[quote=AlienBastard]
It annoys the hell out of me how in a sci-fi NRP it seems that what space ship types a faction has evidently matters more than culture, history/historical connections, economics or ideology.
[/quote]

Agreed. The ships are a result of their culture. I like to have RPs where culture is either displayed or explained so I can maneuver within it.

For my bitching, I hate sci-fi colonization RPs that disallow players to develop an alien race also transitioning into colonization. Humans aren't the only race out there that may begin galactic colonization. (I view space colony RPs much like the game Deadlock)