How do YOU use fleets?

I used to define my battle groups with fleets (ie, each group is a bit individual fleet). I've found this relatively difficult to micromanage though, so more recently, I've been using ctrl# groups to distinguish my battle groups, then separating those into fleets of unit types, usually into a combat fleet, a carrier/long range fleet, a support fleet, and a flak screen which follows the primary combat fleet to keep it from running off chasing fighters.

I rarely group more than one fleet...I remember I recently did but only because I had a cap and back up on the way so I treated as another fleet because it had to go past enemy lines to be able to support, so thats about it.

I have wanted to make separate groups, but it does seem like it would be way too much work so what I usually do is make everyone attack and manage the caps and make sure to have a fleet overview by hovering over the fleet icon so I know whats going on as a whole and whats getting in trouble...caps get priority over other ship. I personally like to beat down caps before attacking any other thing (unless there are structures that would make taking the cap down a pain) and so I basically pay attention to the caps and abilities and wait for the right moment to use them.

I dont use the Create Fleet Option at all when i'm playing online or a proper match of somesort, because once i jump into a enemy planet, the ships tend to be more concerened on reforming the fleet rather than fighting the enemy thats coming at them. Plus because I am a Starcraft player also, i use ALOT of hotkeys, particularly the CTRL + #
I usually have all my ships move around in one "fleet" as group 1, and then i have the types of units grouped up into others, e.g. all ships are group 1, caps group 2, carriers group 3, strike craft group 4, etc etc.
Also, I use the bomber tactic alot, so i just have all carriers go round in circles on the edge of the gravity well while i have my caps and anit-figters do as they will while i control my bombers, usually i go for the caps first, then planetary defenses.

My fleets tend to be small to midsize, each with one capship (later, with two), and control groups (you know, CTRL #) correspond exactly to fleets.
I build them such that in the late game I have approximately four fleets that are thoroughly midsized, with another smaller one (usually containing my colonizer capship) available for use. I like to do this because it allows for fluid defense and quick mobilization, as well as for sheer brute force in attacks. As a semi-turtler it's always worked well, and I imagine it could help me if I attempt a more offensive game as well. In a recent game against friends I managed (admittedly, with some intelligence) to mobilize a fully functional defence force with another force ready for a flash attack on my immediate opponent's centre worlds. I don't think this would have been possible with one main strike force...
The story of my life

I usually lump my fleets into one super fleet. It's kinda hard to stop 12 or so capital ships plus an insane amount of frigates and carriers when they pop into your gravity well

I field multiple fleets, for attacking different locations at once on larger games.

Usually, I find that multiple fleets are not usually necessary in small or very small games, other than a few seperate defense forces, and a single assault force.

Otherwise though, I use tactics of feint-attacks, decoys, and side assaults to bring down an enemy.


I play Vasari, so there are lots of techs and ships that give me an advantage to do this.


I usually group my fleets by their designated operation. Capital ships that are useful in hit and run go in one group, carrier groups in another, colonizers in another, control in another, bombers in another, local defense in another, and standard/heavy assault in another.

I usually field multiple fleets of each of these, to give complete control on demand, so as an example I might have 3 groups of standard/heavy assault groups, one or two in each system, ready to defend or attack. I do the same with all the other types as well. I usually group local defense forces immediately, after I have set up shop and moved on, to make defense much easier to control, inted of using the empire-tree.

I find that fighting enemies that use single massive fleets are easy pickings to the multi-fleet setup, like the computer, or many online players.



If a super-fleet charges for one of my planets, I make sure I have enough local defense and Phase-Stabalizers to retreat quickly and backup the local fleets, and with good intel I can see these attacks coming several minutes in advance.

The same goes for assault, I use intel to attack where they are not, and assault places they dont expect me to be. I use Kostra Cannons in a single fleet as well, and micromanage between them to disable defense forces before a raid.


But im a much more seasoned player, and not everyone has the advantage of being almost-crazy when it comes to gameplay speed and paranoia