Bring along some anti-fighter frigates?  That would help keep your fighters alive.

You would lose AM retreating....

This is why you would want to have some non-carrier ships in your fleet (balanced fleet!!!) - you can still fight on without air cover (though run the risk of fighters killing the LRMs)

Does anyone know if Animosity affects strike craft? If so, you could use it to divert the attention of fighters (bombers not such a good idea).

This is one of the reasons I tell people that if they force a raiding carrier fleet to withdraw, pursue them mercilessly if you are able and don't let them recover.

depending on the situation though, it might also help if you ordered your carriers to keep strike craft docked as long as they are still in construction. that way they don't get shit down one by one and when you have them like 80% or so complete you can release a new, big swarm to attack anew. though I have my doubts that battles last long enough for a full rebuild of that kind, but if you have enough other forces it could work.

else, retreat is probably a good idea. no need to lose the territorial battle and your fleet.

Another item that will help your carriers out is researching better AM regen rates and storage capacity.  Not only will it help your carrier fleet, but it will help your anti-SC cap ships (especially jam weapons, flak burst, tele push) as well as every other cap ship.  Also, researching the anti-AM abilities for LFs are a MUST now.

Hmmm well id advise IF you were vasari to build pure bomber and take out carrier by carrier vasari bomber can live for A LONG TIME plus with that phaze missle stuff OWWWWW. Oblvisly if your any other race just run rebuild and mix your fleet then rape.

Personally, I keep my Perchions in a differant group and as soon as the main fleet gets the attack orders, I send the carriers on a mad run around the outside of the gravity well.  On big battles they sometimes make the full loop.  I have noticed that the enemy bombers that try to go after them do catch up to them but their attack is so strung out that the carriers shrug off the hits. And since they are regenerating on the run. there is always a few fighters that intercept the bombers on their way to the main fleet target.  Against the AI, I have been able to wear the AI's 40 carriers down with as little as 10 perchions in support of the main fleet.

I'm embarrassed to say that I've never relied heavily on carriers before. I don't play Sins all that often (I'm at college, and I have a mac here, so I can't play it), but in the TEC game I have saved at home, I recently started using percherons. How important should those be to my fleet? The focus for me has been on capital ships, and my frigates (other than Hoshikos) have been treated as little more than a screen to preserve my capital ships. The more I read here, the more I realize how weak my tactics have been.

Mind you, I haven't been playing online either, so I haven't been able to hone my skills against humans. So as I'm shifting more towards mixed unit tactics (protecting my LRMs, using carriers, adding more Marzas to my fleets), I'm beginning to wonder about carrier tactics.

What's more important: capital carriers or light carriers? Should I bother with Sovas and the like, or no? What's a decent amount of carriers for an large fleet? Should I try to micro my fighters, or let them do their own thing (is this ever wise)? What about bombers?

Sorry for the bombardment of questions haha, I appreciate the help in advance.

tho' i agree it must be said that a highlvl capcarrier with 7 squards + whatever abillities it has is a pretty good deal considering fleet supply

you guys are all saying the same thing.Build a balnced fleet and you will be fine. retreat if you need to.if you really want to get rid  of his strike craft go on a TEMPORARY anti-fighter spam.just enough to tip the odds in your favor.

what have i done...

I created a sins meme