Ship Bound, Vodyani and you: Ideas to add, to make them more unique

I want to share some ideas for evolving the experience with the Vodyani in way that improves how they flow and relate to the constraints they exist in, where there are additions without overpowering them.

Here are three main ideas, with examples, that I've been imagining and will refine with time:

First, Change up Research Techs so that they can be more unique in how Manpower applies to their faction, at least in how it relates to defending an Ark anchored to a system, I've been thinking on ideas that make use of what exists in the game, in a different manner.

• One possibility is modify how Vodyani relate to Invasions through applying Manpower Related systems differently to Ship Bound. 
  • The Vodyani when invading, could instead of landing forces on the surface of planets, choose to remain in their Fleet leeching the essense of the Invaded populace and military protecting them, so if the Vodyani can collect the Essense tapped during an Invasion, then there could be some tweaks here and there for balancing that out.
  • So could have a Ship Bound exclusive Ship Support Module that works like Titanium A2S Slugs for when they are attacking another faction (similar to how OpGear grants increased manpower) where the Vodyani are draining Essense during the Invasion that drains the system of their defensive capabilities, like a standard Invasion.
  • If the Vodyani want to finish an Invasion Quicker, I think that Essense could be drawn from directly, in like a purging fire sort of manner, I welcome feedback on this point, as Fleet and Empire Manpower could still have a separate aspect here in how Essense works in relation to Invasions.
  • Instead of having Manpower to Supply Ships and Systems with Infantry, Tanks and AirCraft, and allowing a Vodyani system to be Invade-able like other factions, 
    • Manpower could supply Space-based Mines (filling in for Infantry and could be one Mine costs 5 Manpower each), a System-wide Satellite Beam Weapon Network (filling in under Tanks, with each Satellite costing 15 Manpower), and Interceptor Squadrons (making use of 20  Manpower each). So, when Fleet Combat occurs against an anchored Ark, all three systems can be active and support in Fleet Combat, with the AirCraft acting like Fighter Squadrons using that one Battle Card, Fleet Escort. So unanchored, could have it where Arks do not deploy the Mines or the Satellite Network, but might be able to deploy the Interceptors as it would be a level 4 tech and could act as a Ship Support Module.
    • As such, An enemy Fleet attacking the Vodyani could sap Fleet and Empire Manpower, reducing these when engaging an Anchored Ark, and each Ark would want to invest in increased Capacity to be able to field more Mines, Satellites and Interceptors as current Force (Troops Breakdown) works, just working in Fleet Engagments instead of Planetary Invasion.

Second, so with such changes, I'd also allow the Vodyani to have Specializations exist in the Star System Management area, and so Ship Modules in the Ship Design Menu are there for Combat Applications; and the Vodyani would then make use of their own Specializations related to being Ship Bound. 

And here is where there can be new Ship Modules that could have one set of bonuses for an anchored Ark and bonuses for unanchored and the bonuses would be like on a coin exclusive from each other to help sustain balance, like having Mines and Beam Satillites when Anchored, and adding exclusively Escorting Interceptor Craft that draws from Fleet and Empire Manpower.

Third, I've noticed that if the Vodyani could have a similar mechanic to Ecologists, where they could make use of every planet in a System (at reduced efficiency too), then maybe that could provide them enough of an early game boost that they need. 

As there seems to be an issue with the negative Food stat with the Vodyani population units with other Factions, I was assuming that a less efficient access to planets like Ecologists have, could work as an alternative for the Vodyani. I was imagining somewhere in the range of 33 to 45% penalty, compared to Ecologist's 25% penalty in either Gargantuan Population, or maybe a new Population Trait or connected to Ship Bound.

I wonder what others think about these ideas, and if they could be of benefit to the Vodyani, without making them OP.