I'm working on the AI now, if you get 2 ships (from opposing sides) attack one another they tend to dance round each other rather than kick the crap out of each other. So I'm programming in set pieces for fleeing, getting distance from the opposing force to be able to double back and get clear shots, they already 'evade' (evade is a flight mode within the AI engine) when they are very damaged as well as have smoke plooming from them.
The other problem I've got is where do they retreat to? I'm thinking I need to have a bad guy base for them to retreat to otherwise they will just run away with no specific aim of where they're going. Indeed if they do have their own base they could do exactly what I describe above in luring good guys to the bad guy turrets.
So the quick answer Jack is no... but they will! Working on it today.
I really want to get this right as although dogfights are not going to be the primary aim of this game, it's going to be important.
The other problem I've got is where do they retreat to? I'm thinking I need to have a bad guy base for them to retreat to otherwise they will just run away with no specific aim of where they're going. Indeed if they do have their own base they could do exactly what I describe above in luring good guys to the bad guy turrets.
So the quick answer Jack is no... but they will! Working on it today.
I really want to get this right as although dogfights are not going to be the primary aim of this game, it's going to be important.