The Strategy Guide

[Trivun]

Before you get your hopes up, this isn't a thread about walkthroughs and strategy guides, though if you do want to talk about them feel perfectly free to do so. No, this thread is about that most hallowed of gaming genres (well, hallowed now SC2 is out...), the Real-Time Strategy game. And, to a lesser extent, all other tactical or strategic games, including turn-based.

What I'm asking here, is basically, what strategy games of any kind you guys are into, and why? What advice would you give for particular games, tips and tricks for different situations? And most of all, share your stories of epic games with us, like the toughest battles you've faced or outstanding (or lucky) battles you've won or lost...

For me, I found a simple way to deal with sieges in Rome: Total War. When attacking, group all your cavalry together and keep them well back. Have all your infantry attack the walls with ladders or siege towers, as far away from the bulk of the enemy as possible. When the infantry are on the walls, have them attack the enemy on the towers and walls while having archers attack the flanks (using the curve of the walls to attack without hitting your own troops). As soon as the walls are taken and the gateway is yours, just charge your cavalry into the city and let them do the rest.

For defending, have archers on the walls and gateway, so no enemy can charge near the walls without taking heavy losses. Have cavalry ready to charge outside the city, and spearmen right by the gate entrance. If the enemy stay away from attacking the walls, get your entire army and either use hit-and-run tactics to lure the enemy closer, into your archers' range, or send all your forces outside and treat it as a standard field battle, but with somewhere to regroup (inside the walls) if you're overwhelmed...

 

[Nouw]

I'm into games like Dawn Of War and Starcraft.

Dawn Of War? Upgrade your Space Marines with Rocket Launchers. Four or More (depending on game version) is unstoppable.

Starcraft 2? Bunkers and Missile Turrets.

 

[The Stonker]

I'm into games like Dawn Of War and Starcraft.

Dawn Of War? Upgrade your Space Marines with Rocket Launchers. Four or More (depending on game version) is unstoppable.

Starcraft 2? Bunkers and Missile Turrets.

If you upgrade the speesh marines with rocket launchers then I will just get some monsters on the field (tyranid player).
And if you bunker up and do missile turrets then I will baneling your ass ^_^ Or Brood lord rush because my broodlord has longer range then your turrets and bunkers snap!

 

[Trivun]

I'm into games like Dawn Of War and Starcraft.

Dawn Of War? Upgrade your Space Marines with Rocket Launchers. Four or More (depending on game version) is unstoppable.

Starcraft 2? Bunkers and Missile Turrets.

Rocket launchers? Really? I often play as the Eldar in Dawn of War, and you can't hit a building that you can't see . That strategy is only really useful against vehicle-heavy forces, fighting with ground troops it's easy to overwhelm a rocket-based squad early on, and then you'll be at a disadvantage when trying to defend from a close up enemy (especially something firepower-heavy, like the Tau or Eldar), without risking your own troops being caught in the shockwave.

A good Dawn of War strategy is to play Imperial Guard, defending against the inevitable rush online with a network of garrisoned bunkers and turrets. Then, just keep up a strong defensive strategy until you can build the Mars Pattern Command. Grab the nearest Relic, ideally the one easiest to defend, then use that to build a Baneblade. As soon as I get the Baneblade when playing Imperial Guard, I become virtually unstoppable... In fact, as I recall, in Winter Assault there was a campaign mission in the Order Campaign that had you doing just that to defend an Eldar garrison as Imperial Guard...

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

I love most RTs games.

Rise of Nations, Dawn of War 1 and 2, Total War series, Command and Conquer, Warcraft 3, Battle for Middle Earth 1 and 2.

Normally I turtle like fuck... so I generally lose, but if I have a competent team mate then we sometimes win by him holding them back while I spam power units.

For the record.

Avatar Khaine vs. The Daemon Prince

Avatar Khaine always wins

 

[Trivun]

Avatar Khaine vs. The Daemon Prince

Avatar Khaine always wins

Just avoid any and all combat with the Daemon Prince, and you'll win anyway. He loses health when not in combat, doesn't he?

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

Avatar Khaine vs. The Daemon Prince

Avatar Khaine always wins

Just avoid any and all combat with the Daemon Prince, and you'll win anyway. He loses health when not in combat, doesn't he?

Haven't played for a while so I don't remember the specifics.

But I know the Nightbringer is freaking invincible, if you see him... run.

 

[Shockolate]

As I noted in a previous thread, I decided to help my friend out when he bought Starcraft 2.

We both have different ways of playing and do well together, after a couple of hit-and-miss strategies. I for one, have always been entirely reliant on High priced units, which makes me succeptable to early attacks and being unable to build an army quick enough, while he, focuses mainly on building a massive (atleast 100 ) army of Marines and Marauders, who, while good for a good chunk of the game, fall to stronger units.

Basically, he uses his giant army to distract the enemy, while I use my elite group of do-everything awesome units (aka Void Ray's) and sneak attack their base(s), when they usually have little air defense, because I'm fast at building my Tech tree's, while my friend pumps out marines faster than zerglings.

 

[Sampsa]

I jumped into Total War series as late as Medieval 2 and I've been playing the series since. Before that C&C series excluding GDI vs. NOD and tiberium goofiness I love it. Eventhough the best strategy is still to build and rush.

I also like Blitzkrieg series, Men of War, Theatre of War and World in conflict in the RTT side. I like these games because of their moderate game speed. Civilization (Civ II still one of the best games ever!) is too slow and Starcrafts' are too fast for me. Must have time to think and gloat over my enemies dead bodies.

