SWTA Manual - Spring

Star Wars Total Annihilation: Spring

Official Manual

Version 1.0

Introduction

Welcome to the Instruction Manual for Star Wars Total Annihilation: Spring. Please note that this manual is rather long, and we certainly don't expect anyone to read it all in one sitting; it is here more as a reference for you, which you can return to whenever you are in need of some information. There are sections of this manual which may not apply to you, should you be familiar with SWTA, or Spring, and therefore can be skipped. If you are both new to SWS and Spring, it is highly advised that you at least skim over the majority of this manual.

Star Wars Total Annihilation, or SWTA for short, was a mod that began all the way back when Total Annihilation was first released, in 1997. It has gone through a series of successionary leaderships (or what the liberal media like to call 'bloody coups'), and by the release of the final "Advanced Fighter Pack", SWTA had become arguably the most popular Total Conversion for Total Annihilation, with download counts numbering well in the thousands.

The release of Spring meant that SWTA could very easily be ported over into that 3D engine. While the initial port was plagued with errors, a comprehensive bug-killing and re-balancing effort made our first public SWTA: Spring (SWS for short) release, v1.0, bug-free.

However, as the initial modification effort was intended for the top-down and limited Total Annihilation engine, many of the models are simplistic; and some have got parts that wouldn't be seen from TA's top-down view removed entirely. SWS is an ongoing project, and is by no means complete. We are working at the moment on remodelling all of the units in SWS, starting with the ugliest ones from SWTA. You will already be able to see that the Stormtroopers and Rebel infantry have been given facelifts, and a few models have been replaced. For example, the Compact Assault Pod (CAP) has been thrown out in favour of the far better looking All Terrain Reconnaissance Transport (ATRT).

Not only are we intending on replacing all of the models, but we also plan to add new units for each side, and rebalance according to our impressions of the online experience. The SWS team, as the SWTA team before it, prides itself on strong game design and on a fair, yet asymmetrical balance.

Our short-term goals include finalising current balance for play in the Spring Multiplayer community, remodeling as many of the units that most need face-lifts, and completing the Super Weapons for each side. While many of these Super Weapons are under wraps at the moment, you can be sure that they will feature your favourite beasts from the movies, including the formidable AT-AT from the opening battle of The Empire Strikes Back, as well as Jedi and Sith units.

Our long-term goals include considering breaking the current sides into four separate factions, so as to include the two sides from the prequels, the Separatists and the Republic. However, this will not be attempted until all of our short-term goals have been completed, so do not expect these to happen too soon.

As a final note, please understand that SWS plays very differently from TA, or the TA-esque modifications for Spring (XTA, Absolute Annihilation, etc). We are not intending to make TA with a Star Wars skin; we are intending to make a stand-alone game that plays of its own design. Strategies that might have worked in other modifications are by no means guaranteed to work in SWS. We hope, however, that you will spend the time learning how to play SWS, as we feel you will be aptly rewarded. That you are reading this manual shows that you have taken the first steps.

Read on, and I'll see you in the battle room!

Installation

Multi-player Instructions

SWS is a modification for the Spring engine. Spring is made by the Swedish Yankspankers, and can be located here: http://spring.clan-sy.com. You require the latest version of Spring to play SWS. If you are new to Spring, please consult the following section, "Playing the Game", for further information.

To install this modification, simply place StarWars01.sd7 - which can be downloaded via FileUniverse, at this location - in the mods sub-directory of your Spring folder. The file is 11 megs in size. You require the latest version of Spring for SWTA to work, which can be located here.

Then, simply open up your Spring Directory, and run the Spring Battle Room exe.

Single-player Instructions

Single-Player Artificial Intelligence

Please note that the single-player AI, "AAI" works with SWTA.

AAI will actually learn what units to use as it plays, by determining its success at various tasks; so the more you play it, the better it will become!

The following is an excerpt from the AAI installation guide:

Installation: Simply copy aai.ddl into your /aidll/globalai/ folder and make sure, the following subfolders exist:
\globalai\aai -> readme, faq and different logs
\globalai\aai\learn -> learn files
\globalai\aai\cfg -> config files
\globalai\aai\cache -> map data (metal spots, water, etc)

If these folders do not exist, aai will crash!

Please note that there are hardly any buildtables included in this release. AAI should make better unit choices after a while. For further information, have a look at the AAI FAQ (included within the AAI download).

