In the next version, I think ALL ships should have a self destruct regardless of size. They don't all have to have as big an explosion (obviously ) but Self destruct is clearly a part of almost ALL ships in trek cannon, and thus ALL ships, including construction ships, scouts etc.. Should have it. I know it makes it harder to capture an enemy ship, but I've done it before. It just takes skills   Also, Most, if not all ships should have tractor beams. Now I'm not advocating ventures towing Negvars, just hear me out. Tractor beams should be attached to size classes.  Thus only a frigate or something larger can tow another frigate.  This is also a major part of trek cannon.  And lastly I think it would be more realistic if the Galaxy, nebula Soverign, and Descent had long range probes along with the Caravel.  (because Galaxys and nebulas have had long range probes in Trek episodes, thus Soverign and Descent would too. Logically. )

well, the tug would be quite useless, since it's not often that a ship is crewless, it usually just gets destroyed.

Actually, a tug would be useless if ALL ships had tractor beams. UNLESS the tug could tow ANY ship, thus not neccesitatign a Soverign to tow a negvar out of a nebula.  I've already added self destruct to all my ships, but I thought it'd be nice to suggest it as a universal change.  

Then to be blunt; make the explosions of reasonable size, and sacrifice the needs of the minor cannon to supply the needs of the major.  

I'd say a tractor beam and self-destruct on all Adv. starships would be good.  I think their offensive damage should be minimal, but you should be able to click it before your shields go down so you at least don't give an advanced ship to an enemy.

In stock A2, when you beam over to a new startbase, you can't recrew for about 5 seconds.  Do the same for the self-destruct so it can't be turned off within a time by anyone but the original owner's team.

all ships should have self destruct and the weapon should be extremely powerful for example

A sov self destruct should destroy anything within close proximity Bar i dont know a BB  

i'd like it if the self destructs power varied with the size of the ship blowing up - i.e a scout will do minimal damage, a sovergien doing much more to close range ships as they carry quantam torps and normal torps etc these wud make the blast more powerful yeah?

I'd like to see either tractors or a destruction option (but not both)... Having a capitol ship like an Avalon or V15 or one of the other heavy ships, with all its shields and/or weapons intact fall behind a retreating group because its engines are off line suxors.  

Being able to tow these out of harm's way (as must have happened to Ent-E at the end of nemesis to get her back into a starbase) or blow them up once they're surrounded by hostiles would give a better option then just letting them sit out there for 5 minutes until their engines come online or they're set upon by an enemy battlegroup.

Of course, being able to exact a little revenge when you're in an enemy base and all your escorts are gone is just my ebil side talking.    but towing away decrewed enemy ships that have been pummeled but not totally destroyed (rare in FO I know) is nice too.