Multiple Engines per Move

[rbyrd]

I saw some discussion on this topic a few days ago, but never saw an adequate answer.

I've been trying to modify the vehicle.txt file to require larger ships to use multiple engines with both Version 1.19 and 1.27. For example I require destroyers and light cruisers to use 2 engines per move and hold a max of 12 engines, cruisers to use 3 engines per move and hold a max of 18, etc.

My problem is that the computer AI insists on still only putting 6 engines all of its ships even though the minimum speed is set to 4 and the desired speed to 6. In the previous discussion I saw some ways to help some, by giving the ship an inherent movement bonus or maybe modifying all the AI files to give the ships a faster desired speed.

I've also noticed that the engine per move only seems to effect movement on the strategic level. I don't notice the computer ships moving any slower in tactical combat even though they only have 6 engines on a ship that requires 2 per move.

Has anyone gotten this to work without editing all of the AI files?
Is the desired speed setting the AI file actually desired number of engines? If so that will be a real pain since you would then have to create an AI script for every size of ship.

I hate seeing large ships with fewer engines than small ships the way the basic game works, but the way it is now all the larger computer ships being reduced to moving at a snails pace.