Starships have gained a lot of detail with the additional rules for their random generation and their expanded facilities, to a point where the basic battle system does not seem fully adequate.
Now, the preferred option for handling more detailed space battles would still be using Space Fleet or another dedicated space combat game, but the abstract battle system can also be amended for a better fit with the more detailed ships.
The main change is to have the size classes of the starships play a role in determining the outcome of the battle.
Calculation of battle score is now as follows:
Ships have a basic value depending on their size and battle modifier. It is 8 for vast ships, 4 for large ships, 2 for medium ships, and 1 for small ships. A battle modifer of +1 increases this value by 50% (giving 12, 6, 3, and 2, respectively), a battle modifier of -1 reduces it by 50% (giving 4, 2, 1, and 0).
To determine a fleet’s total, add together all individual ship values. Add D6 to the total. Add D3 for each success on the initial Command and Navigate (Stellar) tests, and deduct D3 for each failure.
Other parts of the rules stay unchanged.