2) Each component takes damage separately, and you must prioritize which will be worked on first. Abilities of each component get degraded due to damage, and etc.
You have 4 weapon Groups for mass firing of guns, and the number of turrets completely depends on the layout of the ship. Stock ships have between 2 and 6 firing points, but there is no real limit on how many you can put on your own model. 255 perhaps, or 64k maybe.
3) Man, I just missed taking a screenshot of this beautiful assault... I was hunting pirates with a TCN battlegroup, and as we rounded the Star, a lone pirate destroyer was sitting there... Three capital ships plus me, and 7 fighters just hammered it from all sides. The beams and bolts and missiles and fire and explosions! Quite impressive light show, but the poor pirate didn't Last long and within seconds he was vapor.
Previously, I saw a fairly evenly matched battle going on between a TCN battlegroup and a larger number of Pirate ships (smaller hulls). 3 on 5 plus fighters, IIRC.
I went in to help out with my early-game destroyer, and managed to take down two Pirate fighters and pump a few rounds of DUC into Pirate shields while the big boys slugged it out. Drew some healthy amounts of fire away from the TCN ships, too. Eventually my shields started giving out, and my armor was getting quite thin, so I had to retreat. Got pegged by a pair of Pirate missiles in the back, halfway to safety. Didn't quite make it
You could always mod bigger fleets in though. It would be a lot tougher on the Player, but if you're up to the challenge, it can be done.
[ September 09, 2003, 00:36: Message edited by: Suicide Junkie ]