Collapsing the Vehiclesizes.txt file...

Well, there are some fields which don't take formulas, which in turn could create limitations by doing what you propose. For instance, they'd all have the same look, the same "Engines per move", combat speed, etc.

Oh, and all the ability descriptions would still be there even if the ability wasn't active, so it would be fairly messy.

In short I'd say it's not worth it.

Ability descriptions can't take formulas. The amount part would work, though.

Messy descriptions perhaps, but elegant code-wise. I see no reason why not since we don't usually think of differentiating normal/organic/crystalline hulls aside from cost and the extra ability or two.

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Playing Touhou games (Go here if interested . No, nobody else is that good/insane as that replay). No rush for SE V bug fixing.

Well, one reason would be that you'd give up choice. I.e., as soon as you got organic/crystalline tech you wouldn't be able to use the regular ship again. All existing ships would also be 'magically' transformed into its organic/crystalline counterpart as soon as the technology was researched. There's probably a number of other side-effects too.

My point being that it's probably just as well, and most likely less work, to alter all of them seperately. And it gives you alot more options, at least until all the fields can take formulas( which will probably be never ).

And if you somehow get both crystaline and organic, what these ships would be?

I'd be guessing some sort of super hull that does both extra organic armour regen and beam weapon damage reduction (assuming BM style hulls) which costs extra (high organic and radioactive cost). A regenerating crystal lifeform... that'd be something yeah...

---Sig---
Playing Touhou games (Go here if interested . No, nobody else is that good/insane as that replay). No rush for SE V bug fixing.