It has been discovered that X1 ships are indeed unbalanced through test-playing on the TechWars server..
.. makes me think that TarMinyatur might be right in giving all X1 ships a pair of phGs.
Explanation:
AI does not use phX for defense. Yet for the Rom and Gorn X1 ships, there are no defensive weapons on the ships at all (with my X1 ships). They've got a bunch of phXs and offensive plasmas.. and that's it.
.. would replacing 2 phX into 2 gatlings on all X1 ships (including hydran to be fair) be too drastic? It is known the AI doesn't hold the phGs back when attakcing. A player can tease an AI to fire its gatling from range 12-14, then fire drones at it.
The feds, miraks and klingons are just about immune from drones with the numerous G racks (and ADDs).
.. but what do we do about the Gorn, Rom, (and ISC?) X1 ships?
Edit:
How about
<FireSoul> then what do you suggest? A sacrifice in plasma power to get plDs?
<FireSoul> ie: 2xGs -> 2xFs + 2xDs?
Edit2:
Doing this would increase the BPV by 3 per G->F+D conversion.