Similar thread for referencing: http://www.vendetta-online.com/x/msgboard/3/15303

Consider for a moment, that the HAC ship holds 800 people on board, is designed for nothing but warfare, bristles with weaponry, and holds it's own squadron's of fighters.

Now consider that a station is supposed to support these great battleships in their jaunts across the galaxy, from smelting new ores, building replacement munitions/fighters, acting as forward operations/command centers, and then on top of it, supporting massive civilian traffic patterns for trade.

Finally, consider that in most cases, the HAC is really one of the biggest things in the game, dwarfing even some of the largest stations in existence.

I want to suggest increasing the size of the stations in game, whether through adding more modules, to totally redesigning some. The idea that these stations act as barracks, command centers, research facilities, and even resource processors, seems weird when a mere 800 soul battle cruiser can literally park a station and half on it's length and have breathing room.
Stations should be a more sprawling, metropolis like entity. Not only size considerations, but also some "zoning" considerations should probably exist too. Such as not placing all the "residential" modules right next to that massive iron-smelting module. Currently some stations anywhere from 50-200m (rough estimation) long have all these vital functions somehow condensed in them.

Another aspect stations should have, is armament to defend itself. Think of the invasion of Zion in the Matrix movies. The central crane assembly had it's own huge defensive turrets, supplemented by additional warfare units on the ground. The same should hold true for stations.
I'm thinking massive AGT turrets, capable of defending docking bays, and acting as force projection against NFZ violators. Stations shouldn't be merely defended by a two ship CAP (Combat Air Patrol).

I also think stations should vary in size based upon their functionality.
Large command stations and large refineries should obviously appear larger than smaller stations like out of the way trade-routes.
Along these lines, it might do to introduce a new type of station, called a "Listening" or "Sentry" Station. This station would have no vital function, and be relatively small. It's primary function would be to act as an outpost for the military on the border. It would not be a full "Barracks" (which would have fighter wings, capital support, and many troops) but merely an early-warning center that has enough firepower to temporarily stall a fight, allowing the main military to launch a defensive action. These stations could spawn new mission trees as Dynamic Warfare comes along, such as "Support Listening Post X-Ray in Geira Rutilus D-4" for combat pilots, and "Resupply Listening Post X-Ray in Geira Rutilus D-4" for traders who want to run guns to critically short stations.

Finally, I think that stations (as I know has come up before) should start having some form of "docking" for medium-sized capital classes. The Teradon for example has no docking bay, so it stands to reason that it cannot launch or retrieve support ships to ferry supplies to and from the vessel, thus requiring actual docking for replenishment.
It then stands to reason that the smaller Trident-class would also have some capability of docking with stations to facilitate the replenishment process.

As for larger HAC and Constellation-class ships, there must, somewhere be a shipyard where these great war machines are constructed. They are large enough they could not be assembled planet-side then launched into orbit, so they must be assembled in space, yet there is no present shipyard for them.
I would think a large, figure 8 shaped station as a shipyard, the gaps formed by the "8" large enough for a HAC or Connie to pull in (maybe they have to back-out though due to their large "fin"-like structures). The station would have docking facilities on it to allow fighter-sized vessels to dock.
(It could be reasoned that one side of the "8" would be construction, while the other was used by Constellations to deliver the massive ore supplies needed to build a large vessel).

Because these stations are valuable military assets, they'd be well defended by floating turrets, and as I suggested before, they're own battery of defensive turrets on their super-structures. I would also imagine the more important yards (such as those that produce HACs as opposed to Teradons and Tridents) would be more isolated and located closer to central systems (Itan, Dau, Sol II) than border systems (Deneb, Geira Rutilus) where they could fall easily to enemy hands.

What do y'all think?

Yess... I'd like to see giant stations.

Sounds very interesting. Much as I like the idea of people living in relative poverty and enduring cramped conditions, I have some trouble seeing an entire population living in the small stations of UIT. At least the Serco and Itani have planets.

I would like to see gigantic manufacturing platforms that is utilised to create capitol ships, military facilities that are heavily fortified. Would be a boon for the opposition to take one of these out too.

More, bigger, better:)

Although I don't really see it as a priority (like ships names!)

Just a thought... stations could have their size and shape determined by players who buy/build player owned modules at that station. Players can already buy warehouse modules, so in theory stations should be able to be grown by players already.