Now, in order to play this you need to do the following:

Run TASClient.exe
Connect to the server (plug button in the top left corner)
Click the "battle screen" button
Click "host battle"
Ensure that you have selected "Star Wars 1.0" as your mod
It is advised you put a password on your game if you wish to play alone
Click "host"
In the bottom right hand corner, click the button "add bot"
Ensure that the AI dll selected is "aai.dll"
Once you have named your Bot, picked its colour and given it a team (make sure it is a different one to you!), click "add bot"
You may add as many bots as you wish, so long as the map can support them
Once you are ready, tick "I'm ready", and then the "start" button

AAI is developed by Alexander Seizinger, and is not supported by the SWS team. We will strive, should you have any difficulties, to help you. See the Contact Us section at the end of this manual.

Single-Player Spawn

The following will still work, but is outdated due to the previous information:

It is possible to play SWTA in a single player mode through the use of Spring's "Randomly Spawned Enemies" function. This is where Spring reads a script, and will spawn enemies randomly around the map (hence 'random' refers to WHERE the units are spawned, not WHAT units are spawned).

There are two spawn files, which should give you a proper run for your money. I have yet to beat either side, and have taken a good pasting in the process. The AI comes in waves of units, each wave being more powerful than the one before. Sometimes one wave is intended to soften you up for a larger wave coming. If you are given a moment's respite, it means that there is an even bigger wave on its way. I'm not sure if it is possible to survive the final wave; come tell as about it at server: irc.gnug.org channel #swta if you have.

Now, the process of installing this is very simple, but you must understand it if you are to try both spawn files, as well as switch between multiplayer and single player gaming:

Move (or copy) starwars01.sd7 from /mods/ directory to the same directory as Spring.exe DON'T FORGET TO RETURN THE FILE TO THE /MODS/ DIRECTORY WHEN YOU WISH TO PLAY ONLINE AGAIN!

Contained within the zip are two notepad files other than this readme, called:

IMPSPAWN.txt
REBSPAWN.txt

Place these in the same directory as Spring.exe

Should you wish to fight a GALACTIC EMPIRE opponent, you must rename IMPSPAWN.txt to SPAWN.txt

Open Spring.exe and select "yes" when you are prompted as to whether you wish to be server or not.

Select the "RANDOM ENEMIES" script using the arrow keys, and press enter.

Select the map you wish to play on.

Note that the type of map you select largely determines the difficulty of the game. If you pick an easily defensible map, it will be far easier to survive than in an open map. ENEMY UNITS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO REACH YOU IF YOU SELECT A MAP WITHOUT CLEAR GROUND PATHS TO YOU FROM ALL PLAYER SPAWN POINTS. Hence you are advised to avoid maps containing large amounts of water.

Start the game, and see how long you can last. J

Should you wish to fight a REBEL ALLIANCE opponent, the process is the same, except you rename REBSPAWN.txt to SPAWN.TXT .

Spring simply reads whatever "spawn.txt" file is in your directory, and runs it when you select the "RANDOM ENEMIES" script.

Remember, should you wish to swap from the Imperial opponent to the Rebel opponent, you must rename your current (imperial) SPAWN.txt to IMPSPAWN.txt (or anything other than SPAWN.txt) before you rename REBSPAWN.txt to SPAWN.txt .

Enjoy!

Playing the Game

This section is intended for players of SWS who have little or no experience playing Spring. SWS follows Spring's basic resource and gameplay structure, which will be explained in detail in the following section.

Getting To Your First Game

(Note that much of this section is based on the Getting Started page)

STEP 1: Is your computer ready?

Currently Spring is only compatible with Windows Operating systems. In theory, it's compatible with all 9x or later OSes, but since we're still beta, we'll call it "hit and miss".

There is a Linux Port in the works, and you can join the mailing list if you would like to know how it's progressing.

You will need some kind of 3D hardware acceleration, it needs to have the latest OpenGL drivers (which means, providing the card is recent enough, the latest drivers from your cards manufacturer). You will also need DirectX installed.

STEP 2: Download the Current Installer

Click Here to go to the downloads page. Download the Regular installer option. Run it and install it somewhere on your computer. In theory if, at this point, you read the stuff in the "docs" folder, then you will know what to do next.

STEP 3: Make Sure the Game Works on Your Computer

Move or Copy "StarWars01.sd7" to your /Taspring/ directory (it should be in your /Taspring/mods/ directory). Remember to move this back later (you don't have to do this if you have copied the file so that it exists in both directories) so that you can play online! Browse to the installation folder and double-click "spring.exe". Choose "yes" on the "do you want to be a server" dialog, choose the "Commanders" script with the arrow keys and enter, choose a map with the arrow keys and enter, press enter to force start the game.

