[Zanthis]

If we're talking about mobile vs static, I don't have any problem with missile dancing. That is the weakness of static defenses. Too bad if your pretty defensive bases get ripped up by missiles. Support them with ships and/or give them fighter bays.

If we're talking mobile vs mobile missile dancing, just teach the AI that if his enemy steps just into range and fires missiles, *back off* and let them miss. This would force you to close to a range in which he is unable to flee out of range of your missiles.

If we're talking mobile vs mobile beam dancing, I can understand the opportunity fure people. However, it isn't that bad. If both sides are the same speed, he cannot escape being in range when you go (unless he damages an engine). If the person jumping into range is faster, well, speed is very important. The bigger ships don't have it, so let the little guys dance with beam weapons.

Besides, this is what missiles are for. If he's beam dancing you, he's too far inside your missile envelope to escape.

Just teach the AI to get out of the way of missiles and I suspect it'll all sort itself out.