Augmented with player-made GTS adverts this could create a pretty cool environment.

The same principle could apply to station defences.

Inc has mentioned that he is working on having multiple stations in one sector. Maybe the stations work together to build/restock cap-ships?

just my two cents.

I think you assume way too much in what the stations "do". Perhaps their ideas for the role of stations isn't more than a waypoint, an airport of sorts, rather than a factory, housing project and mount cheyenne all rolled in one.

Though stations really do need to be bigger. The size proportion is just disconcerting.

Objects in VO are larger than they appear at first glance.

http://www.vendetta-online.com/x/msgboard/1/20568#255356

I definitely see stations as functional and have always assumed that the bulk of the UIT population live elsewhere just as most of us don't live next to industrial parks and factories and mines.

I can't agree with that, moldyman. Ships like the Constellation, the HAC or even the Teradon are too large to be built on planets, and stations nowadays would not be able to support the building of one or more of them. Especially with regard to future prospects, giant 'dry dock' type stations would make very much sense, with capital ships being available for purchase only there.

It would also add to the fun for player-created content, since you could cripple the enemy's capital ship building capacity, if and when destructible station parts are introduced.

It'd be nice if ships were properly scaled to each other as well.

Ivan Itani's 10-meter IBG should not appear ingame as long as Trader Tom's 34-meter Behemoth XC.

Moldyman: Another point I have to make, is if you have ever worked the manufacturing missions out of stations, they always discuss (at least the Initros mission tree does) the need to ferry supplies there because the station has the most efficient, and large processors. (Nevermind this station is small)

Aticephyr: If I remember correctly, back in test there was a single sector that supported two stations, so yes, I could see two stations (or more) working together on a replenishment effort, but it still doesn't explain the how it is accomplished for ships like Teradons with no docking bays.

Toshiro: Exactly what I was thinking. Once Dynamic Warfare is rolled out, it would be possible to say, capture the enemy's yards, and either turn them against the enemy, or else it would simply "shut-down" and not building anything for either side (effectively limiting your enemies numbers).

The stations could be seized in a BS and be "off" or "Enemy Hands" for a few hours, then in the next fight, the previous loser would be shorter on command ships. If they won, they could reclaim their station, but it would be uphill. If they lost, the station remains in enemy hands.

To that end, each yard would be programmed with a set build order, such as one of the following:

"Produce one Trident every hour"
"Produce one Teradon every 2 hours"
"Produce one Constellation every 3 hours"
"Produce one HAC every 4 hours"

Then the structure lost would simply not produce it's quota of ships, so a fleet could be down a HAC, or 4 Tridents, etc etc. And perhaps there would be no replacement Teradon or Constellation available to backup the fleet should the leading one be destroyed.

That's no moon. That's a space station...

Yeah, thats always bugged me as well, the size of space stations/ships being either much, much to small and/or out of sync with one another. Unfortunately, but realistically though, this is probably somewhat lower on the "list of things to do."

Likewise.

While I'd really like to see bigger stations, there are bigger fish to fry (at least for the moment).

Hmm...I wonder what we'd get if we had the players try to design a good-looking "big" station?

Everyone would love larger stations, but not at the cost of their framerates. The existing stations are about as complex as we can make, without really slowing things down. I could spend around the same number of polygons on "gigantic" stations, but they would not be very detailed in geometry. Plus, I'd have to make a bunch of gigantic station models. We may do this for a few "capship" type stations, but not for the rest.

I am, however, looking at having a few instances of "station cities" in areas that are visibility-limited by fog. This lets me create really vast stations, using our existing art assets, while keeping the rendered poly count low.. since the fog limits visible range.

That's about the best tradeoff I can offer, for now. It's on my list, whenever we get back to tinkering with fog again.

Making them too numerous would cut down on their effect, in my opinion; those 'cappie berths' would also be better if they were not too numerous, for strategical and tactical reasons.

I think most of us could live with slightly simplified gigantic stations, or reduced-visibility fog stations (this would be fun as a means to create labyrinths).

Sounds great inc!

I hadn't considered the frame rate issue, but I do like the idea of super-stations in foggy areas.

A very good explanation Inc. I look forward to when you make the industrially polluted stations with tons of fog around it:)

That aside, I agree with Tosh. Making wall like sides should not kill the framerate too badly I think? Surely no more than the bone roid field in M7.

Will you let players design stations?