This would be a research branch that would make your modules more space-efficient. It would only work on base modules, not NPC drops or mission rewards. Early tiers would upgrade items like jammers and cloaks that you can only have small numbers of - advanced tiers would have greater effects on more items. All items would have a minimum size, so you couldn't put cheap modules on and not have them take up space. Possible tier progression:

Tier 1
All Jammers are -1 deck space smaller. (Max 2 bonus decks)

Tier 2
All Reactors are -1 deck space smaller. (Max 3 bonus decks)

Tier 3
All Dampeners are -1 deck space smaller. (Max 4 bonus decks)

Tier 4
All Hull Modules are -1 deck space smaller. (Max 5 bonus decks)

Very advanced tiers could perhaps offer a percentage bonus:
All Shield Modules are 15% smaller.

I think a research tree like this could offer bonuses without being overpowered. Since most people don't run with the max number of modules, the full bonus would not always be given. It also offers a way to indirectly make the ship more powerful, without more gear to buy.

I believe that Kaos suggested something along these lines a few months back.

It doesnt have to be a research tree, you can make it a mission that requires like say 5000 research points per round and once you finish, you unlock the technology

i believe you only worry about the decksize at lower levels but once you get high enough its not a big problem anymore specially if you have a healthy artifact per hour rate.

Like in Civilization game, and master of orion game. When you finish a branch of a research tree, you can research Future tech, or optimize tech.

I sugest illimited tier, but the quant research need each tier x2, will quick become impossible to complete.

+1 for me.

man i havent seen MOO in ages. Wish they had updated it past MOO3.

+1 but cost should be a hell of a lot more to compensate for the benefit. Say maybe 20% a grade

I don't see any real reason for this especially when we have unlimited deck size for the ship. To me, increasing ship deck size actually "miniaturizes" module sizes in terms of module size/decksize ratio indirectly.. However, miniaturization can be quite useful for planetary structures where there is a hard cap on size..

I can see the advantage in this for lowering your incoming damage cap, but it would have to be pretty damn significant to see any reduction worth mentioning when you're talking about the capital ships.

True but it's now much less noticeable thanks to damage cap change at viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5720
so it's rather moot point now as you would start to have your rank to outpace decksize advantage to regulate damage cap even with idea of miniaturization. Current only best only viable path is just go BIG. Scout or small ship concept got destroyed thanks to that patch update.. I would rather to have updates that affect the majority of player population rather than to cater to very very tiny and currently shrinking scout players into oblivion soon..

I won't say that scouts aren't doomed, the increase damage cao has let them increase decks and add more armor while there damage cap is still around 40-60, instead of 15-20, scout pilots are still at large with the two 'em "flashdrive" , "Ejjakai" and "RESBAK" chargin up the pvp leaderboards.

i thought he was whining because tech never got smaller or even staying the same size just always getting bigger.