Difficulty level?

[Suicide Junkie]

Another good tactic is to keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

Use one enemy ship as a shield to block the incoming fire from the others. Not only do you take less damage, but when the shield ship gets destroyed, you're one step closer to victory.

[rstaats10]

If I can defeat them you should too. I am a 2 month noob to Starfury who has completed the 3 stock capmpaigns, battlestar galacatica, and the Star Blazers Mod (a really cool mod by the way!)

The hit and run tactic mentioned works well but also try and pick you fights near a base where you can fight then repair then fight,etc. Also carrying shield, amour, and hull repair components in your cargo bay is well worth it and can be the difference between victory or defeat. There are many more things to do to help by following the advice of the other posts and in the beginner guide.

Lastly do not give up. This game is a lot of fun and I am starting to tinker with modding now. It has a lot more to offer than a traditional stock game.

[Suicide Junkie]

I notice P&Nism isn't in your list there.
http://imagemodserver.mine.nu/other/MM/SF/mods/

[rstaats10]

I am playing People's Mod 0.4 right now. I have the P&N Campaigns and have looked at it and it looks real cool. It will be the next mod I play. I am tinkering with making a Stargate Mod. (no promises on that though since I seem a little confused on ship modeling)