Fighter Swarm Strategies?

[Nox]

Hey guys. I'm playing as the Imperial Remnant, currently doing the 'from the ground up' campaign. I've taken six, maybe seven planets, including Bilbringi, which I guess isn't a world technically, by I digress. So, I've managed to build my first sovereign. By now, viscounts aren't any more than a minor irritant. I haven't had to worry about any major offensives from either the Empire of the Hand or New Republic near Obroa-Skai, since they're busy murdering each other. However, the NR has taken the transitory mists, and is using them to launch massive Bothan Assault cruiser attacks against Corulag. No, my problem is the dozens of squadrons of starfighters I have launched against me.

I once thought using Lancers was the key, but that just gets my lancers murdered by the BACs'. I realize from reading wookieepedia that accepted strategy was to have a cap ship protected by strike cruisers and lancers, but I don't have the credits to spend on a huge fleet of lancers-strike cruisers-destroyer. I've been thinking perhaps use those escort frigates (Imperial carriers) but the question then would be: what defends the escorts? I'd appreciate any strategies for dealing with those infuriating rebel fighters. Thanks in advance.

[Pali]

Save up the credits until you CAN field a mixed, balanced fleet, because when it comes to BACs and K-Wings, there is no magic bullet that will stop them because they are powerful, well-rounded units.  Refuse to fight for space control and hold the planet surface, and the AI will rarely push beyond that one planet - usually after the first ground invasion most but not all of their fleet will leave orbit, and you can pounce on the remainder.  But the reality is that defending in space is FAR more expensive than defending on the ground, credits-wise, and since the AI gets free money and free ships, you can't expect the space game to be fair play.

In my experience as a mostly NR player, Lancers experience a drop in their danger rating post-era 3 - NR fighters are better than they used to be, NR bombers are WAY better than they used to be, and NR frigates and cap ships are better ship-killers, meaning it's less of an issue for them to spare a moment to blast apart your Lancers than it was when the MC80bs were simply buffing power to shields and waiting for the fighters to sweep in and save the day.  Even without the big ships at play, a late era NR fighter/bomber wave can smash straight through a line of Lancers taking minimal losses, which is why you need a lot of fighters of your own to distract them and give the Lancers time to work.  The Lancers are still important, because without them backing up your fighters, your fighters will lose in the end.  And the cap ships are important for protecting the Lancers and carriers once the BACs get close... see how it all ties together?  The IR fleet is a machine; it needs all its parts to work, but when it does it is a thing of beauty.

EDIT: Wait a second... you have a Sov?!  Drop that bad boy in with Lancers and Venators (or is it MTCs for them there?) backing you up and slaughter at will - just keep an eye on how much damage you're taking and run in time if you have to, hit and fade their fleet until it's dust.  Drop a probe droid on the mists every couple weeks to see if their fleet buildup is getting too big, and before it does drop in, slaughter everything, and leave.

[jordanthejq12]

Yeah, it's MTCs. I would also suggest Vic Is, as those missiles can do quite a number on fighters without sacrificing anti-ship capability.

[Nox]

Thanks guys. I'll definitely try out your strategies. Though,  I think my main problem is, I'm a little too conservative with my vessels, especially capital ships. For example, the sovereign costs 35,000 credits. losing it to say...a few squadrons of those K-wings would be extremely embarrassing, not to mention pricey. Luckily, it has no engine hard points to destroy. So long as I jump out of the system before all its guns are gone, I should be good. At least until I manage to build up a true Imperial fleet. 

[tlmiller]

Thanks guys. I'll definitely try out your strategies. Though,  I think my main problem is, I'm a little too conservative with my vessels, especially capital ships. For example, the sovereign costs 35,000 credits. losing it to say...a few squadrons of those K-wings would be extremely embarrassing, not to mention pricey. Luckily, it has no engine hard points to destroy. So long as I jump out of the system before all its guns are gone, I should be good. At least until I manage to build up a true Imperial fleet.

That's the basic strategy most people use as the IR w/ their SSD's, since none of them have destroyable engine hardpoints.  Jump in, cause havoc, jump out.