Love the research/building slider! I had been trying to figure out what would really make this feel like I was making a more interactive choice in the game and this screams it. The Ro evening out is a great idea as well. I would have to say I really don't think the production bonus is in the spirit of the trader. It really seems like it should be the warlords bonus, warlord should be the one cranking out ship after ship on a production war factory line. The idea of getting ro/co from ship destruction is nice and would maybe make a nice skill for anybody to take. Maybe a scavenger skill, not sure. I would like to see the trader get a trade bonus from actually trading, this would get them actively getting routes going. With the production bonus it just says crank out more ships, well more ships is only really good for war, huge empires, or your stuff is getting blown up alot.