Good luck with adjusting the whole tech tree. Personally, a buddy and I have had more successful luck in just adjusting things and adding things here and there to what already exists. It was just easier.
We are currently working on warp engine theories and shuttle craft(similar to FE rules). We are have already adjusted engines, added new armor types, changed armor Ratings and some of what they do, added and adjusted research and intelligence facilities.
All of this took us some time. I added 3 new armor types, and each armor type took me 2 hours to add, and play test to make sure that it didnt overly make the game out of balance.
What have you got working with shuttles so far? I had tried to make fighters capable of carrying cargo components, but that will not work in the game as it currently is. I had then thought about using really small ships to represent them, but then they can't land in docking bays... curious as to what y'all came up with.
So far we only have concepts. We havent tried anything concrete yet. As soon as we get it done, then I will pass the info off to you. We figure on making a combat mount of some type for storage. When we test our theory, and if it works, ill post more concrete on it.
as for how i can get his done. WEll to put it simlpy. I have no life of any kind whatesover. While many people with jobs/freinds/money/and other normal things. Might have an average of 1~2 hours a day TOPs to spend on games. I usually spend a minimum of 8 hours a day on the computer. And thats durning the week. On the weekends well. Just Last saturday i spent about 16 hours in a row playing starcraft.