At the moment, everything anyone could ever need can be found in one or two adjacent sectors, and trade is only useful for factions without factories or bp's.
If each star system had a randomly generated 'modifier block' that replaced half the lvl 1 ore, only affected one component type, and could be used as part of a recipe for that block, giving it a bonus to whatever, then trade and holding teritory would become needed.
Ideas for bonuses/modifications:
AMC: Bonuses to stats, possibly modifications to the way it works, e.g. exploding like a missile on impact, etc.
Thrusters: Improved thrust / turning speed, etc.
Shield: Improved stats, damage reflection, damage on contact, etc.
Core: 'Turbo Mode'(Everything except power is better, but at much higher energy costs)
Everything: Different colours for things like beams, AMC fire, thrusters, shielding, etc.
On top of everything else, subsystems which were built using modifiers are replaced by default versions when blueprinted.
If each star system had a randomly generated 'modifier block' that replaced half the lvl 1 ore, only affected one component type, and could be used as part of a recipe for that block, giving it a bonus to whatever, then trade and holding teritory would become needed.
Ideas for bonuses/modifications:
AMC: Bonuses to stats, possibly modifications to the way it works, e.g. exploding like a missile on impact, etc.
Thrusters: Improved thrust / turning speed, etc.
Shield: Improved stats, damage reflection, damage on contact, etc.
Core: 'Turbo Mode'(Everything except power is better, but at much higher energy costs)
Everything: Different colours for things like beams, AMC fire, thrusters, shielding, etc.
On top of everything else, subsystems which were built using modifiers are replaced by default versions when blueprinted.
