Would suggest you write up the code changes and submit a link to them in the patch notes thread the Devs really seem to appreciate that.

Also, good work.  I like this idea.  A lot of this is probably bound to be fixed eventually, but if not, I think it'd be a great idea to have an "unofficial vanilla patch" going for these XML fixes.

Looks right, as its affecting Ships, rather than modules at all - I'm just not sure its working at all right now.

I may take a look at this sometime soon. Right now I barely get any ideology points at all because I play with a lot of opponents, so there's little colonizing opportunity. 

Won't be hard to fix the above issues in a mod.

If I remember correctly it does nothing right now, you don't even get the 10% boost to research.

I have no idea how that could be applied since all AreaEffect modifiers are actually starbase modules. This is a tech that is trying to modify all starbases and I think starbases are simply too reliant on modules to give their bonuses. The same applies to the precursor focus specializations. I can't think of a way to do this except by giving you another module to build on an existing starbase.

The problem is it needs to apply only when the technology is unlocked, so you would need a way to tie this in. I'll have to think on it or someone else could maybe come up with a solution.

You can have a technology unlock a starbase module for building, but not modify an existing module. At least I don't currently know of a way how. The closest I can get at the moment is create a new module to build on starbases that does the same job and doesn't cost a constructor point. It would however mean clicking through each one of your starbases and building it. Alternatively, I could make it a flat 10% colony bonus which I will do for my game now, it's boring I know but I'm sure most people would prefer that to building those modules individually.

Yes this is quite broken, first because it is reducing MassCap which is a ship attribute and in order to simulate reducing mass of modules you would need to increase the ship MassCap not reduce it.  Every module has a Mass attribute such as ShipRangeMass but to my knowledge there is no global module mass attribute.

Second this is broken because it's TargetType is Faction which again as far as I understand it won't apply the MassCap change to anything.

The solution is to delete the stat from the TradeFocus1 tech and create a star base module that is depended on that tech.

In all the *TechDefs.xml files delete for the TradeFocus1 tech the entire stat that reads:

<Stats>
<EffectType>ColonyGrossIncome</EffectType>
<Scope>AreaEffect</Scope>
<Target>
<TargetType>Colony</TargetType>
</Target>
<BonusType>Multiplier</BonusType>
<Value>0.1</Value>
</Stats>

Note: above text must be deleted from the xml file.

Add to the StarbaseModuleDefs.xml file or create an additional xml that matches the outlay, add the star base module.

<!-- Module -->

<StarbaseModule>
<InternalName>TariffStationModule</InternalName>
<DisplayName>TariffStationModule_Name</DisplayName>
<Description>TariffStationModule_Dec</Description>
<Icon>GC3_Trade_Route_Value_Icon.png</Icon>
<SpecializationType>Economic</SpecializationType>
<RequiredTarget>Colony</RequiredTarget>

<!-- Stats -->

<Stats>
<EffectType>ModuleConstructionPoints</EffectType>
<Scope>Queue</Scope>
<Target>
<TargetType>StarbaseModule</TargetType>
</Target>
<BonusType>Flat</BonusType>
<Value>1</Value>
</Stats>

<Stats>
<EffectType>TradeRouteValueRaw</EffectType>
<Scope>AreaEffect</Scope>
<Target>
<TargetType>TradeRoute</TargetType>
</Target>
<BonusType>Multiplier</BonusType>
<Value>0.1</Value>
</Stats>

<Prerequ>
<Techs>
<Option>TradeFocus1</Option>
</Techs>
<StarbaseModule>EconomicRingModule</StarbaseModule>
</Prerequ>

</StarbaseModule>

Of course you must supply the text fields in the StarbaseModuleText.xml:

<StringTable>
<Label>TariffStationModule_Name</Label>
<String>Tariff Stations</String>
</StringTable>

<StringTable>
<Label>TariffStationModule_Dec</Label>
<String>By establishing a tariff stations on our starbases we have been able to increase our cut of trade route profits.</String>
</StringTable>

I know, but a module is the closest that we can come and still be true to the description text.

"By establishing a tariff stations on our starbases we have been able to increase our cut of trade route profits."