I agree culture spread without the culture research is not very good. But there wouldn't really be any issue with it automatically allowing culture spread once research is performed and then having the upgrades further increase said culture. 

Hmm... The Resupply is the only AM using ability on the TEC star base. I don't see any reason to remove that restriction plus the range is already really big as well. Combo a Starbase with Resupply/Culture Upgrades/Repair Bays/Hangars and you get a pretty tough Entrenchment as the Hangars and Repair Bays would benefit from the AM bonuses. I like AM restricted abilities for the most part because they can be shutdown by various capital ships from each race unlike passives.

If I were to give TEC instant access to anything on it's list of upgrades though (after researched) it would be Resupply. The other existing star base upgrades are too powerful to make available with only the initial star base and research investment.

I doubt either would happen outside of a mod though.

What's wrong with having it be a default ability? Advent's specialty is supposed to be culture, and this would provide a significant culture-based advantage (which is something the Advent SB needs)

If you do that, then why not make the TEC have default trade ports?

I think that it's fine the way it is currently.

Maybe move Resupply to tier 3 as opposed to tier 4 or 5 or wherever it is right now, but don't make it a default repair platform. PLEASE DON'T.

Well, these may or may not be viable options. An experimental mod would be a great way to test. That aside, he's not looking for add-ons to make them fare better, as most MP games don't give you enough time to do all the research and SP can go on long enough for any starbase to become supremely powerful. Since the Orkulus can move, it's useful as an offensive weapon and more capable of defending the grav well than the others from the start. He's just looking to give the other two some defensive or offensive edge that will narrow the gap without necessarily closing it all together. Rather than simply debate the pros and cons of these abilities, perhaps come up with better abilities, assuming you feel there should be any change at all.

I dunno, outfit the Argonev with a nuclear launcher that has an inordinately long cooldown time and extended range. It then forces the opponent to divide his fleet on teh approach lest the AoE cause major damage. Then he also has incentive to approach and destroy the starbase before it gets another missile off.

Awesome idea!

I am willing to make the effects for it too! (That being my specialty)

Basically because the game mechanics are fairly well defined that one must research culture to generate culture. It just makes more sense that you need to research the culture upgrade in both the civilian and defense tree. After that I agree it could then be automatic without a further starbase upgrade purchase which is possible without major modifications.

Personally I think the moving Orky should have been a research subject tier-3 or 4 in the beginning instead of available right at the start. But that's neither here nor there now.

Sure, that works too... or would at least be something to consider... although I'm not sure that would be enough to make the Argonev viable in games against decent opponents.

Why not? It would make the Argonev more useable for its cost, and you might actually begin to see players use the starbase once in a while in games against decent opponents.

Resupply refuels AM, correct?

And it refuels capship AM, correct?

so why not just edge an Argonev into their gravwell with a Sova or something and then continuously spam embargo and shut them down?

IMO the Advent should have some sort of significant bonus related to culture, given that that's supposed to be their specialty but isn't really a serious strength in actual games. A starbase that spews large amounts of culture be default could be that strength - Advent could be the exception, of not necessarily having to research the specialized culture structure in order to spread it.

Sounds good to me.

Because no one with any sense of the game is going to just let you build an Argonev in their gravity well and then let you sit a Sova there forever?

Of course not, but it's still a rather attractive idea...

Has anyone suggested super-small random maps for quick 1v1's; like 10 -12 grav wells?

??? what ??? there already there or u want more?

Well, I had suggested in another thread another kind of culture bonus that I think the Advent should have. Basically, every ship has it's own unique bonus while in culture. I havent fully fleshed out this idea, but an example might be that carrier cruisers spend less/no AM to phase jump while in culture. But Disciples would have something completely different.

Now, that, I think, would help bring the advent back to a stronger position and reflect some of that culture-heavy mentality.

HA! I brought up this thread to my dad and he had the same nuke idea I had. Man, we are a violent lineage.

I would definitely appreciate something like that. The premade maps are... not very good for that sort of thing.

I would like for Sins of a Solar Empire to incorporate more features from Ascendancy and Homeworld. 

Features from Ascendancy:

1.  A better technology tree that's fun to navigate and where technologies are more meaningful.  The technology tree in SoaSE is an exercise in absolute frustration especially since you require all those labs which in turn require logistic upgrades, etc, etc.  There are too many obstacles to getting technologies.  You can't have a twist by someone researching an advanced technology early on because he/she needs a certain number of planets to develop the technology.

2.  A little more planet development.  Ascendancy got out of control at some point but SoaSE suffers from building boredom early on and towards the end there's nothing you can build nor is it fun to build a planet after you've built the first one.  They all feel the same. 

3. More varied races with a more distinct alien feel to them.

4. Ship building - there's nothing like customizing your ships.   15 years later, I still remember the names of my ships in Ascendancy:-)  

5. A more spacey soundtrack.  SoaSE's music is nice but Ascendancy one-upped it.

Features from Homeworld:

1.  The mothership.  Yeah, baby, yeah! The mothership has arrived - tremble everyone;-)

2.  The story and the campaign.  I don't feel connected to the TEC, the Vasaari or the Advent.  In fact, they're so unmemorable that I had to think to remember their names.  Story is important and character development is part of any game.  Adding a character such as a leader to a game goes a long way towards making it more memorable. 

Just because you don't feel connected the UEF, Aeon Illuminate or the Cybran... wait, the UED, the Protoss or the Zerg... wait, the Terrans, the Celareons or the Mantis... wait, what were we talking about?

Maybe a few Titans will make you remember their names when they ravage your home planet...

I want a game engine that can handle dual/quad cores and just runs better.  forget bells and whistles, work on the engine instead of the paint job and accessories or some other company will put out a better engine that does what we want with even better visuals and neat crap.

I want the Z-axis to be fixed ...

This.

Because it is likely a simple 'un keybinding' issue that could solve the problem.

while I agree that removing the keybinding would eliminate the ability to intentionally exploit via the z-axis, there would still be complaints from the times that you unintentionally end up in positions which are not exactly fair. And then theres the AI. If the AI can do it, why can't you? However, it does seem to be something they could fix for Rebellion. The actual fix wouldn't take much work, but you have to commit some time into thinking of a solution.