I got my set of type-S composite rays a long time ago. I occasionally use customized decoys, which are pretty cheap. I usually have difficulty deciding where to put a quantum accelerator, and I never get magnetosphere chargers. So what will I do with all my dark badges? I'll get a set of type-D composite rays. But I'll eventually have both sets and once again have lots of dark badges to spare.

My suggestion to benefit those of us who have gotten a complete set (or more than one) is for Dan to add a composite ray upgrade to the battle market.

Composite Ray Upgrade
Upgrades a Composite Ray on your ship, increasing its bonuses by 50%, up to a maximum of 100% upgrade.
Requires: 400 Medal Points Earned
Cost: 412 Dark Badges

Is this a fair price, or should it be more expensive? Should it increase size at all, say 2 each upgrade?

If my math is correct (and the Scan Blitz page in the Wiki is accurate for % boosts) a 100% upgraded set of CompRay-S would mean we'd need an additional 521.28 points of cloak to safeguard our planets.

Thanks but no thanks. I'm happy spending my Darks on Magnetospheres and Quacks.

Then how about the upgrade only increases the attack?

How about the upgrade gives one of the other bonuses? Ie having scan and defense on one. Requires you to purchase the second ray (so those who have didn't waste their badges) and fuses them together. Maybe a small increase in attack, 20 per upgrade.

Or how about the upgrade is only useable on type C and type D? And does 400 medal points sound reasonable?

Loving the idea of an upgraded composite ray, i to have the same problem as you, with not buying many magnetospheres or quantum accelerators.
Problem - So, people might not like having to put extra cloak on their planets?
Solution - We could possibly do the same as with dominion cannons, and add Mark I, II, III.

Hows this idea: Make it so you can get all 3 bonuses added into one weapon, by buying all 3 types, and fusing them together.
This fusion would be done after buying them, but before installing them.
This way, neither of the maximum for Scan, Cloak or Defense goes up, as you can do this now, with switching them around. (uninstalling and re-installing)

Example:
Composite Ray MK I
[ Special Weapon - Size:13, Attack:80 ]
When first installed, choose 1 permanent bonus to this weapon:
40 Defense, 40 Scan, OR 60 Cloak. Can be fused with another Composite Ray MK I to create the Composite Ray MK II, adding an additional 20(?) attack and two bonuses of your choice, when first installed. Can be Fused With one Composite Ray MK II to create the Composite Ray MK III, adding a further 20 attack and all three bonuses when first installed.
MK I Requires Rank 50 or Greater. (Limit 4 per ship)
MK II Requires Rank 80 or Greater. (Limit 4 per ship)
MK III Requires Rank 120 or Greater. (Limit 4 per ship)
This idea works, because it would not increase the maximum of anything other than attack, so no more cloak is needed to hide your planets.
Maybe increase size by 2 for each fusion?

The process of fusing them would be fairly simple, for the MK II you simply choose, in the same way you would when installing it onto your ship. there would be a fuse button on the artifact, you click it, and get the same popup menu you do when installing it, whatever bonus you pick is added to the MK II, as you fuse them.
Maybe put an energy cost on it? like 50 energy per fusion.
It would look something like this:

Composite Ray MK II
[ Special Weapon - Size:15, Attack:100 ]
Possible Bonuses: +40 Scan + 60 Cloak.
Possible Bonuses: +40 Scan + 40 Defense.
Possible Bonuses: +60 cloak + 40 defense.
^you pick one^
(Limit 4 per ship)

Composite Ray MK III
[ Special Weapon - Size:17, Attack:120 ]
Bonuses: + 40 Scan + 40 Defense + 60 Cloak.
(Limit 4 per ship)
Edit:
The total Dark Badge cost for getting all 4 to MK III this way, would be 3648.

Thoughts and suggestions are always welcome.

Players who have gotten multiple sets have no doubt had each one installed (though not all at once), uninstalling and reinstalling. The fusion should work on composite rays that HAVE already been installed.

Another idea is this: limit of 4 of EACH TYPE per ship. So a ship could have four type S, four type D, and four type C installed all at once.

thanks for expanding my idea fully

Of course, thats a possibility, i just figured it might make it easier to code for Dan, so it could be added to the game faster, since most of that coding already exists, but your idea works to, it would just take a little longer to be implemented into the game.

im opposed to any changes to composite rays there great as they are and i dont want to have to waste dark badges on an upgrade when i can buy magnetosphere charges

If an upgrade for composite rays is released and you'd consider it a waste of badges to get them, then don't. Just continue to get magnetosphere chargers and customized decoys.

why would i get customized decoys o.O

It's certainly nice to have one activated when fighting tough bases. Or tough boss npc's. Or when there's a lot of alerted npc's you want to fight. Or when you're burning tons of energy npc hunting.

Something tells me this guy doesn't do much NPC or base hunting.

i have 16k def against both without a customize decoy i dont need it and id rather give my planets 3.9k passive cloak

Go fight a fully loaded, fully buffed level 7 base and tell me you don't need more than 16k defense.

Well said Sir!
16K defense wont stop much at higher ranks. Mine is well past 20k def (not giving exact numbers for obvious reasons) without a decoy, and i still occasionally take pretty heavy hits from the stronger level 6 bases.

im gunna take max damage from that base even with a customised decoy on
not that my legion does lvl 7s anyway