Posted by: Michael Sandy
« on: May 16, 2017, 05:11:24 PM »"Efficient" means able to do its job for the least cost. But that isn't what a balanced fleet is FOR. A balanced fleet is able to do all the jobs. An 'efficient' fire department has the lowest number of firefighters needed to deal with the bulk of emergencies. But that 'efficiency' means it may not handle a peak load well.
A balanced fleet will always have some ships along that are just consuming fuel and maintenance and not doing anything. Maybe it is the missile ships that can't get through the PD, or maybe it is the beam kiting warships which do not dare approach into short range missile envelope.
An 'efficient' fleet is often a fleet that is purpose built to counter a known enemy. Just fast enough, with just enough beam range to out duel the enemy. Or just enough ammo to destroy their known ships. But versus an unknown enemy, you can't count on 'efficiency'. You need to be able to cover all the bases.
I could have a relatively slow main fleet, whose job is to pull the teeth of an enemy missile fleet, allowing the beam kiters to do their job afterwards. Or it might be the beam kiters that go in first, taking out the enemy fighters and LACs, and allowing the plodders to come in range of the mother ship and blow through its defenses at range.
A balanced fleet will always have some ships along that are just consuming fuel and maintenance and not doing anything. Maybe it is the missile ships that can't get through the PD, or maybe it is the beam kiting warships which do not dare approach into short range missile envelope.
An 'efficient' fleet is often a fleet that is purpose built to counter a known enemy. Just fast enough, with just enough beam range to out duel the enemy. Or just enough ammo to destroy their known ships. But versus an unknown enemy, you can't count on 'efficiency'. You need to be able to cover all the bases.
I could have a relatively slow main fleet, whose job is to pull the teeth of an enemy missile fleet, allowing the beam kiters to do their job afterwards. Or it might be the beam kiters that go in first, taking out the enemy fighters and LACs, and allowing the plodders to come in range of the mother ship and blow through its defenses at range.