Ship and Weapon changes

I think careful consideration needs to be given when considering manuevering changes - already, you can be forced into a stern chase with a faster enemy, having to cross the entire map until they are cornered, and have to follow them around, turning inside their turns to close distance.

Enabling a strategy of kiting would also enable the AI to kite the player more effectively. And while there are options to mitigate that, (missiles, fighters, etc,) imagine a new player coming to a zone with anti-shield guns as a main gun, and gatlings for hull damage, encountering an AI ship that can kite him and whittle him to nothing with, say, a projectile cannon. Being forced to run because an inferior ship can whittle you away from a distance isn't a lot of fun.