Pest Control Fleet Template Issues

[deMangler]

I have a fleet template for responding to gravilex etc attacking my civilian ships, 3 frigates should be enough from manual pest control experience.
I have it set to fleet role defend, engagement range 50% of fuel and retreat when enemy 100% greater.
I have created a bunch of these fleets at various colonies, but they never respond to a monster attack on my freighters or mining ships or passenger ships.
I am clearly doing it wrong, does anyone have something like this that works?

[Llamageddon]

For some reason, I'm finding my raiding fleets react the most to monster sightings, followed by attack fleets. Defence do seem to sometimes as well, but much more rarely. To clarify, the raid and attack fleets do tend to take the initiative and attack a sighting rather than react to monsters actually attacking anything.

Your settings look fine to me, the only thing I can think of is that, depending on their range, you might want to station their home bases closer to where monster attacks are likely to happen. They won't react to something 51% of their fuel range away, and I've found that that can be a bit less than I would have guessed when judging by eye.

Another thing occurs to me, the advisor can be very conservative with attack strengths, especially as monsters tend to be ranked higher in danger than the reality in battle. It might put some of your conventional forces at greater risk, but perhaps turning the overmatch factor down would help?

You are certain you don't have military attacks set to manual in the policy settings, right?

[deMangler]

You are certain you don't have military attacks set to manual in the policy settings, right?

That was it... Where would I be without this community....