Since you are simply a supernumerary in your auto-piloted ship...you can fly in any of them. If that one blows up...you just choose another and press X to fly over to it.
But WASD space combat is just soooo tasty that I think you are missing out on the fun. As I recall from my "why do I suck at this game" early days: I got better by starting with suppression builds and then to high flux dissipation builds.
So why not ease into a combat support role as follows: Go ahead and ride in a "combat limousine" configuration. Tac Lasers are a key I think here. All around cheap, small, and great for suppression/support within a budget.
1. I would go with a ship tough enough to survive if attacked. Your ride should be an armored limo and not a hybrid commuter car.
2. First, try autopilot from a carrier that has only PD and missiles for a little bit to observe how the AI stays in the neighborhood of intense fighting without actually fighting anything...in .91a the carrier AI is much better at keeping out of trouble so long as the fitment is PD and missiles only. Suggest to make all the missiles Salamanders...these evil things give smaller pursuers fits. And even a Destroyer will be stressed by four or more incoming Salamanders.
3. Surviving without doing the fighting also means looking at the map and keeping to a clear area (or, at least, going one on one with a smaller ship) without straying far from friends.
Let's move on to transitioning into a support fighting role:
4. Assign a capable ship to defend you. Always have that bodyguard around. And why not grab the WASD away from the computer and help with the kill when the bodyguard pounces on a weak enemy? Just have your weapons on autofire and press X to stop firing when flux gets high (it shouldn't if you use the build below).
5. The non-fighters fighting guide: Ride in a tough, long ranged, auto-firing ship that you really just stay to the edges of combat, with friends around always, and just keep within firing range of smaller bad guys. Don't commit to charges, and just keep in support range of your main fleet.
Your ship build will be faster than most ships in its class or larger, with strong shields, has tons of defense hullmods, tons of flux dissipation (double the weapons usage), and mounts only 1000 range offensive weapons and the rest PD.
I would go with a destroyer or a fast cruiser (look at the codex and compare base ship speeds for the class of choice...then always add:
Unstable Injector
Flux Distributor
Max points in Flux Dissipation (note that max number, and don't add more weapons than will use half of that)
Other goodies to think about:
Reinforced Hull
Extended shields
Stable Shields
Hardened Shields
If space permits: stack on the range extending hullmods...Integrated Targeting Unit, Advanced Optics
6. weapons: yes, even though you don't fight, there should be long range weapons on the ship.
The flux usage of all offensive weapons should never exceed 50% of your flux dissipation rate. This is an important way to keep your AI pilot from overloading the ship while taking fire (or letting you take over and run). Note that I'm only suggesting that flux budget rule for your own "combat limousine" ship and not as a fleet-wide build rule.
One or more forward-facing 1000 range weapons (preferably anti-shield and anti-armor pair if possible or just anti-shield).
a. enemy ships respect range and often loiter just outside your range or go pick on someone else.
b. At least one long range, but low flux weapon, facing each direction, to give your self "visual warning" that bad guys are coming into range...not to mention, will help make them cautious. One Tac Laser facing forward, left, and right.
c. Fit PD for the rest.
d. Ideally, once you are getting the hang this support role: Something like a "suppression build Eagle" with three or four auto-firing Tac Lasers is a scary proposition for most enemy Destroyers and Frigates to approach alone. Most Frigates cannot accept those Tac Laser hits for long without having to drop shields and begin to die, or withdraw.
The "combat limousine" is purpose-built to require friends...so you won't, by inclination, go off and get into solitary trouble.
