fighters in the early stage

[Pocus]

playing against max advantage AI, in standard games I find that fighters, early at least, are mandatory, ie the way to go if you want to not be teared into pieces in combats. When I'm able to field CL with DUC IV, the enemy has already monstrous weapons... so it don't work well. On the other hand, hords of fighters, even low tech, can win my day. (the other advantages are that I can produce them everywhere, without maintenance, so it helps!=)

Any thoughts on that? it make the standard SE IV game always alike I feel.