Any tips and tricks?

[Potatoman]

I'm 30 hours into the game and so far I really like it besides the game's current issues. But it's a beta and it's to be expected.

I find myself struggling. Especially when playing combine. The key to success in this game seems to be aggressive and get the key points on the map locked down and fortified. The enemy is always quicker and when I meet him on the map he already has more units which are also more powerful. I get thrown back and he gets the majority of the map under lock down. I try to use as much resources on units as possible and not too much on buildings I don't need at the start. But still, I can't compete with the enemy player.

I honestly think I'm starting off wrong. Maybe it's a smart idea to upgrade flags right away or maybe it isn't. I don't know.

In what order do you start off the game with both combine and rebels? And do you have any other tips for mid and late game? Or other general tips?

I usually use a few turrets to keep areas under my control. I don't spam them, I only use a few. My biggest current issue is that the enemy spams the turrets everywhere and have radio towers or observers so I can't get behind enemy lines with any units to take care of the turrets. Would you consider it a cheap tactic to spam turrets or just smart? I find myself loosing territory when only using a few turrets because the enemy can break trough and then immediately spam turrets around.

I don't know what to do. The tactics I use doesn't seem to work that well.

I win more matches than I loose, but many of my opponents are very fresh players and they are camping out in their base. But once I meet more competent players it's the other way around. I loose hard.

I also see that some units for the rebels have smoke. What is it used for?

[JJ]

Get away with upgrading as many flags as you can before building anything. Many people build too much before upgrading flags, so they end up behind in economy the whole game. The early game's pretty important. If you don't get a good economy, it's hard to come back.

I don't find turrets that useful on large maps. I think getting map control with an army is more important.

[Ghostfire]

Early game really is the key to winning.
Get a bad start and it is very likely you will lose. That being said, there are a few things you can do to ensure a healthy start.

Typically while playing Combine, the first thing I do is send a Loyal Citizen out to grab checkpoints before anyone else.
The second thing I do is get two to three power generators and about 150 energy capacity. All of that is entirely besides my point though. Most people play as combine, mainly because they are pretty much superior in every aspect.

Considering this, most Combine players train a few Metro Cops ASAP to take some bases and hold them.
My tactic is much different, and it works very well. I train 3-4 Combine Soldiers right off the bat and send them to take bases. Immediately after I grab the AR2 upgrade and place my newly equipped soldiers in cover. If it is still early in the game, I may take a chance and move them up to take another base. The soldiers, when grouped, will demolish just about any force that it comes across that early in the game. I've had two soldiers, in cover with AR2's take out 6 Metrocops before dying.

While those soldiers are doing their jobs I am usually training a force of elites in the background.


When faced with an enemy who is barricaded into his base with many a manned turret to defend it, I train a few snipers, keep them back, and pick off the manned turret gunners. The second they are dead, my main force moves in and slaughters them.

As a combine, I have found that my two biggest threats are
Groups of Hunters
Vortigaunts

Currently I don't see why people are complaining about headcrab canisters being OP. They are too costly to use and hardly make a difference unless used tactically. The headcrabs themselves dont even do much, unless you get them on a tiny group of soldiers.


Mid to End game, when you take control of a capture point, take some steps to cement your hold on it. Station a few troops in cover, get some manned cover. Despite the position of the enemy, cover ALL of your sides. I can't tell you how many times it has been as easy as FLANKING the enemy's manned turrets and slaughtering their guards.


This game is like a school day.
Get a good, healthy breakfast, and you will be focused all day and learn new things.

[Potatoman]

Thanks for the help guys. I'll check it all out and try it in-game.

[Potatoman]

Also, ghostfire, how do you go about upgrading flags? Do you upgrade them at once, or just one flag or none at all?

I feel like you have to be really smart on how you use requisition early. I tried what jj said in the post above. I didn't really have much requisition to use on units right afterwards and the enemy pushed me back. But I was able to retake everything later because my flags were upgraded and I could afford many units. His flags were not. One upgraded flag is like 10x flags that are not upgraded. My opponent had used everything on units and I got ahead of him afterwards with my higher income which lead to more and better units later in game.

