Air combat help

[tscho]

I managed my early game quite well up to the midgame. mostly fights with these migs.

(btw autoresolve should reduce fuel properly its easy to abuse it for intercepting multiple targets)

condors were not so important in early game. migs are quite cheap and the workshops are not that busy at the start, who needs armor for rookies, eh? (troops are cheap!).

the early escorts are quite fun, using migs to shoot the middle is a nice strategy, these early light fighters (dont know the names there (light cruisers?)) are managable with condors, ok but they need more repairtime in general...

its all fine in the game till better escorts join the fights.

Ok migs shouldnt last till endgame, BUT dont really see what i should do by then. if i mass condors for them i have to wait for long long repair times most of the times, and if i stay on migs its allmost the same (trying to out manuvering the faster escorts is quite risky (as it should be later in the game)).

Better aircrafts come quite late and cost quite much of that alien stuff. so it wont be enough for for a real change of the general tactics. there is the possibility to ALLWAYS relocate those 1-2 new aircraft to the nearer base, waiting for refueling and finally attacking... but come on! thats a load of clicks for one - two interceptions. And even then i dont really manage the the fights without taking any damage later in the game.

shortening stuff:

i dont really get the mid to lategame when migs arent enough.

tech is very late and upgradecrafts cost very much of that alien stuff.

how to solve the later escort aircombats`?

if its intended to overwhelm the player with this stuff so that the player has hurry up and finish the game, then i dont really see the reason bothering with these expensive aircrafts, except to actually "see" them. Migs are enough to down any aircraft if you are willing to take some losses (just to get spacecraft tech etc.).

[Dranak]

I'm having a bit of trouble with your post, but you're saying that you are struggling with the second tier of alien fighters (Heavy Fighters)? Regardless, mass Condor seems like a trap that inexperienced players will fall into as they greatly lose value once Landing Ships show up.

Foxtrots can actually just outfly Heavy Fighters now. You can engage escorted UFOs by having the Foxes turn perpendicular to the Fighters' angle of approach and hit the AB, which will cause the missiles to miss. Then just fly into position to attack the UFOs and launch torpedoes and disengage. You may take a few cannon rounds, but once you get the hang of it there's basically no risk of losing a Foxtrot with this maneuver. This is how I successfully played through Carriers on my low-ground combat playthough.

I do agree that Corsairs seem to come a bit late, as you can't really produce them in numbers before Heavy Fighters show up, and if they aren't needed for Heavy Fighters then they don't really have much of a purpose for their cost.

[Serker]

I do agree that Corsairs seem to come a bit late, as you can't really produce them in numbers before Heavy Fighters show up, and if they aren't needed for Heavy Fighters then they don't really have much of a purpose for their cost.

Yes, they come a bit late. But Condors barely have a chance against interceptors and you don't have much chance to get marauders, so corsairs are useful.