Carrier fleets --- Strategic combat?

[Jon Brave]

OK, what am I doing wrong? A prompt, simple response would be much appreciated.

I build carrier fleets: 1 carrier with fighters, several other ships, some with weapons. I attack, say, a planet with some defences and a ship. I press "Stratgic" combat. My carrier often gets killed, whether I win or not. When I press the replay, I see my carrier basically launches fighters then moves really close to planet, eventually gets zapped by weaps plats. The carrier seems to stick with the attack ships which move in, other supply ships etc. correctly get out of the way.

I have checked and my carriers' default strategy in Design menu is set to "Don't get hurt", like those ships which keep out of the way. I have also left the setting in Empire Strategies which says that Carriers "break formation" like, say, Colony ships. I have my fleet with, say, diamond formation with carrier as leader so it's in the centre. You don't seem to be able to get at an individual ship's strategy when it's in a fleet.

Basically I want my carrier to launch its fighters from afar, they go in with attack ships to attack enemy ships/planet while it stays back out of harm's way, like, say, a supply ship or mine sweeper. I (think) I know I can select Tactical combat, then perhaps break formation and make sure my carrier keeps back, but I want to be able to use Strategic combat. Can't I do this --- seems an obviously desirable strategy? Otherwise losing my carriers is costing too much.

[Jubala]

As requested, a prompt simple response:

Don't have the Carrier as fleet leader.

[Jon Brave]

Couldn't have asked for prompter!

Does your terse reply mean you actually know that's causing the problem, or is it just a guess? Will my carrier then keep itself out of harm's way? TVM.

[Mako]

If your carrier has any weapons they could be makeing it get in close to the planet.

[Jubala]

Always glad to please.

quote:

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Originally posted by Jon Brave:
I have my fleet with, say, diamond formation with carrier as leader so it's in the centre.

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You say here that you have the carrier as leader. That's why I said don't have the carrier as leader. You never want to put ships you don't want smack in the middle of the fight as leaders because that's where the leaders end up. At least in my experience with transports and fuelships. Try not having the carrier as leader and I think you'll see it doing exactly what you want seeing as how you have it set to break formation and all.

[raynor]

In other topics, I've heard folks say that you shouldn't even put *any* weapons on your carrier. They report that putting even Point Defence Cannoncs on the Carrier makes the Carrier run right up next to the planet and try to destroy satellites? and such.