And what the hell. I'll just include Heroes of Might and Magic 3 into the list. Strategy and magic. Now how cool is that?

 

[Shock and Awe]

I'm currently playing Sins of a Solar Empire, Company of Heroes, and Rome: Total War.

My one overarching strategy to RTS games is quality over quantity. Take for example in Sins of a Solar Empire. I never build up my fleet until I unlock the Heavy Cruiser, this is because all the ships before that are relatively light craft that cannot stand up well in a fight, heavy cruisers are the second most powerful class in the game next to Capitol Ships.

 

[RaphaelsRedemption]

Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance is my game.

And for me, the trick is balance. Balance your resources all the way. It is so easy to run out of mass or power, as you have the two resources to balance. Lose either, and you can't build. Lose power, and your shields die.

So for me, I know how much mass every unit takes to produce. I know how long it takes to build buildings with various numbers of engineers. It's not a learn the numbers game - I have played long enough that I can predict more or less accurately each time as it comes.

And that, more than any other trick, has let me win often, because my shields rarely fail and I usually have enough resources on hand to build anything I like, including the game-breaking experimental units. I'm not a twitch gamer - I am slow and not very good strategically. In fact, I suck at tactics. But if you have enough resources, you can make more, bigger and better units, and that can be enough to win

 

[infinity_turtles]

I'm more a fan of TBS and games of Grand Strategy, like Arsenal of Democracy, but I do play RTS now and then. Mainly Warlord's Battle Cry 3 though.

For Arsenal of Democracy, I don't really have any tips other than suck up to a powerful country that accepts Alliances if you play the little guy. Warlord's Battle Cry is hard to give suggestions for because class and race play such a big role in what works. In general though, keeping an eye on resource points and grabbing any that are undefended is rarely a bad idea. If the race is strongest in early or mid game, go for the resources you need. If it's an end game contender, focus more on the units the other player uses and rely on your starting resource nodes and those that happen to fall into your hands.

 

[Nouw]

I'm into games like Dawn Of War and Starcraft.

Dawn Of War? Upgrade your Space Marines with Rocket Launchers. Four or More (depending on game version) is unstoppable.

Starcraft 2? Bunkers and Missile Turrets.

Rocket launchers? Really? I often play as the Eldar in Dawn of War, and you can't hit a building that you can't see . That strategy is only really useful against vehicle-heavy forces, fighting with ground troops it's easy to overwhelm a rocket-based squad early on, and then you'll be at a disadvantage when trying to defend from a close up enemy (especially something firepower-heavy, like the Tau or Eldar), without risking your own troops being caught in the shockwave.

A good Dawn of War strategy is to play Imperial Guard, defending against the inevitable rush online with a network of garrisoned bunkers and turrets. Then, just keep up a strong defensive strategy until you can build the Mars Pattern Command. Grab the nearest Relic, ideally the one easiest to defend, then use that to build a Baneblade. As soon as I get the Baneblade when playing Imperial Guard, I become virtually unstoppable... In fact, as I recall, in Winter Assault there was a campaign mission in the Order Campaign that had you doing just that to defend an Eldar garrison as Imperial Guard...

Speaking of Invisible Buildings, I spent an hour trying to defeat Eldar that "popped up from nowhere" I finally got a Librarian and smashed their ass.

Then again, I never played against a Human. Multiplayer never worked for me.

 

[Trivun]

I'm into games like Dawn Of War and Starcraft.

Dawn Of War? Upgrade your Space Marines with Rocket Launchers. Four or More (depending on game version) is unstoppable.

Starcraft 2? Bunkers and Missile Turrets.

Rocket launchers? Really? I often play as the Eldar in Dawn of War, and you can't hit a building that you can't see . That strategy is only really useful against vehicle-heavy forces, fighting with ground troops it's easy to overwhelm a rocket-based squad early on, and then you'll be at a disadvantage when trying to defend from a close up enemy (especially something firepower-heavy, like the Tau or Eldar), without risking your own troops being caught in the shockwave.

A good Dawn of War strategy is to play Imperial Guard, defending against the inevitable rush online with a network of garrisoned bunkers and turrets. Then, just keep up a strong defensive strategy until you can build the Mars Pattern Command. Grab the nearest Relic, ideally the one easiest to defend, then use that to build a Baneblade. As soon as I get the Baneblade when playing Imperial Guard, I become virtually unstoppable... In fact, as I recall, in Winter Assault there was a campaign mission in the Order Campaign that had you doing just that to defend an Eldar garrison as Imperial Guard...

Speaking of Invisible Buildings, I spent an hour trying to defeat Eldar that "popped up from nowhere" I finally got a Librarian and smashed their ass.

Then again, I never played against a Human. Multiplayer never worked for me.

Whoa, how did you manage that? Surely the AI would have spent the entire time they were invisible churning out troops and hiding them in the Webway Gates? That's my usual strategy anyway, I get a massive force hidden in the Webway (with all my Webway Gates invisible), then teleport a Bonesinger to a weak point right behind the enemy lines. They build a Webway Gate in the enemy controlled areas, then that goes invisible, and as soon as my army is ready I send the entire force in to deal with the closest enemy base. Works a treat in places like Kasyr Lutien, where if one opponent falls the entire enemy defense structure is compromised and they suddenly have an extra front to fight on. Entire battles have been won or lost on that map thanks to a single strike against the weakest element. It's also how I've lost on occasion there, when a single ally of mine has been taken out and I've had to suddenly change my entire strategy on the fly - not an easy thing to do when you have an entire army committed elsewhere on the battlefield...