[Grand Lord Vito]

Originally posted by oleg:
Bigger is not always better in AIC. Smaller ships have substantial attack/defence bonuses. AI ships have extra bonuses too. It is quite possible your cruisers could not simply hit AI' frigates. I see it happens to mee too

One solution is to use missiles. If it against the role-playing character of your race, use small ships as well ! Or invest heavily in scanners/ECM.

You don't use fighters. It certainly makes you vulnerable. Then use point-defence beams instead of point-defence cannons They are quite effective against fighters. Also, select "don't fire on fighters" in strategies. Normal guns are a waste against AIC fighters. Hope it helps.

I strongly advise against lowering maitenace cost. Ships have build-in maintenance reductions optimized for 100%. Lowering would destabilize game balance. Use "engeeniring section" on all your ships, research Chemistry II and build maintenence-reducing buildings !

Right on Oleg - I also use missile frigates espeaclly very early in the game.

Most AIC BEAM TYPE weapons require Combat Sensors when that BEAM weapon is still at low level or proto-typed.
Most Temporal Weapons, Crystalline Shard, Phasers, Helborer and Null Space Weapons also need at least level 3 if not better Combat Sensors.

Remeber to set your figters to go after the AI Fighters first the Ships and bases in the Empires Stragy setup. (use the Armed Cockpit)
Also make "pure" Fighter Intercepters with just cannons and the armed Cockpit. (that just attack fighters, Seekers on others, Drones and Satillites.)

Have a few Anti-Ship types with just Torpedos and the un-armed Cockpit and set them not to attack fighters, Sats drones (Just Ships and Bases)

Also have Bombers that attack planets with good sheilding to attack JUST planets and NEVER put the Armed Cock pit on a bomber or a Torbedo Bomber.