[Ghostfire]

Also, ghostfire, how do you go about upgrading flags? Do you upgrade them at once, or just one flag or none at all?

I feel like you have to be really smart on how you use requisition early. I tried what jj said in the post above. I didn't really have much requisition to use on units right afterwards and the enemy pushed me back. But I was able to retake everything later because my flags were upgraded and I could afford many units. His flags were not. One upgraded flag is like 10x flags that are not upgraded. My opponent had used everything on units and I got ahead of him afterwards with my higher income which lead to more and better units later in game.

Typically what I do is grab the base closest to me right off the bat, upgrade it immediately, and produce a few combine SOLDIERS, not metro cops. Usually 1-2, adding a few more later on. Make sure you get them into cover and tell them to HOLD position, you don't want them being led out like lambs to the slaughter.

After I've cemented a hold I usually grab the AR2 and equip them with it.

[PCreeper1]

Well this is a bit of a toughy, since you're wanting to be more combine, yet im more of a rebel player

[LONG POST AHEAD GUYS, IS THERE A WAY TO CUT THIS OFF?]

Oh and if you think this is hard what im about to tell you, i do all this all at the same time, so its a proper nightmare in preparing, but the payoff is amazing

But this is how i do it for the rebels (Same tactics could be applied to the combine but it would be harder imo)
Build engineers, not a lot, but not a little, were talking around 2/3 engineers, meanwhile get an engineer to build a billet then a barracks (For combine just build generators + storage then garrison), while thats happening get an engineer to build barricades at entrances, not too many, but not too little (you can start with 2 then increase as you go on, trust me if you build like a million barricades its gonna be a nightmare for everything, oh and keep them spread out)

So by this time hopefully the barracks should be done, start making some partisans (or metro cops), then make a few more engineers and send the engineers except for one to the scrap pile (unless you're combine, then don't do that) and build a billet next to the scrap pile, easy scrap collection point, if the partisans are done being, well built then send them over into cover for the engineers, its not much but if you have atleast 4, they'll be no problem (strength in numbers) until they start sending bigger and more powerful waves of enemies, but if you want, you can send half the number of partisans over to a flag and cap it (once you do, prioritize into upgrading, the faster and earlier you do this, the more requisition you'll have which = more units + buildings) (Same thing for metro cops too)

So now you have those idle engineers and barracks right? so you wanna start making better units and buildings, Start making a munitions depot (Armory) and then start producing some rebels (combine soldiers), when they are complete, if you did build barricades, send them into it, if you built some manned turrets, great, but you'd want some partisans for those, and once that munitions depot (armory) is done, spend the time into AR2's, you want that extra damage (Yes shotguns can spread damage but it has weaker damage and you wanna kill the enemies fast, but if you want, mix 'em up, i just go AR2 alone because of the damage > speed) aswell as grenades, because you might wanna get a rebel to the partisans if they are not dead yet, incase a big wave comes, you can knock the wave out with a couple 'o 'nades (However with the combine, metro-cops should be more dependent with making some floor turrets, They aren't useful apparently but they are incredibly useful with side defense's, but you shouldn't be discouraged from making combine soldiers to help with the metro-cops)

Those idle engineers are gonna be a pain, so get them to making some more buildings at this point, i'd be going for triage centers, however right now its up to you for what you're gonna be making, if your a rebel, focus on the billets mostly, Special ops are great if you're wanting to go full blown aggressive, however its very time costly and thats not something you'll have a lot off

All i can say is go ahead and build one of each building 'n such, upgrading and defending flags are a high priority, i mean heres a list of what is a high priority and what is a low priority (10 being high and 1 being low)

10 - Defending the base (barricades, traps, etc.)
9 - Flags and resources (Upgrading too)
8 - Buildings
7 - Units
6 - Attacking the enemy
5 - Suppression (Sending some units every so often to keep the enemy under pressure)
4 - Scouting the area
3 - preparing an army (this is low early game, late game this goes between 8 and 9)
2 - Capturing all the flags (keyword: ALL)
1 - Deciding who to attack (Really this is just a case of do you wanna fight the guy on the left/right or the guy on the top/bottem (or the person opposite you if its a 1 v 1)

Im sure theres many things i've forgotten but heres a quick sample of how NOT to build a barricade (you'll see why)
http://youtu.be/CjYMFcWh0Ww?t=20m21s (Shameless video promotion? Shameless video promotion!)

