[Taqwus]

One reason to avoid tactical combat is to reduce the temptation to avoid relying on certain cheesy tactics that don't work in strategic (and hence, in multiplayer... if you ever want to do MP, you need to design ships/fleets with strategic combat in mind).

You can, for instance, early on take advantage of missile-heavy fleets by causing only the targeted ship to run away while the rest charge the missiles won't acquire new targets, even if the original is out of range and other ships are *right in front* of the missiles). You could also, at least in previous Versions, count on the AI chasing you and running into your missiles, taking unnecessary damage.

OTOH, with strategic you lose some decent options (for instance, I'd rather withhold fighters and launch when the fleets are already engaged, or even until the enemy ships are weaponless -- well-equipped large fighters can outrun any fleeing ship, and there's no sense in losing lots of fighters deep in enemy space).

I'm of two minds as to the AI leaving the vicinity of a planet. In some cases, the AI should play goaltender -- for instance, if I'm only attacking with one ship, a Biowarfare Battlecruiser fitted for speed, it would be obvious (to a human opponent, not an AI) that it should prevent me from reaching the planet and starting a plague... and if I'm faster, it'd be silly to chase me and let me do an end run.

On the other hand, if it's a veritable armada that I've sent (that is, complete with everything from plasma missiles to bombers to beamers to stellar manipulation ships, etc), the only hope for the planet to survive *might* be to sacrifice the fleet and try to engage before my missile ships get in range. But that's still likely not a good option, since the defending fleet is probably more valuable than the planet...

Incidentally, Codo -- since you have espionage, I hope you've been trying Crew Insurrection (target particular ships if you can) and Intel Sabotage (much cheaper than counterintel, but must be directed towards a specific enemy). Espionage is VERY powerful in this game; it would be difficult to overestimate its power for wreaking havoc and acquiring stuff (tech, resources, ships, worlds, information...), and it's hard to beat the range or cost (infinite range, very quick, no marginal resource cost...).

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-- The thing that goes bump in the night