ORIGINAL: Infierno
Fantastic game but for the life of me I can't figure out how to do the tactical battles properly. If there's not a clear objective to accomplish aside from "sink the enemy ships", then I find myself just drifting around trying to find enemies, until I'm told the enemy fleet left and given an inexplicable Major Defeat.
I'm loving the grand strategy layer, and mechanically I enjoy the tactical battles. Maybe I should try the 1920 starting campaign.
Basically for the fleet battles, you're in it until either the time runs out or either you or the enemy retreat. For cruiser actions, I usually try to find out if the enemy ship is tougher and better gunned than mine or not. If they are bigger and tougher I retreat as best I can, if not I go in for the kill (reason why I like to design ships with good speed at the sacrifice of armor and firepower, if I find myself in a match up with a weaker enemy, the speed comes in handy, likewise if they are tougher.).