quote:
Originally posted by CW:
And if I'm directing the fight personally I wouldn't let him get in range of my transport! 
I'm missing something. How could you avoid getting into range of defense platforms and still land troops?
Do you mean that you could dance in and out to wipe out the sats and platforms? I think you'll admit that's not realistic, and only works in tactical because there's no "opportunity fire" mode for defenders. It's a weakness of the turn-based system.
Or do you mean that your weapons out-range the sats and platforms, and that the AI is too stupid to take advantage of that? In which case, I agree with you, that's really frustrating. (But I thought that problem was fixed.)
[edit: Above was posted before CW's edits. Below is after.]
So, it's the dancing thing, huh? Like I said, that wouldn't work if there was opportunity fire. Your solo games went so quickly because you exploited the lack of it, by using tactical combat. Try a simultaneous-move solo game (strategic combat only). It's harder, as you are finding out. Strategic combat is (purposely?) set up not to use dancing, which roughly simulates the effect of opportunity fire. I think, however, that if a ship has only weapons that take multiple turns to reload, then it will move out of range while reloading. Not a true dance, but it might help. What happens if you try that?
[This message has been edited by dmm (edited 16 August 2001).]