as artillery or carrier operations.
-fore- 2L
-mid- 3L
-aft- L

Battleship (improved): assuming X-slot will capture most fore sections
-mid- H + 4G
-mid- H + 4M
-aft- 2G
-aft- 2M

Battleship (advanced): carriers have arrived; again assuming X-slot in use
-mid- 3H
-aft- H



Titans seem fine, I feel good about the BSW sections.

Overall, this version of the Battleship retains its core strength, but gets the least flexibility. No sections with more or fewer utility slots, no sections which sacrifice defense for attack. It does allow you to build [X+3L+H] which is a nice generalist artillery combo, but you don't get any PD on it if you install bombers.

This version of the Cruiser is usable at all stages of the game. Early, it's your missile carrier, and late-game it can use stronger defenses to screen your Battleships, or it can be a rapid-response carrier to support your Corvette or Destroyer fleets.

This set of Destroyers and Corvettes should be compatible with the vanilla game's usage of those hulls. In terms of exceeding the vanilla roles, the advanced [2G] Corvette should prolong its value as a torpedo platform, and the Destroyer's advanced [2G+p] configuration gives it similar late-game value but with a lot more hull, some PD, more armor, and 2 aux slots (for regen and afterburner).