using carriers to full potential help.

[rogerbacon51]

ORIGINAL: Lonck

I can't find a use for carriers. Are they useless or do I not know how to use them? I put only auto canons on the carriers and 100 fighter/bombers (50/50). Problem is that when I tell them to attack they go right at the enemy and just stand there launching fighters instead of staying and as far away as possible. Fighters/bombers, too, are a problem because as the carrier is getting attacked they, instead of attacking ships that are hitting the carrier, go and attack far away targets instead of prioritizing the carrier first. So, I need some pointers as how to use the carrier's full potential or are they just useless?

I've modded my fighters to fly out and attack targets farther away than the default range so the battles are almost always over before my carriers get within range. I found that the default range forces your carriers to be right in the battles, which is not how I picture carriers working.

[Dracus]

They do miss and when out of supplies , they do stop shooting. The respawn only happens if teh ship is not in combat and you can change the setting to tell the game not to replace lost fighters.

The only weapons you should put on carriers, is point blank defense so that they can defend against fighter attacks. They will then stand off from enemy ships.

[w1p]

I don't use carriers at all... the ship AI doesn't make proper use of it unless you give it NO other weapons, and then when caught short they get mullered.

[Wild_Bill]

So how exactly do you GET carriers in the first place? I've played a couple of games now and got to the point where I can produce Capital and Resupply Ships, but no hint of a Carrier yet.

[ehsumrell1]

ORIGINAL: Wild_Bill

So how exactly do you GET carriers in the first place? I've played a couple of games now and got to the point where I can produce Capital and Resupply Ships, but no hint of a Carrier yet.

Look in the research tech tree of Fighters and you'll find the tile that says 'Carriers' similar
to the one for 'Resupply Ships'. Once that's researched you'll have the ability to build them.
If I recall correctly it is in the Weapons Research area.

[Bleek]

You know what I don't think I've ever used carriers!

Might be time to give them a shot, they sound interesting.

[Wild_Bill]

Thanks!