combat tactics

[mathematician]

have each fleet choose between 3 combat styles:
- agressive: ships do 25% more damage but have 25% less armor
- normal: ships have damage and armor as stated in the stats
- defensive: ships do 25% less damage but have 25% more armor

combat styles are always on until they are changed. they may or may not be scannable.

[ComradeRob]

Ideas like this often get shot down, but I really would quite like to see something similar to this tested in a beta or speedgame.

[Monroe]

A system somewhat like this was tried a while ago, what ended up happening is everyone just assumed maximum damage levels in their calcs, and indeed that is pretty much what people did. Of course it was the same round they completely eliminated pods, so it was kind of an odd round. While I agree more complicated combat, including tactics, would add a lot to the game I don't feel a system like the one you suggest would be the best route to go.