Generally, when you order for a retreat, you end up in a terrible position, with all ships deployed and enemy ships just a little behind. In most cases, it is better to simply engage normally, holding back to the border before retreating. However, what if you actually want the terrible position?
So I am out bounty hunting. I have a pair of wolves, a sunder, hammerhead, condor, and heron, with a handful of transport ships as support. I know the target has a falcon so I know this isn't going to be a complete cakewalk, but I figured two support carriers, two assault destroyers, and two emp frigates would have been enough against the targets small fleet.
I wasn't expecting him to have two eagles backing him up, plus an enforcer, buffalo mk2, two kites, and two wolves of his own. This is a 9v6 and not in my favor in any way.
So, I decide to retreat and turn it into an absolute trap, and fortunately I get what I want. My six main combat ships engaging his three cruisers and the rest of his ships pursuing my cargo ships. Unfortunately I have a buffalo and it isn't fast enough to escape in one piece, but the rest of my secondary ships manage to escape while I do a full blitz. The falcon goes down very quickly under a hail of bombers as, if nothing else, the distance in a retreat engagement is relatively close compared to a normal fight, making it easier to flank in this 6v3 combat. I swing back while piloting the sunder and in the end, both eagles also go down with me taking minor damage. With the cruisers down, the rest of the fight is a joke. Sadly, I can't salvage the falcon or eagles. Only two of his ships escape and I only ended up with a damaged buffalo.
Anyone else get such good luck while retreating in combat?