Like Taslios, I have never seen such a mess myself either.

In my games the AI uses *normally* a quite smart mix of bigger fleets, and fast "runner" ships that create havoc by attacking soft targets using hit and run tactics.

However, *sometimes* the AI seems to divert from that general line and does dumb things, like having loads of scouts lurking around in the same spot, usually around resources or having quite many single ships stacked, but not combined to a fleet. Dunno if it the AI can get confused sometimes so it "forgets" those ships, or if there are other factors...

I saw that picture earlier and was quite surprised. I don't think I've ever seen the AI play quite like that... though they used to be worse about fleeting.

Generally, the AI are good at fleeting up now. Sometimes, big fleets aren't necessary, and I noticed in a recent 2.0 game that fleets were being used to attack larger, higher priority targets while single ships and occasional pairs were sent to dispatch asteroid mines and unprotected assets.

I was pleasantly surprised by this behavior.

That said, I played a game last night on a small map with three other factions set to gifted. I had just conquered the Altarians, and they gave their last planet (bottom of the map) to the Iridium (top of the map). The Iridium sent ships that were stationed at their two planets, two starbases, and shipyard--something like 8 ships--all separately. Even though sending them as one fleet wouldn't have changed their doom, they should have sent them as one fleet.

For any devs reading, I suggest instructing the AI to prioritize gathering ships into fleets in their territory away from threats before sending them anywhere across hostile territory. At least give them a chance...

I play without any mods, and yeah I've seen this at least once.

It was the Thalans, who had at least 2.5x the power of the second most powerful civilization (myself as the Terrans). Single ships all over the galaxy, and the few fleets they did field are usually the ones that have a transport in them. Might have something to do with the fact they were the first to tech to Huge hulls in that game, and didn't face a credible threat until very much later. But once I teched to Huge hulls, backstabbed the Thalans and started sending fleets of Huge ships at them... well, it was a slog, but they were eventually summarily dealt with.

That one probably is a pre-2.0 save, come to think of it. I haven't started another Insane map ever since; they're kind of a huge commitment.

Never seen it. Tbh the AI Fleeting up has been good/great for a few patches now. 

The speed thing i noticed a few patches ago maybe 1.7ish. But i mod my game to give the AI teams a lot more cap so their designs end up being fast/too fast. But the main issue was cargo hulls not having enough engine so any fleet with a transport was slow but i have not noticed that in 2.0 but it may be my mods.

Regarding AI fleets - one thing I notice that many of their fleets consist of the same ships. Also planets are often defended by loads of the same type.

It is not always the case, but using various types together seems rather the exception than the rule. IMO that is not so interesting, would be cool if it got improved...

Here's a screen Rog214 posted from a 2.0 game.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=858066091

Stacked ships = 81

Pardon me if this was stated and I missed it, but what map sizes and difficulty levels are you guys playing at when you get these massive stacks of ships?

I suspect that may be part of the issue...

I have generally been playing larger maps (huge-insane) with gifted AI and have not seen this behavior.

I usually play huge/gigantic, sometimes one step bigger (what was that - immense? - it's been a while). I don't play the two or three biggest map sizes.

I play Incredible on Insane or Immense, about 1/4 recommended number of opponents.  Makes for limited contact diplomacy and large empires.  I haven't seen such extreme stacking for a very long time.  The Pirates were the worst about it, and even they fleet up nowadays.  It doesn't really do them a lot of good, but they are trying hard to be a nuisance.  Have to give them credit for that.

The AI seems more prone to stack up in their own territory.  Invasions have fleets and some singletons wandering about bothering asteroid mines and constructors.  I think the stacks are some sort of pre-fleeting behavior that isn't really working out for them.  Perhaps they are building ships before they are investing in Logistics, then don't think to re-address the stacks once they do have the logistics.

Just stumbled (again) over an issue loosely related to this topic: the AI often seems to amass a lot of ships (mostly war ships, but also transporters) in ship yards and is then not inclined to use them when an enemy is near. I can freely attack planets and asteroid mines with a fleet much smaller than what is in such a shipyard without the AI reacting (at least it does not by building a fleet from the shipyard ships and attacking me or by relocating the ships to protect their planets).

The transports I see in those shipyards also seem not to be used for anything.

That is on an insane map with 10 gifted AIs.

But why then leave them in the shipyard and not at least move them to planets for defense?

Apart from that, when the enemy is on top of you, you (that is, the AI) should use every means of defense it has ...