Heh, I missed this topic the first go.

When I play against people (not AI), sometimes I simple wait for them to launch a small raid against me, and spring an ambush.  Often, the opponent will try to retreat his his surviving ship(s) back to his base, and thats where a venture comes in, as it can follow at a safe distance.  Basically, he leads you right to his base without the need of 20 scouts.  Bear in mind that this strategy isn't a guaranteed success like the 20-scouts-looking-all-over-the-map, and can backfire if your enemy attacks you with a fleet larger than your ambush unit.  Also, you have to exercise restraint by letting some of the enemy survive the encounter.  If by chance you accidentally kill them all before you can hold your fire, just building a scout and sending it in the direction that they came from also works sometimes.

I use it often as well, but sometimes it gives away your position instead, and the micro is a pain in the arse if you try it while macroing your economy.

That's the exact strategy that the one I explained above is a counter to.

i never recall my recon fleets back to my H.Q. in such instances. i have a small recon & repairing outpost to distract your assault. and i raise 3 types of forces Simultaneously, 1st is recon & raiding, 2nd is inner defense, 3rd is outer defense & attack. typically force 1 has 3 light fleets, force 2 has 3 heavy fleets, and force 3 has 2 assault (very heavy) fleets, oh and a repair force at my repair base too.

You have to tech up fast to rush Defiants, but if you manage it you really have a leg up in that match.

Either that or your enemy is some kind of gaming deity...

hmhmhmhm.