Slaine

Also during battlemodes you could assign certian hatches to your number bindings and close thise hatches during combat. E.G. Protecting your Mining Turrets with Titanium Hatches. This could also be used when they fix the thruster issue working within confined spaces. Let's say you enter Battle, you could close your thruster hatches when shields fail, use engines to get out of combat zone (You'll have less manuverability), reopen hatches at a safe distance after shield recharge and reingage. Thing like this change the game to more of a thinking mans game. Layerd design will also be great, but I think this will add to the game a completely new dimension.

The Reason for hatches are simple. You can Complete a Grand design and when you want to change something you access build mode and open the hatch, draw the required block, close the hatch and continue on your merry way blowing up pirates, etc. Its just a simple way of not having to redesign the ship whenever something new needs to be added. This equals more game time and less Minecraft Time.

Hatches - Openable and closable Hatches for interior design. E.g: 1. Enter Design Mode 2. Open Hatch 3. Draw Block e.g. Crew Quaters. 4. Put block inside compartment 5. Close Compartmnet. 6. YAAAAI! This will alter ship building significantly.