I'm in the process of making a couple significant changes to the tactical model -- features related to setting up and balancing anti-missiles and torpedoes (though both of those weapon types remain broken, as of r12062).

The core change is inside the reactive fire rules. Point defense weapons will now always fire when hostile missiles or fighters enter their range. This means that escort designs should now be considerably more effective at helping to protect other ships in their fleet from incoming missiles / fighters.

Also -- unfired beam weapons (normal and heavy mounts), will now fire on ships that close to within medium range. In effect, simply abstaining from firing your beam mounts now places them in an "overwatch" mode, allowing them to fire on your opponent's turn.

Both changes should give you more tools for countering fast missile destroyers -- a class that has been fairly OP ever since their introduction in r11949.

I just played about half a game as Yorals and I like those changes very much! I mean VERY much.

Point defense coverage is better as opponents usually singe one ship out and bombard it with missiles. It helps if nearby ships can "lend" their point defenses. Of course, if the opponent does it, its not so cool, but...

Overwatching the guns is also a very cool feature. I simply like it.