Sins Forums
When you guys play multiplayer, what do you have fleet sizes normally set to? i know teams are usually locked, pirates off, and everything set to fast, but do you have fleet-sizes set large as well?
I always do.. But I do not play very often...
Hopefully you know that the difference in fleet sizes is about 20% larger or smaller?
Generally the fleet size is left at normal.
People prefer large fleet size in the early game (since it means you don't have to enter upkeep quite so early) and they prefer small fleet size in the late game (reduces lag). So normal fleet size is actually a very nice compromise. On small maps which seldom reach late game, large fleet size is usually favoured, while on huge maps where massive fleets are to be presumed, small fleet size is more common.
One key difference between normal and large is that you can build two capital ships on large but still have extra fleet supply for other ships...on normal, a two capital ship start requires the upgrade (unless you build no other ships which is very unwise)...
When choosing large fleet size, it's important to think carefully about the game you're playing. Large might not be a good idea on a large map with 8+ players because it could lead to lag. Another factor is the role of starbases. Since a starbase's power is independent of fleet supply, they are relatively more powerful in small fleet games and less powerful in large fleet games.
Very very good point...following that same line of thought, you can not get more than 16 capital ships...the larger the fleet size, the less significant the individual contributions of each capital ship becomes...
In practice, this is not a limitation at all, since I've never come close to using all 16 in multiplayer. The most I've ever used at once is about 10. The limiting factor on capital ships is actually the amount of XP you can get for them, which does increase with fleet size, therefor capital ships actually do scale here.
I actually never thought of that...you would have more high level caps with larger fleets...and even if you used 16 caps, leveling those things up is a pain even with pirates on (which don't give that much experience per ship 
)...
Thanks everyone. So basically, larger maps = smaller fleet size. 
I cant imagine using all 16 in Multi. However, once a friend and i were 2v2v2 against 4 A.I. I was testing the position of Eco., and at the end when i had 400 000 + credits in the bank with everything researched, i decided "Well, since we've already won..." scrapped 4 trade ports for 4 Cap ship factories, and built 16 Marzas (silly Akkan was destroyed due to negligence on my part a while back...)
Yeah... 16 Marzas using raze planet was... epic...
Sure, I've used 16 capital ships against the AI. They tend to get their ships killed more readily and therefor there's more experience to go around. Different situation entirely.
Usually I stick to 3-4 capital ships in multiplayer, though in long-term games I often hit 6, particularly as Vasari where two Kortuls with weapon jamming capabilities are necessary to fully counter carrier-based fleets.
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