Firing at maximum range.

[dogscoff]

Check strategies, and also ship design. If the ship has a load of missiles and a short-range direct fire weapon as well, it will fire its missiles as soon as it can, then keep closing to get its direct fire weps into range.

Anyone know the difference between "maximum range" and "optimum range"?

[NullAshton]

Maximum range is the maximum range that you can fire at the enemy. Optimum range is the range where you do the most damage, otherwise known as point blank for most stock weapons. Although, if there's two of them that are the same, it may do the furthest away range. Not sure.

[Fyron]

Maximum range is as close out to range 12 (IIRC) as it can get.