offensive vs. defensive strategy?
 

In fleet formations, I can select offensive and defensive strategies. What's the difference?

Also, I can categorize ships as offensive or defensive under "type". Does that make a difference -- e.g., if my opponent targets offensive ships first then defensive? If so, couldn't someone game this by e.g., setting a colonizer to type "offensive medium ship" and vice versa, throwing off the opponent's tactics?

Re: offensive vs. defensive strategy?
 

An offensive task force strategy is used when the fleet is attacking, while the defensive strategy is used if the fleet is under attack.

Design types have no bearing on target selection. There's some sort of hard-coded analysis that categorizes the ships along the lines of the types in the strategy settings.

Re: offensive vs. defensive strategy?
 

That makes sense. I suppose if two fleets target e.o., they both use attack formation?

Re: offensive vs. defensive strategy?
 

Not sure. I think it would depend on which empire was considered by the game to have initiated the combat.

Re: offensive vs. defensive strategy?
 

Well, I'll just have to stop theorizing and do some empirical work. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Re: offensive vs. defensive strategy?
 

I don't understand why this (crucial) part of the AI is hard-coded, while most of the rest of the game is so easily moddable... Maybe because it could be exploited?