STEP 4: Gameplay Basics

When the game loads, you'll be looking at your TMB, your "commander". The TMB is a construction unit, meaning it is responsible for building structures. If the game is not already paused, press the Pause key on your keyboard to do so. Now look at the top of the screen, towards the words Metal (Referred to in SWS as "minerals", and henceforth throughout this manual) and Energy. The bars represent your current stores of resources, with 0 stores being represented by an absent bar, and full resources represented by a full bar. These bars will rise and fall depending on your resource income and expenditure.

Next to each bar are two numbers, one in green and one in red. These are your resource intake/outtake meters. The green represents how much of that resource you produce every "tick," a tick being one second at Game Speed Normal. Similarly, the red number is how much of that resource you are spending per tick. At the start, you should be producing +1.0 minerals and +25 energy, and using -0.0 minerals and -1 energy.

The two resources differ in the following way: the cost of a unit in Minerals is proportional to that unit's armoring and firepower. More advanced units cost more minerals than less advanced ones. Minerals are not used for anything other than unit/building construction. You acquire minerals by placing Mineral Extractors on Mineral Rich deposits, which some times show up on maps as silvery veins of metal on the ground. When you select a Mineral Extractor, all mineral deposits on the map will be highlighted by a bright green swathe of colour. The more intense this is, the more Minerals you will be able to mine from this region. Press F4 to bring up this Heads Up Display without having to select a Mineral Extractor. Press F4 again to turn it off. On a large mineral patch, an Imperial Mineral Extractor should produce around 2.5 minerals per tick. Bare in mind that Mineral Extractors are often able to mine the region around them, not just the region directly below them. This means that a single metal extractor is able to cover a wide area of Minerals. You are able to see how far your extractor is able to mine (it varies from map to map) by a circle which surrounds the Mineral Extractor when you are deciding where to build it. It is important to note that if one Extractor is mining minerals, no other mine can then mine those minerals as well, meaning that you have to strategically place your extractors in order ensure maximum efficiency.

Energyis more abundant than minerals, and thus the cost in energy of constructing a unit is typically several times larger than the mineral cost of that unit. Energy is produced by the various power plants which are further explained under the chapter "Comprehensive Unit Guide". In addition to unit/structure construction, Energy also powers the functions of your units. Units take energy to move and fire laser-based weapons. Although it is a small amount, it can quickly add up, so be sure that you have ample energy supplies for your army.

Now for the "big picture" of the SWTA resource system:

When you start construction on a unit or structure, the resources for that unit is slowly drawn from your stores on a tick-by-tick basis.
The combined draining of your resources from several construction projects is represented by the red numbers next to your resource bars.
Using more resources than you are producing is not a fatal procedure. As long as the drain does not continue forever, you are ok. That's why you have resource stores, so that you can go for periods of time with less production than consumption.

To increase your stores, build Storage Facilities. This is useful for saving extra resources, rather than let them go to waste because you don't have the storage space for them. Resource wastage should be avoided; those resources could be going into something useful, rather than going to waste!
If you get to the point where you have 0 resource stores and are using more than you are producing, you will enter a 'building stall," also called a "nano-stall." Everything will produce much slower than normal, and you are advised to stop construction projects until your resource intake/outtake is balanced again.

Now that you understand the resource system, let's get into gameplay. Select your TMB. When you select a unit or structure than can build other units/structures, their build menu will appear to the left of your screen. Simply click on the structure you wish to build, and click where on the map you wish to place it. For now, click on the Fusion Generator in the upper-right build spot. While holding Shift, click twice on the terrain near your commander where the outline of the box is green. This signifies that the terrain is suitable to place that structure on. Holding Shift while you click allows you to "queue" up many structures at a time, rather than clicking on the build-pictures for that building each time. Note that to achieve a similar effect, you can hold shift, then clickonce on the ground, and drag your mouse, to order your commander to build a "row" of structures.

After your TMB starts building the first of the Generators, click on the Mineral Extractor build-picture. On your main screen, there will now appear the Resource Heads Up Display, which will indicate the location of metal patches by green blotches. While again holding Shift, click on the two Mineral Patches closest to your TMB. Once the TMB is done constructing the second Generator, it will begin to construct your Extractors. As you queue up more buildings, the TMB will process those commands in the same order they were given. The same process is used for Move, Patrol, Repair, Reclaim, and Attack commands.

