In Lieu of the minimum block limitation, I propose a compromise that will add much more to the game.

[halcyon]

Vanover just came up with the base idea over VC. So I'm sharing and amplifying it.

Builders are upset over the minimum block limitation, and though I understand that it has upset how some of the way ships are powered (via a million .00001 solar panels--which I disagree with btw--personally see it as lazy and it creates WAY too many blocks on a ship), there's a potential way around it to get the desired outcome while also lowering block count. There were also exploits that were game breaking and anybody mad about that should take a step back. 

 

Take your block of X material.

Add an option to add material in five extra steps of "advancement/enhancement."

For block ID's this would mean X block Y 1-6.

This would in effect be compression without the need for actual compression. 

However, it would be based on two factors: 

 

Tech Level and Shipyard Location and Costs

Iron Base 0 - Base Game/anywhere

Iron +1 requires iron knowledge and tech 8 - Cost increase by 20% for resources and $costs

Iron +2 requires titanium knowledge and tech 15 - Cost increase by 40%

Iron +3 requires naonite knowledge and tech 24 - Cost increase by 60%

Iron +4 requires trinium knowledge and tech 32 - Cost increase by 80%

Iron +5 requires xanion knowledge and tech 38 - Nice effect here though is that advanced iron inertial dampeners would be nearly as good as base avorion. Not QUITE as good, 20% difference, but still fantastic. - Cost increase by 100%

Note: Cost increases  of +1 = 20%, +5 = 100% follows every resource

Note: Additional stats are based on tech level availability, and do not affect processing power, volume, or mass. 
+1 = 10% additional stats 
+2 = 25% additional stats
+3 = 45% additional stats
+4 = 70% additional stats
+5 = 100% additional stats

Titanium Base 0 is base game anywhere 

Titanium + 1 requires titanium knowledge and tech 15

Titanium +2 requires naonite knowledge and tech 24

Titanium +3 requires trinium knowledge and tech 32

Titanium +4 requires xanion knowledge and tech 38

Titanium +5 requires ogonite knowledge and tech 42

 

Naonite Base 0 is base game anywhere 

Naonite + 1 requires naonite knowledge and tech 24

Naonite +2 requires trinium knowledge and tech 32

Naonite +3 requires xanion knowledge and tech 38

Naonite +4 requires ogonite knowledge and tech 42

Naonite +5 requires avorion knowledge and tech 46

 

Trinium Base 0 is base game anywhere

Trinium + 1 requires trinium knowledge and tech 32

Trinium +2 requires xanion knowledge and tech 38

Trinium +3 requires ogonite knowledge and tech 42

Trinium +4 requires ogonite knowledge and tech 46

Trinium +5 requires avorion knowledge and tech 50

 

Xanion Base 0 is base game anywhere

Xanion + 1 requires xanion knowledge and tech 38

Xanion +2 requires xanion knowledge and tech 42

Xanion +3 requires ogonite knowledge and tech 46

Xanion +4 requires ogonite knowledge and tech 50

Xanion +5 requires avorion knowledge and tech 52

 

Ogonite Base 0 is base game anywhere

Ogonite +1 requires ogonite knowledge and tech 44

Ogonite +2 requires ogonite knowledge and tech 46

Ogonite +3 requires Avorion knowledge and tech 48

Ogonite +4 requires Avorion knowledge and tech 50

Ogonite +5 requires Avorion knowledge and tech 52

 

Not saying this idea is perfect, but if our devs were to apply this (or something similar), it would allow players to do a great deal more with lower block count. 

One major caveat to this is that increasing the advancement/enhancement of a block would not change its volume, mass, or processing power, ergo it would not have an effect on the size of ships.

Edited February 9 by halcyon