Is there any reason to build small ships?

[godmars]

so if anything missiles and cannons don't work against small ships

Oddly its been the opposite for me. I've literally only been killed while testing small ships by missiles.

 

[Lecic]

Personally, I've found beams and missiles to be the most effective against small ships. They're too agile to take down with cannons.

Missiles meaning missile/beam, specifically. Swarmers can be outrun by fighters.

 

[Pacific_Jim]

Personally, I've found beams and missiles to be the most effective against small ships. They're too agile to take down with cannons.

Missiles meaning missile/beam, specifically. Swarmers can be outrun by fighters.

This. Partly because I'm not a great shot, but missile/beam is the most reliable way of hitting something small. This is especially so when you factor in the best place for a bigger ship to be is at a distance, where the agility difference doesn't count for as much.