Now have your TMB build a Barracks. To build a Barracks, click on the small right-arrow near the build menu. This will let you access the next page of the TMB's build menu, on which the Barracks is located. Click on the Barracks, then place it on the battlefield (holding Shift if your TMB is still building the Extractors, so that it doesn't stop what it is doing in order to build the barracks, and waits till it finishes all of its previous orders first).

Select the Barracks. While holding Shift, click once on the top-most Stormtrooper picture. Holding shift will let you queue 5 units at a time. Holding ctrl+shift will que up 100 units at a time; but you won't need to do this for a little while. Then click on the Construction Droid picture. Units are naturally queued when built from a lab; you do not need to hold Shift like you do with structures. As soon as all of the Stormtroopers are finished, select one of them and press Control+Z. Doing so selects all of your units of the same type. Then press Control+1, which will group your units into Group 1. To select these troops at a later time, press 1. If you want to assign all units built by a specific lab to the same Group, simply assign that lab to a Group. All units afterwards built by that lab will be automatically added to the Group. Try this.

Select your Stormtroopers and tell them to move away from your base, towards your enemy's, using the Mini-Map in the upper-left corner as a guide. Note that in the current version of spring, you cannot give orders via the Mini-map, only on the main screen. As soon as your units get in-range of a unit they consider a "threat", they will open fire while still moving. Maneuver your units so that they continually fire, while still making them hard-to-hit targets. Eventually you will either kill the enemy commander, or have all your units killed. In either case, you've just seen how battles in SWTA take place.

Don't venture online until you figure out how to make your Commander build buildings and your buildings build units, and manage to find and kill the other Commander on the map and get the "You Win" message. For a more fulfilling single player experience, please consult the "Single Player Instructions" under the previous chapter ("Installation").

It is also highly advised that in this "sandbox" mode, you explore all the different buildings and units available to you, so that you know how to access them, how they look, and how the work.

If you wish to try the rebels in this mode, do the following:

Hit the ENTER button

Type: .cheat (including the period)

Hit the ENTER button once again

You should be presented with the command "Cheating activated!"

Hit the ENTER button

Type: .team 1

Hit the ENTER button

You will now switch sides, so that you are commanding the rebel commander.

Should you wish to switch back to the Imperial side, simply enter the command .team 0 to return.

It can be quite fun to play around in this sandbox mode, and build enormous defences and then switch sides and try and destroy them. It is a good way to learn, too.

Quick Command Guide Shift-Middle Click to change views, middle click activates free-look, arrows keys, moving your cursor to the edge and the scroll wheel controls your camera. If you've ever played Total Annihilation before in it's default control mode, you will know what to do next. For a very thorough command and control list, visit the Using Spring page

STEP 5: Playing Online - TASClient.exe

Playing is quite simple. Just make sure you are connected to the internet, then double-click on the tasclient icon (it may have been put on your desktop, but it will definitely be in your start menu). Once you are in the client app, you will need to use the options button at the top of the window to set up an account. From there, just click the little button in the upper left section of the screen to connect to the server. Assuming your firewalls aren't excessively paranoid, it will make a noise and you will be put into the main discussion channel. You can then choose a game from the bottom pane, or chat in the top one.

STEP 6: Hosting Online - TASClient.exe

In order to host a game, you must open the "Battle Window" by clicking on the "Battle Screen" button. Once there, you will need to click on the "Host battle" button. The bar at the top defines the ammount of players you can have (2-16), next is the game's name, followed by a dropdown box with a list of your currently installed mods, the port the server will host on, and if you wish to lock your server from outsiders- you can also add a password.

Be sure to select the "Star Wars 1.0" as the mod you wish to play with!

You've started your game, people joined, and you started it! Great! But, what if once you're ingame, everyone elses' name is stays red for several mins? That means they were unable to connect to your game. (oh noes!) This normally means you have a firewall blocking access to your computer from the outside. Try choosing a different hosting option in the Hosting window, such as Hole Punching or Locked Ports, or consult http://www.portforward.com/routers.htm if you need to know how to open ports on your router. Choose any game in the list, it doesn't matter, just be sure to use the port 8245 on UDT(not TCP), instead of what the game's listing says to use.

And those are the basics.

Comprehensive Unit Guide

The Following is a guide to every unit currently released for SWS, as of version 1.0. Please bear in mind that many of these units are slated for the chopping block, while others are likely to appear in their place. Note that the descriptions are guides only, and that a unit might prove to be exceptionally good in a role that it was never intended for. Also understand that SWS is not about having one unit to accomplish a task. A powerful army is not comprised of a single unit, but of many different units, with strengths complimenting the weaknesses of other units. For example, an ATST:as might be excellent at destroying a base, but when confronted with massed infantry, or air units, it is in big trouble; it needs supporting units. Consider these combinations in mind when you are perusing this Unit Guide.

