How dumb is the AI/Are U ?

[Taz-in-Space]

I have extensively used fighters and still do. As to best fighter group size, that depends on what you do with them and your opponent's ship configuration.

Small fighter Groups have the advantage of having the opponent 'waste' firepower as previously mentioned. Also in tactical battle mode you can use fighters to block movement of your enemy's ships. You can even stop or isolate them by surrounding them with fighters. I sometimes use large numbers of small fighter Groups to board enemy ships - fighters surround the ship and take down the shields and a 'taker' boarding ship then nips in to capture the enemy ship.
If I want to just kill ships, I use larger Groups of fighters for the firepower.

[Mephisto]

Originally posted by geoschmo:
Although Mephisto before your post I was sure that large Groups were the way to go and I am not now. Perhaps the positives/neagatives to both methods balance out and it doesn't really matter.

I agree. Both ways have advantages and disadvantages. All I would ask for this to follow the modders design decision as the rest of the race design might be trimmed for this end (fighter design, carrier launch bays...). Small changes sometimes can lead to huge effects.

[oleg]

The major problem with small fighter Groups is that they make a veeery long line attacking enemy. Usualyy it means that only a fraction of your fighters is capable to reach enemy ships every turn. It greatly reduces the burden on PDC. But if they attck en mass, they need to survive only one-two rounds of PD before firing. As to the damage transfer inside group, large fighters with cIII shields are rather tough. The only problem is religious race that can fire big guns and does not miss. Against other races large Groups are better, I think.