Noticed a handy possible tactic today while trying to scout a system for enemy vessels. If I set my task force speed to various numbers it also effects my thermal signature, I presume this works by my ship gently coasting along with a smaller trail of fusion fire to be picked up. But does this also effect other aspects such as failures or are they a constant percentage?
Relating to the above if a task force has moved to a location and it's speed is still set to maximum for example does this mean they are simply zipping around in a small area of space performing maneuvers? Or if at an enemy location I guess they could be dog fighting at whatever the set speed is?
If the above is true does it also then mean the task force is still consuming fuel or does fuel consumption only take place during a move from point A to point B on the system map?
Regarding the follow command in the task force tab, I have used to to make use of out ranging an enemy before and found I was not following as such but running away from at a set distance each time click. This would be very handy for fleet formations as at the moment I seem to have to do the following.
1. Set front task force to specific speed to ensure it does not leave any others behind.
2. Set the desired follow distance for subsequent task forces for the formation.
3. Set way points for the subsequent task forces upon arrival at my fleets destination for the final fleet formation.
The first time I did this it was great and I shouted at lots of ensigns for sloppy handling etc, but now it is tedious. I would rather the following happened.
1. Set the main fleet target with a way point and tell task force A to go there.
2. Set subsequent task forces to follow at set distances and directions. Example, a heavy armoured group flies infront of the carrier group acting as a screen.
Is this possible to achieve or will I just have to endure the manual method I employ currently?
Finally I came across a certain special type of alien race and the game created a race screen for them with flag, picture etc etc. After engaging them in battle I now also have a fair amount of tactical information about their vessels. My diplomatic and espionage efforts have given me little and so I was hoping to ad some flavour to their race screen with my own additional information. But if I wipe out all the remaining vessels of that race in the system I found them in will they disappear from the races screen? I know at some point I will run into them again in the galaxy, but will the next batch use the same race screen? This seems logical since they will be the same race and have the same ships but I do not want to waste time filling out sections over and over for each time I find them.
Thanks for any help offered with these points.