For detailed statistics on every unit available in SWS, please visit Unit Universe. Be sure to select "SWTA" from the mod list available.

Galactic Empire (IMP)

Units

TMB (Tracked Mobile Base): the TMB is the Empire's main base-construction machine. TMB's are often dropped by a Star Destroyer into unfriendly territory to colonize and pacify the area. Armed with a light anti-infantry laser, the TMB is not a weapon of war, and is better suited to staying behind the front line and building support infrastructure, using its powerful building tools to assist in construction of more advanced structures. Do not be fooled by its apparent weakness, though. At the opening of the game, the commander is your only armoured unit capable of firing; strategic use of its defensive capabilities might be the difference between life and death in the early game.

Barracks: a training center where new recruits into the Imperial ground forces are trained and armed. Infantry are small, quick, and lightly-armed, making them ineffective individually but able to inflict massive damage when grouped together. Infantry are best used as mixed forces; rather than build only one type of trooper, mix each type together to create a well-balanced fighting force. Infantry do not become obsolete as the game progresses; they are intended to be used throughout the game. Later on, mix infantry forces with your vehicles to provide a forward screen, and to draw fire from your more expensive weapons of war.

Construction Droid: a light worker with the ability to build structures the TMB cannot. Vital to any army wishing to progress past ground troops. Construction Droids build slowly and maneuver slowly, so using groups of droids to work on each structure is recommended. You can also use Droids to assist your factories in constructing your units, speeding production without having to construct an additional factory. It is highly advisable to have numerous droids operating on numerous functions. The Construction Droid forms the backbone of your warmachine, and can accomplish many tasks; having just a few may not provide you with enough strategic flexibility.

Stormtrooper: the infamous Stormtroopers, feared across the galaxy for their fearless, unquestioning loyalty to the Emperor. Wielding a light laser rifle, the Stormtrooper is the backbone of the Imperial infantry forces. While not being as powerful as his more specialised kin, he is inexpensive to build, reasonably accurate, and deadly in groups. The Stormtrooper provides his commander with a reliable infantryman capable of playing a strong supporting role to Imperial Ground Forces.

Repeater-Rifle Soldier: armed with a repeating ("rapid-fire") rifle, the RR Soldier has a stronger, longer-ranged weapon than the standard Stormtrooper. His rifle has further range than any other ground troop, allowing him to attack from a distance. His range comes at a cost, though; his larger weapon slows down his movement, allowing enemy troops to overrun him as he attempts to keep his range advantage established. Furthermore, the nature of the repeating rifle means that his accuracy is far diminished; while a full round of repeating blasts is more powerful than the standard stormtrooper's weapon, it is unlikely that he will score many hits against smaller, more nimble targets.

Flame-Thrower Soldier: the deadliest of ground troops. His flamethrower, while short-ranged, will make quick work of any trooper he gets close to. They are also a good threat to vehicles and hovercraft. Mixing FT Soldiers among Stormtroopers and RR Soldiers can help to disguise their damage potential, allowing them to sneak into range while the enemy fires on the weaker troops. Beware, the explosive chemicals this Soldier carries result in a powerful explosion upon death. The FT Soldier is a powerful tool for the wily Imperial commander. Mixed in with a balanced army, this unit can mingle with enemy forces during a melee and wreak havoc on far more expensive units than itself.

Rocket Soldier: the Empire's main mobile anti-aircraft support exists in the form of the Rocket Soldier. Armed with an Concussion Missile Launcher, the Rocket Soldier is a threat to all aircraft. His rockets are useless against ground targets, however, so escorts are needed to protect Rocket Soldier groups. An essential part of any attack force.

Mobile E-web Trooper: this trooper carries a deployable E-web blaster similar, although somewhat inferior, to the one buildable by the TMB. The bulkiness of the E-web Trooper's weapon slows him down tremendously compared to other troopers, but his lack of speed is made up for with his weapon. The trooper must stop and deploy his turret before firing, but once deployed the Mobile E-web Trooper provides rapid-fire support to any attack or defense force. Intelligent use of this trooper can prove decisive in the early stages of the game, as the imperial commander can relocate his defensive lines to suit his expanding territory, while the immobile e-web variant remains unused in the bowels of one's territory.

