Does anyone here know the best way to use "stand off" tactics? How do I fire from Max range, without advancing? Using the "Siege" command seems like a good way to do this... but at least in the early game it seems like I can't select it.

Is this because of tutorial limitations? Or is there no way to demand my cruiser remain at "max range" of weapons and fire from there?

The mission in particular that is giving me fits is the early turret / platform mission. They surround the station (I've located the battleship for the codes) and it seems like it should be an easy mission to solve, but I can't for the life of me figure out how to fire my laser weapons from max range. As it is, I advance into the range of the last 5 or 6 remaining turrets / platforms and they finish me off :(

I would be an easy mission if I could just pick of one or two turrets / platforms at a time, from the max range of my lasers - but the ship advances into the teeth of all the platforms despite my commands :( I've tried defensive and focus / hull damage.

Is there a simple way to demand a ship fire at max range?

Well I figured it out - I ended up setting speed to 0. This combined with a few other tricks helped me prevail. But...

I want to love this game, I really do. I love that it's complex and deep. I love that I'm expected to micromanage subsystems, target shields, weapons and scramble fighters. I love that I can level up my crew and purchase new weapons...

BUT.

A huge but.

The game just feels cheap. It's not fun at all. I want to like it, I understand that it's meant to be tactically challenging. But in the end it feels... cheap. I can target subsystems, overcharge my weapons, love every minute of attempting to drop shields while wearing away at that flak cannon so I can swoop in with my fighters.

But at the end of the day, the game feels like it hates me and is intentionally frustrating, unfair and not fun. I'm totally bummed about this. Because on paper, and even playing it, I love every minute and I love the control I have and what I'm supposed to do and be considering.

But in practice, I just played a few early missions multiple times and felt like, despite altering tactics and buildouts I couldn't help but frustratingly fail over and over and over again. And this is just at the START! The game feels like a terrible abusive relationship with someone who is amazing in bed. Loving all the options and playstyles, the deep systems and fabulous potential... but at the end of the day you smash your head against the wall wondering why you keep subjecting yourself to this sh@!. So bummed!