[Talenn]

IMO, in a game system as abstracted as SE4, any retreat function is just going to cause FAR more problems that it solves, especially by players exploiting it against the AI.

In order for a retreat system to really be viable, some or all of the following would be necessary:

1) some sort of 'mass based' movement system so that smaller ships were truly faster and/or more economical per movement point than larger ships.

2) some sort of inertial movement system and/or maneuver system such that ships cant simply up and change direction at will.

3) some sort of an 'orders blackout' on retreating ships while they return to some point(closest friendly base?).

Without some or all the above, any retreat system is just a disaster waiting to happen. How do you defend your systems? Maybe on the Warp Points, but only if the retreaters are sent back through it (which seems odd if you drive them AWAY from the WP in combat).

Also, once in your system, they can dance around your defenders at will and glass your colonies unless you have local superiority at ALL of them...not likely.

If there was an easy way to implement it, I'm sure it would already be in the game.

Talenn