I have asked several old school players (yes I ask before I post here, stop the knocks people) and I haven't gotten an adequate responce to what is better, a few really quality ships or a big fleet of whatev?

Like is SOW, S3 S3 S1 say better than SOW2 S3 S3?

What are the combat mechanics for multipile ship engagements? Is there a cutoff where say 10 ship are invovled and all other aren't? Do the cycles mean a single strong ship can fire on multiple smaller ones, killing them easily?

I find myself facing design questions for my fleet that I have no idea the answers to...

Well, first of the battle system we use here, goes to one ship vs another, one at a time, no matter the number of ships in a fleet (currently capped at five). So there are no multiple ship engagements where 2 ships fire at 1 at the same time.

We want to improve combat and perhaps the idea of all ships firing simultaneously in one combat is not a bad one. It is not even the first time it has been heard as we had such plans about 2 years ago (with fleet formation perhaps where we could also put ship size into the equation which is now only depicted in hitpoints).

This is probably a big discussion which however may need to take place before/alongside the Ship specialization discussion, especially ship abilities. Feel free to open a topic in discussion/suggestion about it anytime. If not, I will be doing it as soon as we are done with Hideout. At any case, this is where we are focusing right after Hideout, as proclaimed here so proper attention can be given now.

Back on your question, warfleet composition is a player's choice above all. It is closely connected to the player's style. Most fleet compositions fit a purpose and their owners are fully aware of that purpose and any limitations that come alongside. Maintaining a big fleet that can beat most other fleets can be very costly (and it can still lose). Most players like to put weak ships at the tail to reduce plunder bounty in case of loss. Or to cut on the probable level loss on sink chance.

I was not aware that the fleet cap is 5, that mutes my question to some degree. Still not sure what is realy the best, although it seems quality is better...