You want Homeworld. As a former fanatic of Homeworld, I can understand your sentiments. However, fighters and bombers are replaced for free in Sins which kinda makes up for the lack of tactical control.

Edit (as there is no "edit" button. Weird, I know) to the second line: "to balance out the multiple squadrons."

As a Strike Craft Specialist, One has to remember that strike craft are by nature, heavy micro-management ships. Since i play as primarily a TEC person, I have 4 lvl 4 or more Sovas in a Carrier Battle group, loaded with bombers. For those that don't know or use Strike craft very often, thats 16 or more squadrons of bombers. For Fighter protection, I create 6-10 Escort Carriers and equip them with Fighters. For personal Anti-Bomber/Anti-Fighter Defenses, I use Flak Frigates backed up by a Kol's special ability if I need to use a Kol to help Defend the carriers.

Now what I have to admit though, is that I would like the Developers to up the number of Strike Craft per Carrier Cruiser. I think they should at least have 2-3 Squadrons. I mean, Some Capital ships get to upgrade to 1-2 Squadrons. Shouldn't the Specialized Cruiser, have more or an equal amount to the Capitals? Otherwise, unless your a strike craft specialist like myself, why would you use them?

I also think that the Carrier Cruiser should get the Special Ability of [Space Mines]

[Space Mines]
Dmg - Equal to the amount done by Robotic destructor drones or up to 800 before dmg reduction. Unless they are Civilian transport ships (orbital refinery or trade ships). Civilian ships recieve 150% dmg before Dmg reduction.
Range - 1000 to 2000
Time Cooldown - 120 Seconds
Time in Game - 90 Seconds

Deploys a small minefield near the carrier capable of disrupting shipping and floats as a set target in the gravity well. Cannot be targeted for destruction, but will explode if any enemy ships enter the blast radius.


These Space mines would add another strategic level to the game in making carriers useful to have in defense fleets. If you play as Vasari, you can see all enemy jumps multiple lines away from your planet. If you play as TEC, you can see 2 jumps away from your planet. This gives you advance warning and allows you to mine the exit point of the incoming invasion force. Granted, these won't do much damage, but if you place enough mines in a dense enough minefield, you might be able to do serious damage to the enemy fleet without sustaining serious losses to your self. They can also be used to disrupt enemy shipping and possible close lines of trade.


Just my 2 cents.

Edit: changed range to Min-Max type range as 2000 may be Overpowered.

I actually whipped a quick mod where the light carriers had two squads and it was way OP. I think the solution would be to make the carriers themselves a bit cheaper but otherwise leave their stats alone.

A carrier fleet properly run needs 3 elements:

Flak Frigates are STRONGLY countered by the tier 1 assault frigates, so any serious carrier based armada needs to have a good number of these.

The problem with this strategy is that Cobalts, Disciples, and Skirmishers die in prodigious numbers to LRM type ships and heavy cruisers. As things stand now, a fleet of LRM + flak will destroy a fleet of carriers + light frigates.

If you're going to use this strat, wait until you can field heavy cruisers in place of light frigates; they are much more resistant to LRM spam and impervious interceptor strikes and can tear through light frigates and flak frigates alike like tissue paper.

But herein lies the issue. Heavy cruisers are about as effective as carriers fielding bombers. Given the amount of micro involved in managing a carrier fleet, it seems to me to be wiser to just field the horde of heavy cruisers and use flak + interceptors from you capital ships to cover them against bombers.

Also, the HC + flak fleet has a significant advantage against a HC / light frigate + carrier fleet in terms of sheer hit points, armor, and shielding. Carriers fielding bombers are easily taken down if something can range on them. Heavy cruisers aren't easily taken down under any circumstances, unless of course your opponent has never played the game before.