Gaming 101 is new toys(ships) ..it gets players blood flowing and wanting to come back for more.
Every game sequel includes new units to expand the combat and keep things interesting.
It also softens the eventualities of comparision to the first game.
IMHO Every returning race in this game should have at least two new Cap ships amongst some new frigates.
Does every races need loyalist/rebels?
Why not take some of those polygons and make 4 new races?
Instead of 2 new capships, i would prefer if Loyalist and Rebels had different ones, say Loyalists get the old ones and Rebels the new ones, or vice versa, or some kind of mix. Not neccesarily all of them, i mean they can have say 3 common ones, like in case of Vasari say Kortul, Vulkoras and Egg, and then Loyalists get Skirantra and Marauder, while Rebels get Rankulas and one new design.
They dont even have to be different in function, just visually - like both Skirantra and Rankulas can be carriers for their respective subfactions.
This is at least how i would love to see this tackled, but judging by Yarlens response, they have different plans.
Anyway, as long as i get Kortul, Vulkoras, Orkulus and Vorastra, looking and functioning in more or less the same way, just better and cooler, i guess i will be OK with that. Looking forward at least to those new frigate/cruiser designs.