I want to open a post and discuss the fleet mechanics of the AI (both computer and player ships) to further develop tactical movement and fleet positioning, with ranks and files. However the current beta, even on hard, does not pose enough of a challenge to necessitate really any tactics at all. Even the largest pirate fleet incursion need not more than a group attack order to defeat, which I guess in essence is good, as fleet battles do not have to be micromanaged.

But then there are circumstances where I order a full fleet to jump in and attack a planet. USUALLY my siege frigs head straight for the planet (and straight into cannon fire) while the rest of the ship stand and fight the cannons. I have had many such fleets lost when I stop watching them to manage something else. In the last game I literally quit because 3 such fleets (each with 1 cap and aprox 20-20 light frigs and 5 siege with assort numbers of LRMs and mini Carriers (I have yet to see a need for other cruisers or Flak ships for the matter) ) all met their demise whilst trying to destroy cannons and ONLY cannons.

Even my LRMs with max range researched tend to sit just inside of any cannon they attack. I would like to micromanage actual battle tactics, not babysit incoming fleets so they plot a tangent course away from fire. Strangely, the computer's ships (especially pirates) do this quite well.

So before I discuss at length the ways in which I want my light frigs to protect, not just escort, I just want to see simple intelligence to travel around and not through HUGE defenses.

Its amazing what one battle can make you see.

Yes, yes - I agree! The defences are very strong this time round. I had a pretty sizeable fleet that I left alone when attacking a planet because there was only one enemy cap ship. I was surprised later to find my fleet nearly wiped out because of five Gauss platform defences... grrrr...

An easy way to take care of gauss platforms guarding the entrance routes to a planet are to bring LRMs and carriers along with your fleet, and tell everything to only attack within weapons range. The way the AI spams gauss platforms put them in range of an LRM right from the jump. The only problem is that you have to tell your fighters and flak frigs to attack their bombers, other than that, you wouldn't need any microing.

I made 40 LRMs to take out 10 gauss cannons.

AHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA....
the missile explosions caused LAG problems on my computer !!! and when they impact the shield it becomes so bright that it obscures teh ship.

its so incredibally funny...

exactly, its called a hard counter. LRMs are almost useless against frigs though, as they are squishy as ladybugs.

LRM's are HP weak indeed, but the missiles, and its range make up for that weakness. In mass (at least 10 in a fleet) they are very effective vs the 30+ ship psycho pir8 attacks. It almost seems like the LRMS are the counter to the pir8 corsairs. because they mow em down with ease.

just make sure to cover their asses with a hardier ship, like the kodiak.

I found that in fleets 2 types of ships die very fast - Siege frigs and LRMs. So I dont use them. For colony defence I only use hangars and turrets (works most of the time - for times when it does not I have one small fleet per star).

The Kodiak needs an upgrade in firepower seeing as its the only combat oriented Cruiser. The idea I have is replace its default weapons with a rail gun, like the one found on the Kol Battleship for long range fire support. And then give it Autocannon Turrets for close in weaponry. Its intercept ability could use a boost, because as of now its quite pointless.

While the other cruisers could benefit with anti fighter defense.

All capital ships need aa guns its just stupid that they dont. If i was going to make a ship id build aa guns as standard

I'd like to see the following:

- Ship Formations
- Hold Position ability
- Patrol ability

i hope none of you missed this very important information. i would've never guessed on right clicking the atack button to show few options on how you would attack a target. very nice, tnx for this one Blair.   

umm.. i'm doing a comp stomp allied with a hardleveled AI. me and that ai is on a single solarsystem with about 22planets vrs 2 Hlevl ai's. atm we're gaining but it is in a slow rate. might need to sneak in a colony ship a.s.a.p w/defensive frigates.

i get few harassments but nothing biggie. they (pirates) usually pass by everytime they see my platform defense barrel while they exit off hyperspace. ironicaly they are smart enough to try and scape rather than doing suicide stance.

scout frigates on a new whole issue, how bout suggesting an 'unrv' for advance research on tactical sensor sweep? -unrv 'unmannedreconosancevehicle'

another question, i cought. what is that small drone that the scout frigate drops on enemy planet before hypering out? just thought you guys noticed scout frigs with drones.