What I feel is rather critical addition to the current gameplay mechanics is change how pilot interacts with the ship. I'd really like at some point for characters to not magically get sucked into ship's core, but actually use the cockpit for flying the ship - with character staying 'glued' in front of the block as long as the console is still there and operational. Same for weapon, rocket etc ones.
Not only would it encourage more realistic and sane designs - with core being at ship's core, while proper controls at the bridge - but also add some new possibilities like being able to disable the ship and destroy the bridge without causing core meltdown or even kill the piloting crew standing in front of those consoles. I want, after battle, to see drifting hulls of vanquished foes, their pilots taken out with a missile shot at the right time and place. Possibly it would take care of irritating 'exit the ship's core into the space outside of the ship' which still is unfixed and a bother.
It wouldn't even affect balance that much - the pilot would be where the core is now. Though it also could be used as a groundwork for actually being able to control turrets remotely if one could also drop control consoles in the bridge and connect them to the cores of turrets. But that's a separate idea.
Not only would it encourage more realistic and sane designs - with core being at ship's core, while proper controls at the bridge - but also add some new possibilities like being able to disable the ship and destroy the bridge without causing core meltdown or even kill the piloting crew standing in front of those consoles. I want, after battle, to see drifting hulls of vanquished foes, their pilots taken out with a missile shot at the right time and place. Possibly it would take care of irritating 'exit the ship's core into the space outside of the ship' which still is unfixed and a bother.
It wouldn't even affect balance that much - the pilot would be where the core is now. Though it also could be used as a groundwork for actually being able to control turrets remotely if one could also drop control consoles in the bridge and connect them to the cores of turrets. But that's a separate idea.