Speeder Bike: a light, very fast scout vehicle. Best used scouting for enemy defenses and light raiding missions. The Speeder Bike can traverse over water, making it an effective surprise-attacker on terrain with large bodies of water. The bike is armed with a light laser and is also built by the Vehicle Plant. Speeder Bikes prove to be excellent pickets, positioned on patrol routes on the extremes of ones territory, where they can provide an early warning for incoming assaults.

All Terrain Reconnaissance Transport: Designed primarily as a reconnaissance vehicle, the ATRT is a light bipedal walker, also transforms a single trooper into a formidable fighting machine. Its armor is heavy compared to troopers, but is far less than its larger vehicle and walker cousins. The ATRT is armed with a medium blaster that has been known to incinerate more than one victim in a single shot on occasions. It is a prime defensive weapon for the early game, where it can discourage infantry raiding parties. Its commanding view on the early-game battlefield allows it to bust through lighter defences (such as the E-web and Medium Repeater Blasters) and wreak havoc on defenseless innards.

Droid Production Facility: constructs attack droids made famous during the wars between the Republic and the Trade Federation and its allies. All droids cost an amount of energy to run at all times, but can be constructed extremely quickly and for fewer resources than human soldiers. The Facility itself provides enough energy for a small droid force, but additional generators are needed for larger forces. All droids have much smaller sight ranges than human troopers, reflecting their dependence upon sentient guidance. Droids are powerful players in the Imperial early game. A droid force can be assembled and unleashed upon your unsuspecting enemy before they can organise a response; but beware â€“ droids have many pitfalls which can be exploited; not the least of which being that the Droid Production Facility is effectively a dead end on the build tree. It has no construction unit, and so by building one, you cannot expand any further from there, and will have to build a Barracks to access further construction capability.

Probe Droid: a small, stealthy droid designed by the Empire to track down hidden Rebel outposts. Probe Droids can patrol unexplored territory quickly and effectively, discovering enemy units and structures faster than other non-aircraft units. Their sensor ability allows them to be used as a cheap forward listening post. Because they are designed to remain unsalvageable upon detection, Probe Droids will self-destruct if any hostile units discover them. For this reason, they are best used alone.

Battle Droid: a basic attack droid used extensively during the Trade Federation's invasion of the planet Naboo. Battle Droids are extremely cheap and very quick to build, allowing an Imperial player to produce massive armies in a short time. They are armed with a blaster similar to the standard Stormtrooper rifle. Other than its far superior advantages in production, a Battle Droid is inferior in every way to its living counterpart.

Battle Droid Captain: designed to lead armies of Battle Droids in the field, Captains are given upgraded sensors and logic-processing units, giving them a larger sight radius than standard Battle Droids. The presence of Captains enables other droids to fire upon enemies they might not otherwise detect. Captains have slightly more armor than regular Battle Droids, but not enough to make them resistant to more than a handful of blaster shots. A Battle Droid can be differentiated on the field by its larger stature and communications antenna. While less efficient to produce en-masse as a battle force, mixing captains in with your regular droid forces will increase their efficiency several fold.

Super Battle Droid: designed with the faults of the regular Battle Droid in mind, the Super Battle Droid is a heavily-armed-and-armored fighting machine. The Super Battle Droid is much more resistant to laser fire than either Battle Droid, and has a rapid-fire laser that draws on the unit's superior energy system, giving it a more-powerful weapon. They still rely on Captains for extended sight though, and thus are not truly autonomous. Super Battle Droids are excellent when mixed with regular droid forces as the game progresses to give them more bite among the heavier players.

Destroyer Droid: the Destroyer Droid, or Droideka, was the pride of Trade Federation engineers. Fearsome in appearance, the Droideka was made famous by its rolling movement; though it could walk short distances, the droid always curled into a fast-moving ball when moving over large areas. It is armed with two heavy blaster cannons and a personal shield generator that gives it excellent armor. The Droideka is a versatile unit; a heavy infantry unit that can both hold its own in a firefight, as well as using its speed for quick response and raiding.

Mark 1 Droid Walker: used extensively as a patrol guard in Imperial bases throughout the galaxy, the Mark 1 walker also sees action on the battlefield as a light walker with respectable armament. With medium speed, the Mark 1 serves best as an escort protecting droids and troopers against larger vehicles. It carries a rapid-fire laser cannon on each arm, which it uses at close range to chew into enemy armor.

Vehicle Plant: produces lower-level tanks and atmospheric aircraft. Vehicles are the armoured motor-driven designs employed by the Imperial Ground Forces. They are largely of simpler design than their heavier Walker cousins, and as such are cheaper and easier to build. A Vehicle Plant offers much in the way of versatility for the Imperial General; while it may not have the hard-hitting units of the Walker Plant, it provides far greater options, each offering strategic and tactical breadth to the Imperial arsenal.

