What if levels in research contributed the quality of rank points. What I mean is if after researching a level in reactors investing a rank point in engineers gave me 2.10 energy per point. The idea being that this will push out the break point on things further keeping investments in non deck rank options viable longer.

I'm not sure what would make sense from a scaling perspective is a 5% bump would work or if it might need to be scaled to the type like tactical officers get a 10% and defense only get 2.5%.

This would prevent over powering rank choices in the lower levels but would help stretch the utility of these choices.

Any thoughts or criticisms?

I do agree I see no point of having anything other than deck. I would like to see a reason to put my points into something else there. But as of now there is none.

There is actually a point, with the Ship class ratio rule in pvp. Basically, if you stay scout at lvl 200 and get lotsa atk / def, you gonna beat the crap out of anyone else

Very true I am not going to argue that but for us who started our ship way before that and now have galaxy destroyer's there is nothing else that would help us when placing our rank points.

Lol correct. Rank 61 scout took me down but it required lot of energy. I shudder to think that what she would look like at rank 200 with much more attack power.

One thing you are wrong about, defense means NOTHING when it comes to scout class.. Damage cap is always there. It's best to invest all RP into tactical officers where it'll mean much more useful.. I fired my 4k attack at that rank 61 scout and it always ends up at 25 hp damage every hit and she had only 15ish defense.. 25 hp damage will still the same if her defense gets to 2k for example. It's all wasted..

So. For scout class specialization, FOCUS ON ATTACK and HULL/SHIELD all way.. Hull/shield helps to extend the scout's life before death.. Lot of brackets/xchargers and tactical officers = Godly. Helmsmen means nothing..