Is tactical combat possible in a SE IV PBEM game?

[madprophet]

Hi, new to the forum. Looks like it is very quiet.

A buddy and I are playing SE IV 1.95 in PBEM mode. This is NOT simultaneous mode, since we are mailing the save game back and forth.

However, he attacked an enemy's planet and automatically the attack went into strategic mode, and he got wiped out.

I completely understand why the game engine requires strategic mode when playing in simultaneous mode, or when the AI attacks a human player. But is there a setting which allows the human to attack the AI in tactical mode? Are we missing something in the initial set up of the game?

thanks