Re: Combat: Strategic vs. tactical
 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Aussie Gamer:
I have won a lot of battles with only minimal damage to all ships. In Strategic I have lost some of the same battles.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yeah, the Strategic AI is a total moron. In my current game I recently switched to strategic combat, and have lost or stalemated almost every battle since. About 2/3 of my navy has been destroyed in less than 2 years of fighting. I never realized how much my victories relied on my abilities in tactical combat.

Re: Combat: Strategic vs. tactical
 

Quote:
"Have you tried using my Research/ DesignCreation mod? If you havent, I suggest that you give it a try - you will find it helps the AI in combat greatly.
"Regards,
"God Emperor"

God,
Yes I downloaded it a week ago or so, but I haven't installed it yet.
But I will now, thanks for the tip.

BTW, I tried to play strategically - I thought it would be fun to lose a couple of ships now and then (spares me the time to refit them), but it's like the computer AI is much smarter than my strategic AI. I haven't won ANY battle yet (played more than 10). I have almost no ships left - so I think I'm gonna go tactical again. Or mabbe I should try God's mod and start over (AGAIN).

Re: Combat: Strategic vs. tactical
 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Noble713:
Yeah, the Strategic AI is a total moron. ...I never realized how much my victories relied on my abilities in tactical combat.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I always use Tactical Combat, unless I know for a fact that the target can't shoot back. Tactical Combat allows you to utilize your ships much better, especially if you're more mobile and have better weapons than the enemy. I regularly engage forces with more and bigger ships than mine, and win (or at least give them a bloody nose). I can get away with having fewer ships that way.

Re: Combat: Strategic vs. tactical
 

In tactical combat you will almost always be able to get the better of the AI. When you play against a human in tactical combat then your fleet composition becomes as important as tactics. You really need combined arms fleets.
If you just played tactical against the computer you would think it wasn't much but against a human it really shines.

Re: Combat: Strategic vs. tactical
 

I think tactical is usually a cop-out against the AI.

I have found that using Strategic mode I have to pay attention to two main areas: the battle formation and style of attack (optimal range etc.) actually matters, and it helps balance out a human's superiority in design.

I have found that different formations and firing strategies are required against different races. Tactical will always be too easy when it's in a game with the complexity of Space Empires IV. I could always quash MOO2 at will (the name of the game was: plasma cannons) and it was much less complex that SEIV....

Anyhow, just my additional thoughts http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

Jason2

Re: Combat: Strategic vs. tactical
 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Jason2:
I think tactical is usually a cop-out against the AI.

I have found that using Strategic mode I have to pay attention to two main areas: the battle formation and style of attack (optimal range etc.) actually matters, and it helps balance out a human's superiority in design.

I have found that different formations and firing strategies are required against different races. Tactical will always be too easy when it's in a game with the complexity of Space Empires IV. I could always quash MOO2 at will (the name of the game was: plasma cannons) and it was much less complex that SEIV....

Anyhow, just my additional thoughts http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

Jason2<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yeah unfortunately there's no hit and run strategy or at least I haven't found one that works. Which can be quite a problem when you're relying on smaller high speed ships going head to head with the AI's dreadnoughts. I like to use fast ships that can slash in and hit the enemy than dart back out of range. The other thing being is I prefer to use smaller ships, task forces lead by BC's conisisting of LC's and CR's. This can be a bit of problem since late in the game the AI makes nothing but DN's and BB's. But I figure the handicap of taking primarily lighter ships makes up for my use of tactical combat.

Re: Combat: Strategic vs. tactical
 

What it needs is a "Don't get hurt, but still fire back" strategy, so you'll stay away from missiles, but duck in when they're reloading for some quick hits, then run away again.

Re: Combat: Strategic vs. tactical
 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by suicide_junkie:
What it needs is a "Don't get hurt, but still fire back" strategy, so you'll stay away from missiles, but duck in when they're reloading for some quick hits, then run away again.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


max-range / dont get hurt will basically do that. use it with missiles, you will pop into range, then go out of range while you reload. make sure your strategy setting allows all ships to break formation, or some things just wont get a chance to shoot.