Okay, I got it know. Starfarer doesn't use the method of MSWindows
"click here and a new magic window pops up to make your wishes true".
Still: selecting 1 ship with the left mouse or selecting multiple ships with SHIFT+LMB or rectangle selection would be a reasonable method for Starfarer, then give orders. Automatically Starfarer should list available commands on the left or right if one or multiple ships are selected: Harass, strike, Engage etc..
OR:
Select a BiG ship of the enemy and make Starfarer pop up a window listing all your ships - represented by tiny icons and ship names - recolor already ordered ships with maybe red, available ships - waiting for command - in green or blue and allow the user to SHIFT+LMB select.
Best solution would be - in case of a large flotilla - a simple rectangle select. Give the user the option to zoom out the C2-screen with the mouse wheel (make the code know which screen is currently on and mouse wheel-zoom always available), select all ships on the left side with the rectangle and command them to swarm the BiG enemy ship and bring the Wrath of God onto the bastard!
If you wish to retain "fleet points" simply make as many ships follow commands from the rectangle selection as many "fleet points" the player has. Displaying: "Not enough fleet points. Capture a Comm Relay to get more."
OR:
Give the player the ability to assign Squadron Leaders in the flotilla. Highlight all Squadron Leaders on C2 so the player can select them. All available ships try to follow their Squadron Leader or the nearest one and execute the commands given to Squadron leaders too(Harass, Engage, Strike, etc..). Like in real Navy. Allow grouping ships to Squadrons on the Fleet screen. This will help with the chaos to manage big flotillas.
I totally see where you are coming from mercy, that is classic RTS. You're used to having full control over your units, telling them where to go and what to do.
Well, Starfarer is not that kind of game, you have to shake that conception if you want to enjoy it. As opposed to RTS your units behave actually intelligent, they basically know what to do (aside from some imperfections like blamatron experienced). You at most tell them
what you want done and they will work out
who and
how to do it. This has (to my knowledge) two reasons:
- so you can fully concentrate on piloting your flagship
- so ships don't have to compromise between exactly following your orders and doing what is smart, e.g. keeping distance to an enemy, outrunning missiles, retreating to vent, flank an enemy etc.
In earlier versions there even was an RTS-like command scheme, but Alex (lead developer) deemed it unsuitable (I think the term was awkward) for SF and replaced it with the objective system.
On a more concrete note: If you want "to swarm the BiG enemy ship and bring the Wrath of God onto the bastard!" simple click it and choose "Engage", all your unoccupied ships will attack it.