[Rusty_Nail]

ZeroAdun: I think you are referring to the maximum weapons range option. This works fine for missile ships. Then they will not come closer than their range, say 16. The problem is with direct fire ships. If a range 8 ship stops at distance 9, say, he will get creamed by an opponent with a strike range of 9 or less, which cóvers most cases. This does not matter quite as much in the early game, but in all-tech, many ships only need one combat round to finish you off, e.g. a null space weapon (range 5), so getting the first shot is equivalent to winning. By the way, the rule is "strike range PLUS ONE" - a rather critical difference. Then YOU are the one getting the first shot. Unless he is using the same strategy! Then it gets really interesting (The longer range wins eventually in most cases).