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[u3r]

So lately I try for more "themed" runs - but I tend to fall back to the same Ships/Builds quite often - not necessarily for combat efficiency sake but for convenience:

a) First cruiser: Is ALWAYS going to be an Eradicator
Why? Burnspeed 9. I don't do "naked" exploration (e.g. single dram or two frigates and a freighter), so I value hitting 20 burn with navigation.

b) Freighter: - Atlas only
Why? Safe for the VERY early game there is no reason not to run it. I tend even to spend story points in the order of  Flagship -> logistics -> rest of the fleet.
Simply because I keep this thing indefinitely.  S-Mod exp. cargo holds + Insulated engines + Bulk Transport + Navigation -> 18 burn speed. If I need to hit 20? Attuned Drive Filed (mod I consider mandatory). Somehow I just can't find any reason not to look around for one - after the first few missions.

c) Cruisers: Mostly Eradicator (purchased from the pathers with AAF), SO-Aurora for myself (never for the fleet - (still) to expensive for what it does), Sometimes Champion (I really like the slot combination). Here I see more potential for me to experiment - here is where my variety happens.

d) Capitals: Executor all the way!
Why? Only decently fast capital (beside Odyssey player only), I have tried them all. I do like the conquest which is able to keep up, but suffers GREATLY from PL-missle spam an swarm tactics (Endgame Knights of Ludd and such) due to the *** shield. Combat wise I have also run Onslaught, Paragon and Legion to great success - but waiting 1,5 minutes with in-combat time compression until something happens is so hard. Also: when running mostly capitals you always get swarmed - so large shield arcs are somewhat mandatory.
Onslaught: it IS fast enough in players hands - but the AI doesn't burndrive enough for my taste. I would love a hullmod "thruster-reroute" to turn burn-drive into maneuvering jets.  @Alex -> would that work with AI?
Paragon is just slow as heck and kind of boring (compared to full on Onslaught dakka) but I personally find it necessary (or convenient) for some of the tougher challenges (super-redacted, mod end-game content)

Frigates and Destroyers are fine I think though I avoid low-tech here due to horrendous flux stats and not enough tank to do the "who needs shields anyway" game of the Onslaught/Legion

So that's about it - change my mind or side with me     (side note: I have not been able to force myself to do an all ought missle spam run Gryphon/Pegasus - so no comment on those - one or two gryphons have not had great success in my fleets)

[Cryovolcanic]

I agree with you on the Atlas--there are just not a lot of interesting choices with logistics ships in vanilla, beyond when to add tugs. Maybe for the best.

For the rest--

I also used to rely on an early Eradicator for fighting power, especially because the ship is so easy to buy for 97k. However:

- LP and TT Brawlers are both great for fighting in the early game, viable all the way to the endgame
- As you point out, many capitals are endgame viable
- A variety of ships are viable for SD/DO
- In the early to mid-game, I find SO Eagles to be quite good... they start to falter when fleet sizes fill out
- I don't pilot but many ships are good in the player's hands--Falcon P, Aurora, etc

My early game is usually dictated by what ship theft missions I get. If I am lucky enough to steal a cruiser I usually build my fleet around that.

[Phenir]

Falcons have 9 burn and falcon ps have 11. Furies have 9 burn too.
If you just want 20 burn, consider getting some Oxes. 2 let 8 burn ships (all cruisers except civilian ships but bulk transport does exist) reach 20 burn with navigation. 4 for 7 burn (all capitals except the invictus). With built in efficiency and insulated engines, their campaign penalties get mitigated a lot.
For capital, prometheus mk 2 matches the executor in speed, maybe even faster thanks to burn drive and it is much cheaper on dp so you can field several of them or escorts, mitigating enemy swarming. Could also just not use capitals. Wide fleets are a thing, especially with SD.

[freakingcynik]

Similar to themed runs, you can restrict your own options to force some variety.
I've been doing most of my last runs without buying ships/weapons or using the industrial skill tree, it really changes the fleet management part until the late game. Getting to 240dp with.a random assortments of half broken ships that changes each playthrough is an interesting twist!