Has anyone else ever wondered if FFG might bring the energy mechanic from epic ships to small/large base ships? They could release it in an aces or epic pack along with an assortment of upgrades that use energy.

Start with a system, title or modification card that gives say 2 or 3 non-renewable energy, or maybe starts at 0 but gains 1 energy after green maneuvers to a max of 2.

Then some upgrades that let you spend 1-2 energy to do some of the following types of things.

Roll one additional attack die with your primary this round.

After a primary attack hits, assign one Ion token

Remove 1 Ion token from yourself

Gain 1 shield up to shield maximum

Perform a free boost action.

Pass a shield token to a friendly ship at range 1

After attacking with a secondary weapon, you may immediately attack with primary

I have no idea how to cost these things but it might make for some interesting new ways of doing things.

Any thoughts?

Edit: Hmm. So this is what pops into my head after being awake for 21 hours.

WAD. NO.

I think it would complicate the game too much for FFG to do it. Sounds like a neat house rule though.

I've made custom large base ship cards that use energy.

If it's limited to 1 to 3 then I don't see the harm.

I always thought a neat mechanic that *could* have been in the game was 'energy management'

You simply had three tokens

engine

shield

firepower

(and possibly ion)

Double sided so that one side had a + the other a -

You put that + token next to your ship and it increased that factor by 1 each turn (up to max shields or max speed or +1 red dice) but you had to put a - token to reduce one of the other abilities.

It would allow you to cut your engines to boost your fire, or reduce your fire to build up shields or run away.

I think the core rules are fine as they are but if they ever did an 'advanced' set of rules i'd like to see something like that incorporated.