[Lupusman]

On the engine minefield thing, it's true that it only takes one ship to set off all the mines. But if there is a fleet, all the ships get hit.

I thought that would make the mines loose their effectiveness, but it doesn't change much. Since the enemy ships have lost all movement after coming through a warp point for example.

Just keep a mine layer nearby and go into the sector after the mines are gone (with the disabled ships). Sure it intiates combat, but the enemy ships can't chase after you. So you lay your mines anyway.

What I like to do actually is go in with a couple psychic converters and a repair ship. Free fleet anyone?

Obviously there are a couple ways around that. You could send in a front ship to take the mines out. Or send through a carrier, and release the fighters even though the carrier gets stranded.

But it's good because there has to be certain drawbacks to every comp specific weapon out there.