Issue with Space Combat Formations

It actually sounds like you don't understand how ship roles work rather than the formations not working how they should.  The ship's role is partly decided by the hull size, but in most cases its the equipment you put on a ship that will set its default role.  You don't need to learn how this part works because you can set the ship's role when you save the design.  The ship roles will dictate where ships spawn and their target priorities.

As for range, that is determined by the type of weapon and then by how you research.  The size of the hull has zero impact on how far they can fire.

So you are saying since I am using the default design of a ship the AI is putting it on the front lines to get destroyed?  

No, he's not. 

There's a set of ship Roles which are determined when the ship is designed. Weapons give Threat, defenses give Fortitude, and things like carrier modules give Value.  Things with high fortitude will get shot at first, so include a few of those in any given fleet. Then your assault carrier is unlikely to get shot at.

Yeah I My Carrier designed ships I have to make sure they have high value (almos a given) but make sure they're support ships. And make sure you have assault ships in the composition as well as escorts. Wether you have a capital ship or not is optional IMHO, but it also helps. The AI will still try to get to the carrier first but you assault ships together with the carrier fighters (which should work as interceptors, but don't exactly) will make a nice screen, and with one or two escort they'll help keep you carrier in the back. But the battle system is very limited so just make sure you have overwhlming firepower... 

I think you guys are missing my point.  I know the dreadnaughts are going to get shot at but the enemy should have to fly though all my ships to do so.  I am talking about formations.  Right now my carriers are behind my assault carriers.  I’m pretty sure in early patches this was not an issue.

The huge capital ships are super expensive and need to be protected at all costs.  This formation issue I am talking about will also help out A.I. players.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8KnKEhNdvk

About 1:34 into the video the designer says every “A lot of you will see today will change drastically”.  This video was published in May 2014.

Does everyone else on this forum like their capital ships on the front line and to die long before the obsolete ones do?  

Am I suppose to redesign every ship to effect my battle formations?

 I admit I looked at the ship designer for a few minutes a while ago and did not want to be bothered.

We're not missing the point. Where your ships sit in formation during battle is determined by their role. Attempting to discuss the battle viewer without discussing roles is like trying to discuss architecture without mentioning buildings. If you want ships to be between your carriers and the enemy, then you need to be building ships with the right roles to do that; if they're being targeted first, then by definition you aren't. 

Nothing has changed in the way battles work since launch. The only thing that might be different is if you are using the opt-in 1.4 patch and if the AI improvements have made it smarter at putting together fleets.

Clearly the issue is that you don't know how the battles work and in particular you don't understand ship roles.  Which isn't terribly surprising given the game is woeful at explaining it to new players.  Check out the article on the GC3 wiki.  Once you read this you should be able to see where you are going wrong.

You need to have ships with the roles of Guardian (primary purpose to protect Support ships) or Escort (primary purpose to protect Capital ships).  When you select a ship look at the description in the lower half of the ship information window.  If you don't have any ships with the role of Gaurdian or Escort in your fleet, then yes the enemy ships will more than likely get a free shot right to your carriers and other capital ships.  From what you are describing it sounds like your fleet building is failing to provide ships with the appropriate roles.  Granted I haven't yet fought any battles with the 1.4 patch, but in all previous versions I can't even remember the last time one of my carriers took any damage at all because I always make sure I have plenty of ships with Escort or Guardian roles.

Yes I am using default ship and roles.

I guess my next question then “before patch 1.4 “were assault carriers towards the front lines?

My memory says no but I did take a three month break from GC III.

I’ll go read GC III Wiki.

Thanks

They did rebalance carriers after launch.  They changed the number of ships the modules had and they have also put a timer on respawns of lost craft.

Actually, looking back on what you've written I'm surprised you've got Assault Carriers.  My game won't build any because of what I assume is an error in the blueprints, which was probably created by the change to the carriers whenever that happened.

Hmmm.  I just finished the game.  It was an old save.  Kind of sure the save was from at least 1.2.  That being said the last 150 turns was with the 1.4 patch.

I started to play the campaign.  The “capital ship” you start with is behind all other ships.  Yeah I’m sure they are escorts.  

FYI in case you did not know.  99% of the game play is set by the version # at the time you start the game and will not change with a new patch