Ok so I designed a Missile Corvette that can 1-shot a basic Pirate. And it could take out two pirates in a battle, killing one at long range and the other at medium range.



But then I got attacked by a fleet of three pirates, and one pirate survived. I was doing manual combat, and noticed that I didn't see a missile launch at melee range.



I ran into this scenario later, and watched again. This second occurance I had augmented my police boat to include Kinetics. It defeated all three pirates, but again I didn't see any missile launch.



So I'm wondering, do missiles only launch at long and medium range?

I am not sure we can really see the effect of missiles, due to the inivisible missile bug:

http://forums.amplitude-studios.com/showthread.php?2070-Enemy-Missile-Ships-killing-my-destroyers-well-before-they-launch-missiles

Hopefully in the next build, there will be more statistics and fewer graphical glitches, so we can fine-tune our combat builds.

Well, missiles should be able to be used at extreme ranges. Beyond what even guns can, beam or kinetic. Making for a 4th opening phase for missile duels as you close range. If you wanted to add more 'realism' to the mix. Since there is no real advantage to them I almost never outfit missiles. Just pack in a beam broadside that will take most fleets out in the first or second volley before the AI can even launch their missiles. Tho I do pack in some anti-missile capability to deal with launches, if they manage to happen. Which has been rare. Late launch glitches aside. I'd guesstimate the AI gets their missiles off less then %20 of the time, and I think I am being generous to the AI in that.