I've been meaning to raise this for a while now and since activity on the boards is a little stale at present I hope this will get a discussion going.
The starting ship selections for the Federation need a serious review.
In order to create a consistent universe, ships of the same era need to appear related in terms of design and technology. As time passes and new technologies are discovered, you should see a slow and steady progression as technology evolves and new designs are fielded based on the success of recent innovations
Right now the starting ship selection (ignoring support ships for now) goes something like this;
Cruiser 1- NX/Enterprise class
Frigate 1- Daedalus Class
Scout 1- Hermes Class
Surveyor 1- Icarus Class
Ok....... The NX class and Icarus class are clearly related. They remind me of the Constitution/ Miranda or Galaxy/ Nebula relationships. Just look at them side by side;
So far so good. In fact, the only complaint I have is that since they aren't that much difference in terms of size and layout, the NX should be the cruiser, and the Icarus the Frigate. We've already seen the Icarus in a rescue/ support capacity, not that this completely rules out it's role as science ship, but still... The Icarus would make the perfect 'destroyer' to the Enterprise's 'badass'
Then you have the Daedalus class..... Everything about this design screams Pre TOS/ TOS era to me, doesn't look like a contemporary of the NX, what it looks like is you've started the game a few decades after the ENT series and the Federation has begun building TOS style ships. Then you have the Hermes- this is very blatantly part of the Constitution Class family. Far, far more advanced than the NX class which outguns it in this game.
My proposal is to start the game fully immersed in the Enterprise Era, with not a hint of TOS tech until it's earned. My starting shiplist is as follows;
Cruiser 1 - NX/ Enterprise
Frigate 1- Icarus
Scout 1- This ship
It is an actual canon design, is smaller than the corresponding cruiser and frigate, and would be a nice, agile scout- the Sabre of it's time.
If the Icarus is not the Science ship then what is...? I say the Daedalus, but not right at the beginning. I propose no science ships until tech level 2, your range is pathetically limited anyway in the beginning, and you'll be so busy getting colony ships and construction ships out there I don't think it would be a big deal. Introduce the Daedalus ahead of the TOS ships, giving the first glimpse of what future ships will look like. It makes sense that if certain experimental technologies have become available they would be trialed on a scientific ship initially. If Starfleet really need a Science ship from the start, I guess one would have to be designed as a short term stand in.
A tech level later introduce the Constitution to replace the NX, and the Hermes to replace the Icarus- showing that this technology has reached a point it can be integrated into the designs of much larger and more capable ships. In terms of a scout ship, there needs to be a TOS era scout, maybe the Hermes can do this job and something with a Miranda layout replaces the Icarus?
That way you have smoothly transitioned away from ENT tech, towards TOS tech, without looking at all awkward or confused. The TOS style destroyer most likely outguns the NX class, it is newer and more advanced, just as the TMP/ refit era Miranda will outgun a TOS Connie when it's launched. What this also does is gives the ENT era ships, particularly the NX, the chance to shine. It will be the largest and most capable of 3 combatants. More expensive, but faster, stronger and just basically superior- just as it was in the show.
So in conclusion, I have;
TECH 1
Cruiser 1- NX Class
Frigate 1- Icarus Class
Scout 1- Cool Triangle Thing Class
TECH 2
Surveyor 1- Daedalus Class
TECH 3
Cruiser 2- Constitution Class
Frigate 2- Hermes Class
Scout 2- (TOS scout, Saladin class?)
By this point you are fully immersed in the TOS era. All the ships in your build list are TOS style ships, and they are all better than the dozens and dozens of old ENT style ships you have patrolling your borders and escorting convoys. It will stay that way for a while, until you start seeing TMP/ refit style tech come through and you know the TOS era is coming to an end.
Thoughts?
list has been the biggest point of contention over the years. No one will be happy. I hope that we will have enough models to let us give the player the option to fill the list with models of their choosing at some point. Even if that day comes we still have to decide on a basic set for the download. That will require compromise from everyone. I do not have strong felling about the list myself other than I want one that I do not have to be reworking all the time. 
