Something that seems to be missing from Starfarer battle mechanics is tactics other than just "Light Escort" or "Full Escort". Something like a formation that can be created and changed during the battle. A not really well known game Battlestations Pacific (great game if anyone likes the action-strategy hybrid gameplay) did this incredibly well, where you could make ships follow another ship in a certain pattern.
In the gold, thats the main ship that the formation is being assigned to follow and arrange itself around (central ship).
The light blue ship icon is one of the actual ships in gameplay.
The dark blue ship icon is the formation position itself, which the light blue ship would try and stay in if conditions (if it was too dangerous it'd try to move and do some smarter things).
With just a few seconds of re-arranging carriers, battleships, and destroyers you could get a pretty organized fleet/task force.
Right now the formation systems are simply... lacking. I'd really like to see a Conquest train following their leader into battle for the optimal broadside (3 conquests broadsiding one ship? Ouch!
) or a line of Eagle cruisers for the best frontal firepower, made with a system similar to this.