Construction Droid: a light worker with the ability to build structures the TMB cannot. Vital to any army wishing to progress past ground troops.

Speeder Bike: a light, very fast scout vehicle. Best used scouting for enemy activity and light raiding missions. Can traverse over water. The Speeder Bike is also built by the Barracks.

Compact Assault Vehicle (CAV): the CAV is a highly mobile anti-infantry vehicle. Its light laser is very effective at stopping infantry in their tracks, but does less damage against heavy armour. It is a cheaper and lighter alternative to the TIE Crawler. The presence of a single CAV can quickly turn the tide in an otherwise infantry-only war. A fast moving vehicle is often a far more effective alternative to a slow moving heavy unit, as it can provide far more tactical flexibility.

TIE Crawler (TIE/C): the mainstay assault tank of the Empire. The TIE Crawler is a slow, armored tank that underpins many offensive operations. While its laser leaves room for desire, it has thick armoring resistant to all but the most intensive barrage. TIE/C's are effective at destroying anti-infantry batteries that might otherwise stop waves of troops. Its sturdy, compact frame allows it to travel underwater. The heavy armour of a TIE/C is excellent for drawing fire from more fragile units until they get into a firing position.

Combat Cloud Car: light atmospheric fighter. Armed with a light laser, the Combat Cloud Car is a small threat on its own, but in groups can be very effective at destroying resource centers and factories behind enemy lines. They have very weak armoring though, and are best kept well away from AA fire. The low-altitude nature of the cloud car, and the fact that it is intended for atmospheric combat makes it capable of spotting and targeting vital systems on the complicated Walker designs. Being able to access an aerial unit from a vehicle lab is a potentially very large advantage, if used correctly.

Mobile Artillery: an essential addition to the Imperial war machine, the Mobile Artillery provides a hovercraft platform capable of firing high-damage energy bursts over large distances. The Mobile Artillery piece will attempt to fire while mobile, but because of the tremendous recoil caused by firing these bursts, the Artillery must stop and deploy before firing in order to assure any reliable accuracy; deployment is automatic upon stopping. The Mobile Artillery out-ranges all combat units, and most defences. Its high power shells are a necessity when attempting to break heavy entrenchments, and are excellent when supporting heavy units during protracted engagements.

Republic Battle Tank: the Battle Tank saw extensive use during the Clone Wars between the Republic and its enemies. While slowly becoming obsolete, it is still often relied upon in modern times by Imperial armies for its medium armor, hovercraft ability, and heavy blaster cannons. The tank carries a turret atop its cockpit similar to the TIE Crawler's. Its pride, however, lies in its twin blaster cannons; though they can only fire in a forward direction, they pack a very powerful punch and make the Battle Tank a formidable foe on the ground or over water. Often passed over for heavier Imperial units, the clever field commander shouldn't underestimate the tactical versatility of this Tank.

Troop Transport: this ground transportation vehicle can quickly ferry up to twenty troopers or droids around the battlefield. With heavy armor and excellent speed, the Troop Transport is an excellent choice for moving a squad of infantry past a heavy E-web defense. In order to protect its cargo, it sports a light blaster and medium anti-infantry blaster, the latter of which requires operation by a crew drawn from the troops it carries. It cannot fire until at least 5 infantrymen are stationed within the transport.

Hailfire Droid Tank: the Imperial army quickly recognised the potential of the Hailfire, and adopted the designs for this fast-attack missile tank from the former Confederate army, who used them during the Clone Wars of old. The Hailfire features burst-attack rockets with a long range. It is extremely fast, making it a devastating hit-and-run vehicle. However, it has very poor maneuverability and fragile armor, so keep it away from enemy forces. The Hailfire can deliver a large payload very quickly, and so is excellent as a support unit; beware, though, the further its missiles travel, the less accurate they become.

Walker Plant: constructs Imperial walkers. Walkers are large, powerful metallic frames that "walk" over the ground. They are very heavily armed and armored, able to withstand much more punishment than tanks, repulsors, and infantry. Because of their complicated propulsion design, they cost much more than their vehicular counterparts and are less versatile; where the Vehicle Plant offers a selection of versatile units, Walkers tend to have specialized roles. While this perhaps makes them a less strategically flexible option, their specialist nature makes them very good at whatever it is they are intended to do.

Construction Walker: grants access to the highest level of Imperial technology. The efficient energy systems of this walker result in increased production speed over traditional Construction Droids, allowing a well-funded Imperial army to mass-produce weapons of destruction.

