With Administrators now limiting the amount of starbases you can build, and the cheap cost for constructors (1 Turn for a 4 Module constructor with decent speed), should the higher tier upgrades take more construction modules?
Im thinking 1 for lower tier, like now, upto a max of 3 or 4 modules for the higher tier bases for a single upgrade. Maybe based on the tech Age the module is researched in.
My reason for this is, due to the low build speed and cost for constructors, you are able to max out a starbase within a few turns with no downside. The auto building of constructors is also a huge changing factor in this where you can set a relatively low production planet to build nothing but 4 module constructors with a few engines, which can constantly out fit your entire empire. I think by changing how the starbase upgrades cost it will maker high tier starbases more valuable, especially to defend, where as right now I really dont care about them that much. If they are attacked or blown up I can have a few constructors back there within a few turns and have it back at full power.
Speaking of a constructor with 4 modules, it seems to me (I could be wrong) that they AI do not build any constructors with more then 1 module. Preferring to add either redundant life support systems or leaving the ship relatively bare. The fact that the auto blueprint constructors never have anything over 1 Module constructor seems to support this idea.
This means I can always out build the AI, either by giving it a higher speed getting to the target location faster, or building a fully defended starbase faster then the AI can even get a single constructor to the location.
AI Ship Ideas
(Initial Starbase builder)
1 Construction module, 2-3 Engines, 1-2 Life Support (No Scanners)
(Super Fast builder when within base ship range, or emergency upgrade constructor)
1 Construction module, 4-6 Engines. (No Scanners)
(General all purpose constructor which is mostly used just for upgrades)
2-4 Construction module(depending on mass), 1-2 engines. (No Life Support or Scanners)
I have even been known to build a constructor with just modules and no engines if they starbase is only within a few tiles of me, but otherwise the general all purpose should be fine.