[JJ]

I think that build order is hurting you pcreeper. Spending money on stuff like barricades to defend your base is a waste because your base doesn't give you many resources and it makes you less of a threat. If you upgrade your flags and get a lot of units early on, you don't need defensive structures and you get map control. My goal is to get a better economy and then get scrap to tech up if it's safe.

[PCreeper1]

I think that build order is hurting you pcreeper. Spending money on stuff like barricades to defend your base is a waste because your base doesn't give you many resources and it makes you less of a threat. If you upgrade your flags and get a lot of units early on, you don't need defensive structures and you get map control. My goal is to get a better economy and then get scrap to tech up if it's safe.

Well its the same tactics i've been using since the before steam release and its never failed me once, i mean...nevermind, we both have different goals and objectives, you focus more on map control and capturing flags to then get "a better economy and then get scrap to tech up if it's safe." while i focus more on keeping a strong defense then capturing flags with strength (Same early on, i send atleast a few units to get a flag), and even then i have to make some barricades so i have a less chance of losing the flag, same thing with scrap, however...

When it comes to the combine, it becomes a WHOLE new story, i don't even come close to following what i do for the rebels for the combine, sure i mentioned some things you could do for the combine, but as i just said "i don't even come close to following what i do for the rebels for the combine"

[BlitherPaladin9]

I actully came up with ALOT of them a few months ago, but sandern wasent really intrested since he was busy with other things. I still have the text file with some of them, here is some that I had:
Tip: Harass the enemy's economy and workers, try to damage their resource structures and take out worker units in order to damage the enemys Infrastructure!
Tip: Combine doesent need shelter buildings to increase the unit capacity!
Tip: If you have a strong economy, your units are expandable. Make sure they do not get killed but dont feel sorry if they do!
Tip: Every building is unique. Click on every building to check for upgrades or perks for your troops and base!
Tip: Scount the map as much as possible, see where your enemy is located and if they have control over anything!
Tip: One worker builds one building, be sure to use other avalible workers to build multiple buildings at onece!
Tip: Spend your resources as much as possible, unless you are saving up for something of intrest.

[VigorousSnow]

A little late to this topic? No? Good, I will let you bask in my infinite wisdom and tactical brilliance.


First thing's first, increase your population immediately, don't worry about capturing points, they won't let you own more troops at a time anyways.

Then, spam nothing but your basic building units, until you can't have any more. Make sure to not construct any other type of unit, they would ruin this strategy.

Then once you cannot build anymore, attack move them to the enemies' base, don't make them all attack a single target at once, you don't want to kill the enemy army too quickly.

When the enemy destroys your base, say that you were only messing around, and that it wasn't a serious game, but that you would've won if you actually tried.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

By the way, this is now mine, if any of you say that you came up with this tactic, I'll sue you so hard you'll....well... you'll have no money.

[Ennui]

Most games are decided in the first 5 minutes even if it takes another 15 to finish the game. Map control is the only thing that really matters.

[Astralnaut]

my combine early game tactics:
1)build 2-3 citizens and grab flags all the way map as much as you can
2)build power generator
3)build energy cell
4)fortify flag
5)build garrison (and start building combine soldiers)
6)build more power generators
7)build armory and get AR2
upgrade your combine soldiers with AR2 and hit the enemy flag points
also dont forget to scout the enemy

EDIT: there is a rebel early game tactics: get barracks and make 6 partisans with few engineers then attack enemy base
built turret near enemy base to put him under siege then take all flags.