I really like the directional shield rules. Makes it important to move around and get a better shot. But if the opponent doesn't use shields, or you have piercing weapons, the coolness disappears again. So I'm brainstorming some kind of incentive to maneuver even in those situations. Because brainstorming never hurt anybody.
1 point of G shields that can't be pierced: Besides defensive bonuses being less cool than offensive, this is actually good for the never-move turtler as well. Don't want to help that side.
So better a bonus to attack the back; that's where the engines are so it is more vulnerable...
+1 to hit from JKL: Judging by the price change of a 3+ to a 4+ weapon, this is too powerful.
Re-roll hit location to JKL hits: Rerolling hit location is already in as a cool rule. Costs you -1 to hit to use. So this choice is like a +1 to hit, but you are forced to spend it specifically on the rerolling locations ability. What do you think?
A completely different direction is Battlefleet Gothic's idea of relative movement helping or hurting shots. It is easier to shoot someone facing towards or away from you than moving perpendicular to the travel of your weapons there.
I like the reroll-rule being a toned down +1, so how about you can force the attacker to reroll hit locations when you are hit in HIJK. It is a defensive bonus, but at least it favors the ship that moves. Especially if you add the requirement to be moving a certain speed to benefit.
In fact, maybe speed itself is what should be rewarded. In Battletech, you make a penalty to be hit based on your speed. Moving quickly but straight in to their guns isn't harder to hit though, so maybe this is just the exact same as the previous since you'd want to add facing. I don't think this is the same as Evasive Maneuvers, because that works by moving slowly. (I think I hate EM, come to think of it. Just helps the never-move lobber. I dub D4 off. Yay modular rules!)
This is the best spaceship game ever. Just sayin.