From the Gold manual:
quote:
Optimal weapons Range: Ship moves to a range that enables it to inflict the maximum damage on the enemy while suffering the minimum damage in return.
The exact formula isn't known, but it should involve both To Hit chances and damage at range.
Multiplex Tracking will allow a ship to launch missiles at different targets in the same turn; I'm not sure whether the AI is capable of using this to advantage, but a human in Tactical can judge how to divide fire.
[ 12 March 2002: Message edited by: capnq ]