AI performance with no fighters? (stock, TDM)

[God Emperor]

I hardly ever build fighters as I play Tactical Combat and have ships heavily equipped with PDC's. The only occaisions I do build fighters are as planetary defenders.

Against human players, I believe that support fighters are necessary to support capital ships, in order to combat the tactic of massively overwhelming the point defence (which the AI is not capable of arranging).

In Strategic Combat, fighters are necessary as the computer does not include them in its threat assessment for distance calculation - ie it doesnt make sure that ships maintain maximum PDC weapons distance + fighter movement capability.

[Aub]

Are you saying the fighters are unbalanced against AI or in sim turns because the tactical AI does not know how to properly use PD cannons? Well, yea, that seems very plausible. However, since I either play against AI or sim turns multiplayer, that covers all of my games...

What is the verdict then: will turning fighters off make the AI play stronger or weaker?

Thanks -- Aub

[Marty Ward]

I would say if you fight tactically, turn them off or don't use them yourself. If you fight strategic battles it won't make much differance.