Difficulty level?

[RX2000]

I do have it pretty well equipped.....

But I've found that no matter how well equipped I am or how strong my shields/armor is, I just cant take a pounding from 3+ Xiati ships for any length of time....

[Suicide Junkie]

Hit and run! They can't take the pounding either, and if you can damage the engines on one, you can wait for it to fall behind the others while you recharge.

Also, for the same storyline with improved physics, try P&Nism:
http://imagemodserver.mine.nu/other/...lCampaigns.rar

Screenshot:
http://imagemodserver.mine.nu/other/...%20attack1.gif

Also fun is the leaky armor fighter I added as a starting ship in campaign 2:
http://imagemodserver.mine.nu/other/...morFighter.jpg
Missiles can't target you, but point defense cannons hurt!

[tp555]

Did you read my starfury guide? Simple answer hit and run.If you want to duke it out with all 3 then your going to get beat
up a bit.Or you could try a super cruiser with toxic injectors
they can wipe out the cruisers quickly leaving the carrier last.The carrier isn't hard at all,its the fighters buzzing around that are annoying.http://www.yuntaa.com/Shares/PublicF...2077A&PageNo=1
Link to my starfury faq all parts of it.Also posted on spaceempire5.com

[Baron Munchausen]

Generally, when facing a number of powerful enemy ships I found it useful to exploit the stupidity of the AI and attack from a distance. Load up on missiles and slide just barely into range of ONE of the group you are trying to eliminate. Attack this one consistently. If you aren't too close, it takes a while for other ships in an AI battlegroup to respond. And if they don't have long-range weapons it works especially well. But yes, the Xiati have plasma missiles so they can respond. They are very tough opponents. In this way, you can usually wear down even a Xiati a battlegroup, though. Another approach is to load up on shields and regenerators, and just swoop in to clobber one of them, then run away to recharge. AI ships are usually not well designed and you will be able to recover much quicker than they do.

[Suicide Junkie]

Another good tactic is to keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

Use one enemy ship as a shield to block the incoming fire from the others. Not only do you take less damage, but when the shield ship gets destroyed, you're one step closer to victory.

[rstaats10]

If I can defeat them you should too. I am a 2 month noob to Starfury who has completed the 3 stock capmpaigns, battlestar galacatica, and the Star Blazers Mod (a really cool mod by the way!)

The hit and run tactic mentioned works well but also try and pick you fights near a base where you can fight then repair then fight,etc. Also carrying shield, amour, and hull repair components in your cargo bay is well worth it and can be the difference between victory or defeat. There are many more things to do to help by following the advice of the other posts and in the beginner guide.

Lastly do not give up. This game is a lot of fun and I am starting to tinker with modding now. It has a lot more to offer than a traditional stock game.

[Suicide Junkie]

I notice P&Nism isn't in your list there.
http://imagemodserver.mine.nu/other/MM/SF/mods/