SE4 Advice on Fighters.

[Romulus68]

I'm a PBW SE4 game and I like using fighters. Well in my first engagement i was sorely disappointed in their performance. I need some advice on how to make carrier fleets effective in a Stock SE4 game. I ran combat simuluations that showed them being FAR more effective, but the real thing was a bloodbath at my expense.

I'm going to change my Medium Fighters to be slower and more armored as their 80% defense did little against the PD's. i will say the Enemy ships may have hit one fighter with their main guns, but the PD's ripped me to shreds.

My old Design: Cockpit/lifesuuport, max engines (speed 9 or 10), 1 X Emissive Armor, combat sensors, ECM, afterburner, Phased Beam.

My new design: C/L, speed 7 (same as my ships), 4 X Emissive armor, Combat sensor, NO ecm, Phased Beam. (at work and i think that adds up to 20kt)

I'm gonna add a Missle to my ships as well to add to the amount of stuff coming at the enemy to tax his PD's.

Is this worth doing?
Better ideas/strategies?
Feedback welcomed.

Romulus