SpaceSimCentral

Posted by: @dante
@pinback
-Match enemy's speed seems a really cool idea!

Old idea from Wing commander and other 90s space shooter but seams to have fallen out of favour with the newer games, although I think it was used in rebel galaxy 2.
As you say you need player to do thing when they are aboard ship and I suggest you have a look at Sundogs Shunt in the video below, basically it's substitute for a component which has been destroyed, not as good as the proper component but enough to restore some power to a system.
This idea could be expanded upon for engines, shields, life support, navigation computer ect. 

Posted by: @dante
Jump range is something I'm considering since I wanted to make something a bit more original, but removing it makes the distance sound cheap. Am still thinking of an alternative

This would work well if you modeled it on Battlestar Galactica. Each ship, depending on the quality of its drive, would be allowed to jump a number of light years distance. The better the jump drive, the more systems in range. A small cool-down could also be implemented, this way jumpimg into unknown territory could lead to some tense moments