I understand how science works, but i also understand that they have to have evidence to support their theories. Currently, i just don't think there is enough evidence to support the idea that they have factories that create their ships. Its fine to have a theory, just expect your theory to be scrutinized and criticized. That's also part of the scientific process. Your theory just doesn't have enough support in the canon Freespace story for me to be able to use it as an answer to a question.
The original question was, : "The SSD Lucifer was only slightly larger than the FS2 Ravana, how come it has 8X hitpoints??"
and the answer that i questioned was "Where the Ravana is mass produced, theres only been one lucifer to date. Perhaps it is a cutting edge peice of shivan technology."
I have to question this answer, because i have a couple of issues with it. The first issue, is with the practical matter of it. Within the universe, there has been no intel regarding the shivans. Nothing is known about them, or how they function as a society or what are their purposes. To assume that they have factories, and means of production, you already assume that you know their culture and that they are similar to us in that way. They create ships, and send them off to war to destroy us.
My second issue with this is the problem it creates with the Shivans as a plot device. The shivans which are completely outside of our understanding, are now reduced to this enemy that we can see, and fight. You are free to disagree with me on this point, But i feel that the Shivans have to remain a shadow. The Shivans were supposed to be a faceless enemy, which is what makes them so terrifying! We fear, that which we do not understand.
Feel free to disagree, because we all have that right. But for the sake of this thread, i think i will have to bow out of it. I feel like we have gotten too far away from the original point of it, which is to answer Marcov's questions. Consider this a cop out if you must. Feel free to shoot me a message to continue this debate with me. But in this thread, i think i'm out.
If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended...
My bad.