Beams v Missiles

[geoschmo]

Aris_Sung said:
Most times I get acceptable losses in my fighter squadrons, which shows that missiles shouldn't be dismissed too quickly.

Except that the missles are inferior weapons which are providing cover for your fighters which also inferior weapons. In the stock game against a moderatly skilled human player you are throwing good money after bad so to speak. Fighters and missles are both inferior to beam weaponed ships. Adequate PDC will illimnate the threat from both, and your fighters will be targetted by beam weapons in addition to the PDC.

Fighters and missles both have their place. Early in the game for sure, and in very specific situations they can be moderatly useful in the late game, but neither is good as a front line weapon. Combined force tactics simply don't work in late game stock SE4. Against an enemy in even roughly equal numbers, you will lose. In fact, using fighters and missles are a force multiplier for your enemy. Use them and you will find youself losing battles where you have the other guy outnumbered.