Value of Fighters

[Tomgs]

I agree that fighters are very powerful if used correctly and it seems you do. I don't use them myself anymore because the micromanagement is very high with large numbers of fighters in combat and if you build a good infrastructure I don't think maintaince is a problem. Of course as you say if the computer building queue problems go away then this might change. Right now I can win without them so I usually ignore that tech. I do win against missle and fighter AI races that I meet in the game very easily and all it does is give me legendary ships from all the point defence hits I get.

So what I am saying is yes they are very good and against the computer they are probably unstoppable unless you mod the game to put more point defence in the ships. If you do that of course something else gets weaker so its a tradeoff. Against a human it won't work as well but you might win the first battles until his designs change sufficently to counter you. I Usually put at least 3 PD in any light cruiser and above when I fight seeker and fighter races and I don't think you could surround many of my fleeted ships with light fighters. My solo scouts however would die easily to that tactic. Of course large fighters with shields are able to take on larger ships and it takes a bit more to take them out. When I did use fighters I really liked the large fighters speed and in large enough Groups most ships would have trouble with them.

[This message has been edited by Tomgs (edited 12 February 2001).]