RainbowDragon: Or maybe I will wait for a few more days because reading about the reduced number of starbases makes me wonder if I want to have this patch at all. Starbases always played an important role in my strategy during the last games... I hope they make this reduction in the number of starbases optional!
hmcpretender: I think it's a good change as it finally forces descisions from the player on where to build starbases. Starbase radius is a bit larger than before to compensate making it easier to grab resources which are in close proximity to each other (think antimatter spots on 2 sides of a black hole).
It also makes technologies that increase ship range more valuable, as you can't just flood the galaxy with starbases.
You can flood the galaxy with starbases for a period of time, but then you need to disband them as you need more economic starbases at home.
The problem is the number of starbase 'administrators' don't scale upwards enough early/mid game. You get too many at the start, and the early government techs increase is pitiful! is way too small. It needs to scale much larger with early gov techs and reduce with later ones.... as it is now, I'm not getting anywhare near the starbases i need until i am so advanced i barely need them! - plain stupid.
BUT - still better than the unlimited starbase mania going on before.