So, you find yourself starting a game of TI3, you stare down at your race sheet and ask yourself "what kind of fleet do I need to protect my game interests"?
Well, there are several different types of ways to build a fleet. Some races lend themselves to a specific build and others lend themselves more freely to what kind of fleet you desire.
In my games of TI3 I have come across 3 basic types of fleets.
Fighter Heavy: This type of fleet is characterized by multiple carriers holding many fighters.
Naalu, Sol, and Saar lend themselves to this type of build. Muuat can also do this to some extent.
The Iceberg: Usually contains multiple dreadnoughts with carrier/cruiser support. This type of fleet is usually big (think 5+ capitol ships) and moves very slowly, hitting pretty hard where it arrives. L1Z1X does this VERY well. Muaat can also do this relatively well.
Light and Speedy: Characterized by multiple cheap ships (Cruisers and Destroyers) used to counter Fighter heavy fleets and be where you need to be. Look for fleets like this to up their blue tech so carriers and Dreadnoughts can keep up. This is done well by Mentak and Yin, who have benefits when using cruisers and destroyers. Can also be done by Saar.
Note that this list is not exhaustive and fleets can have more than one of these qualities.
The rest of the races (Hacan, Yssaril, Letnev, Jol-Nar, Sardakk, Winnu, and Xxcha) aren't really pre-set in their preferences for fleet build and have the freedom to choose any of the above.
If facing a race that has an obvious build, that gives you a bit of an advantage in building a counter-build. You can either make fleet composition proactive (forcing your opponents to react) or reactive (seeing what your opponents build before you commit).
Just some things to keep in mind while you enjoy "the best board game made by man".
-Mike
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