Reading all the threads on how PD are not balanced and the inherit issues with the way they work, got me trying to think of a different angle to make missiles work. What if we don't balance them at PD, but with how the missiles are guided.
What if we split missile launchers into two guidance methods:
1. Sensor guided
2. Heat seeking
Sensor guided missiles work as normal currently, but require a sensor onboard the ship. This could be countered by the introduction of a sensor jamming module which could work like the boost thrusters; hit the button and for a short time it will shut down everyone's sensors. This would make all active sensor guided missiles un-guided and force sensor targetting missile launchers unable to fire. Ideally this would only be able to be used in short bursts periodically as the boost thrusters were intended. This would be a low cost investment for a large ship, but possibly too much for a smaller vessel wich would still lean towards only using PD. It would also make sensors necessary to missile oriented ships.
Heat seeking missiles would not require sensors to fire, but they always automatically target an enemies active thrusters. These missiles can be made useless by turning your thrusters off, giving the defending player the tactical option on whether to rely on their PD or negate their own movement. These missiles would need to be fired from a shorter range.
