New to game-Overwhelmed 2 (updated from '02)

[SilverRat]

Hello, I am new to SE and have been captivated by it's possibilities. I have been reading several forums looking for answers but when I search I get way too many "hits" (I found an old thread "New to the game and Overwhelmed. Any hints?" which is exactly how I feel atm, but it was from '02, and wasn't sure if reviving it would be better than starting another. Anyway-if this thread is out of line I am sorry, but the amount of information that is here is OVERWHELMING to me (and many newer players I imagine)
I have: read the Wiki guide and several others (finding many of the other "older" guides haveing "link" issues, played against the computer AI for a few games and am involved with a another. I attempted to play a game w/o tactical (to attempt to get used to playing vs. humans (online or PBM) but found NO success at all--the ships and fleets didn't do what they were designed to do OR were instructed to do. My TroopTransports (capture planet) didn't drop troops, my boarding ships didn't (capture enemy ships). I researched this and found that it was a flaw in the AI-yet another said it was fixed...

In my first game vs comp (tactical) I found that boarding parties could capture ships yeilding new technology or prebuild ships that I could retrofit to be whatever I wanted them to be when I had all the tech they could provide--this led me to create repair/building ships - that would speed up the retrofitting but would also refill my boarding parties... This in turn led me to the use of emergency supplies (that would be repaired by the repair ships.) I soon began to scare my children with: "Resistance is futile � you will be assimilated - we are the BORG!" until the wife explained that they were barely sentient beings as yet and should be allowed to evolve normally and perhaps their creativity--left unchecked, could produce new technologies... so they are safe for the time being.
In my next game I rushed to get the technology for boarding/repairing/refueling and was able to "trap" an opponents gas giant colony ship (I was a rock type) in an outlying sector until I developed boarding parties-boarded the vessal and soon had that technology-opening up 2x as many planets to colonize. I found that shield depleting weapons mounted on escorts that were built for speed could rush most ships-avoiding most fire until it was too late as the "BIGGER" "MORE POWERFUL" ships caught the heavy fire. I also discovered fighters and PD weapons--don't leave home without them! I used Fighters to mass at all of my warp points and found the best (in early game) was to get as many guns as possible on each - I regularly have Med. fighters with 4-DUC3's each able to destroy all sizes of ships that dont have enough PB protection. Then I noticed that there is no upkeep on fighters!
It is a very intresting game but the computer AI is poor in several ways (which I am sure you have all noted- i.e.: they drop alliances / attack me when I get strong-after I have offered them partnership and they refused, then get torn to ribbons as I capture their ships and planets with little or no opposition.)
Anyway, (Im a bit wordy huh?) I was wondering a few things:
1. Other than not being able to warp-what is the down side of fighters? They seem perfect-can move where needed in the sector, wait at a warp point, avoid almost all weapons early then can ship out with carriers as needed in later game.
2. Can someone point me to the fix or mod that will direct my ships to do what I intend for them to do in a stratigic only game?
3. Anyone else use my "self-discovered" BORG style and have any other suggestions for me? (I love not researching missles or shields at all and capturing the technology to use on my "fire-drawing" ships.)
4. Any "newer" suggestions /guides that aren't several years old-refering to obsolete systems?
5. Are there any "must have" mods (those that JUST EVERYONE has to play) that I should aquire (and where do I get them?)
6. Is there a way to have my fighters automaticly become "airborne" and fly to a waypoint? The constant management of cargo space on every planet gets grueling!
7. In a few threads some people mentioned that they could place orders at a planet to build a yard-then a ship (before it was built) could someone explain to me how please?
8. I have found in a tactics battle I can determine the speed and range of my opponents weapons--I plan to be "just out of range after he moves - then I rush foward and get the first shot - which greatly improves my successes- is there any method in "stratigic" that allows this method of "holding back" for the "right time to move" or am I unable to?
9. Are there tornements? I read something about a "Universe Tornement" (I think it was) but didn't search it yet-
10. Is it EVER profitable to have a ship (I have tried several sizes) mine astroids for metals??? It always seems to produce less than the upkeep of the ship--so I scrap or refit them and move on. (I haven't tried it yet but perhaps Satellite mining might be better with no upkeep/ maint costs...
11. Do "miners" need a space port in the sector to "feed the supplies" to the empire or is it just "done" by design or lack of thought in the matter?

Well, I am sure many of you are shaking your heads by now, at me and my silly questions--"we did this before in thread XXX...!" or "Oh no! This is his FIRST thread! Quick-BAN him!" but PLEASE understand that I am new and hopeful but there is just too much information to absorb and I am-Overwhelmed!

Thanks for reading, posting any answers, feedback or suggestions!

SilverRat
---"We are the Borg. Lower your shields and power down your weapons. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated."

PS-tried to spellcheck but I guess this post is too long to do it all... lol. Please excuse my errors.