Dunno if im going to be giving my players to much next game but it will require a lot of good RP and some lucky combats but Im considering just rewarding them with 2 transport ships and one other ship they wouldent be fantastic ships but i was thinking is it to much? At the moment they only have thier main ship, ( the one they started with) And im not sure if giving them 3 more ships 4 sessions in is such a good idea.
To much for free?
have you given some thought as to what your Pc's are likely to do with them? if the ships are going to be sold for PF, then it will be pretty simple. if they intend to keep them, make sure you know in advance what kind of crew they can get their paws on and what components the ships have etc. Try and keep them in the background, so they don't bog the game down.
My players are experienced role-players and are all familiar with the setting. I've slowly given them a small fleet of ships. They have two light cruisers, two raiders, a repair/salvage frigate, and three transports. They also currently have a raider and a frigate in drydock at the Lethes currently being restored and refitted. This takes a couple years, but with all the time dilation that amounts to 2-3 play sessions.
In the case of transport ships, I'm a little more liberal in giving them. The reason for this is I run trade endeavors like so: if they secure the rights to a resource or trade route and contract out the shipping I give them +1 or +2 profit factor. If they dedicate one of their transport ships to it (i.e. give up the ship so it can run the trade in the background) they get +3 or +4. [Note: I only award +2 profit factor for selling off a transport ship.]
When my players engage in space combat it is usually against foes like: 7 raiders and 3 frigates; or 1 cruiser and 3 frigates; or 6 frigates. So I guess it depends on what scale of space combats you want to run.
I personally rather love the idea that ships is another crew-mate, with his/her own characteristics, persona, attitude, etc. So I'd rather 'award' them with damsel in distress that they save, nurture, or recruit. Oh and the damsel could be a brash Havoc class, or a shy Dauntless class, or an old-and-wise Loki transport.
But again, that's just my personal opinion
You're the one who know what's best for your group.