/Threadjack
Why is it that people keep spamming LRFs in multiplayer? It's almost as if people forgot that carriers were buffed a long time ago. They are still a very valid counter to LRF spam, yet more and more all I see is people spam LRFs to counter LRFs. There is a few of us that build flak to counter LRFs, but their numbers are few.
It depends on the situation and race. Starting carriers are rendered relatively ineffective combat wise by starting with a few flak ships. Considering that early game carriers vs advent aren't very effective because of the strength of advent defense vessels, the halcyon, and the effectiveness of the disciple spam, a carrier spam vs advent isn't a very intelligent decision for a player wanting to win.
Here's my elementary analysis. Building carrier cruisers with fighters to counter LRF:
Your race vs. enemy's race:
TEC vs Advent: Like you said, bad idea, given Advent's Disciples and given that once they'll have Illums they'll certainly be able to support enough flak to fight off fighters.
TEC vs Vasari: TEC will NEED a lot of LRMs ASAP to counter Vasari caps and SB. By the time TEC has the freedom to diversify in carrier cruisers/fighters, Vasari would probably be able to easily field enough flak to make the strategy ineffective. Probably.
TEC vs TEC: Works decently. Initially, at least, though enemy Gardas will come in soon enough.
Advent vs. anyone: Advent have horrible strike-craft and have durable scouts for countering LRF, so carrier cruisers/fighters for them are not a good idea.
Vasari vs. TEC: Works very well. Durable Vasari fighters are a huge plus in the early-game given that quite a lot of flak are necessary to make a dent in them. And TEC are virtually guaranteed to be making tons of LRM vs. Vasari.
Vasari vs. Advent: Disciple spam will make carrier cruisers very vulnerable, and Advent doesn't build Illums early enough anyway.
Vasari vs. Vasari: Due to the possibility of an enemy SB, initially putting money into firepower in Assailants would probably be a better idea. But after you have enough Assailants, carriers/fighters aren't a bad idea at all.
