[Arkcon]

Originally posted by Karibu:
IIRC ships gain experience only in strategic combat, not tactical.

I've made ships gain experience with tactical combat. Unless it was removed in a current patch, it has been a while.

It's a fun thing to do -- turn all ministers on, and just control one ship or one fleet.

Be the Captain Kirk/Picard/Harrington/Whoever and preserve your home empire, while the massive beaurocracy around you continues to make dumb decisions.