All-Terrain Armoured Reconnaisance (ATAR): the ATAR is a swift, lightly-armed walker with minimal armor. Its most potent feature is its quick, long stride that allows it to cover long distances quickly. This makes the ATAR a very effective raider, as it can literally run past defenses to destroy resource generators at the heart of an enemy's base. It is also equipped with a radar device, making it useful for keeping tabs on enemy movements. Many ignorant Imperial commanders shun this unit for the larger, more powerful Walker types; but this particular unit can often prove far more dangerous in the right hands than the most powerful walkers can.

All-Terrain Personal Transport (ATPT): armed with an anti-infantry laser with a large blast radius, the ATPT excels at destroying groups of troops. It has high armor and can maneuver quickly over the battlefield, making it ideal for quick-strikes into the heart of an enemy formation. They are not invulnerable, however; they fall easy prey to heavier craft, and can be overwhelmed by large infantry groups. Though costing more to produce, the Imperial ATPT design is superior to the stolen Rebel variant.

All-Terrain Scout Transport (ATST): do not let its name fool you; the fearsome ATST is the Empire's premiere anti-armor walker. Towering over the battlefield, the sight of a pair of ATST's with infantry and vehicle support is enough to cause any Rebel commander to panic. Its twin medium lasers chew through all but the toughest vehicle armor. They are quite expensive, so while they are the premier option for a commander needing to flex his Imperial might, they are perhaps not the most efficient weapon of war.

All-Terrain Scout Transport/Assault (ATST/AS): the ATST/AS is the heavy-assault cousin of the standard ATST. It has a single heavy laser beneath its chin, which has been modified so as to fire incendiary rounds designed to raze armoured structures. The ATST/AS is designed to break through entrenched enemy lines, and then wreak havoc on the defenceless innards of the Rebel base. Its use on the battlefield is limited however; its laser has a long reload and does less damage to most heavily-armored military targets than the ATST. It should therefore be used carefully so as to maximise its base-busting strength, but not be wasted on engagements with enemy forces.

All-Terrain Anti-Aircraft (ATAA): the ATAA is a powerful anti-aircraft platform useful for defending against large packs of aircraft which would otherwise decimate Rocket Troopers. The ATAA carries a burst-missile launcher that decimates any aircraft unlucky enough to be targeted. The ATAA's turret moves a little slow, though, so quick-moving aircraft can often avoid its ire. Being an armoured Anti Air unit allows an imperial player to defend its ground forces in the field, without being easily felled during ground combat. Its missiles are not intended for use on ground targets; but in emergencies its weapons can be recalibrated for this purpose, with mixed results.

Air Base: constructs low-level aircraft quickly and efficiently. Aircraft are an essential element to any campaign. Aircraft give you an breadth of strategic options that simply cannot be attained anywhere else. Imperial aircraft design takes a very different tact to Rebel aircraft design. Where the rebels value the survival of their pilots, an Imperial general is able to understand that in order for victory to be attained, sacrifices must be made. Hence while Rebel Craft are shielded and expensive, Imperial aircraft take the opposite tact, preferring cheaper, more fragile craft.

TUG: a construction aircraft whose speed and mobility make up for its light armor and poor construction ability. Like its Rebel counterpart, the Imperial TUG can build any structure the Construction Droid can. TUGs are very effective at assisting your factories produce units, as a near-infinite number of TUGs can fit above each factory. Furthermore, the TUG allows far more flexibility than a Construction Droid, as not only is it much quicker, and not impeded by terrain obstructions, it can reach places that the Droid may not be able.

TIE Vanguard: an unarmed, weakly-armored scouting craft with radar capabilities and excellent sight that can be quickly produced and repaired. Use Vanguard to search enemy territory for vital structures like Repulsorlift Plants or Tibanna Refineries, then use your TIE Bombers to take those targets out. TIE Vanguards can also be used to keep track of enemy movements with their medium-range radars. Often overlooked for their armed counterparts, the TIE Vanguard can often be of far more use to a general then the most heavily armed aerial assault unit. You can use a Vanguard to spot for you defences by patrolling it just outside your defensive lines; this can increase your response capability several-fold.

TIE Fighter: a cheap, mass-produced, multi-role fighter armed with twin light lasers. As a symbol of the Empire's military might, the TIE Fighter is known and feared throughout the galaxy. TIE Fighters themselves are somewhat unimpressive militarily; it is the Empire's ability to mass produce and then overwhelm its enemies with countless fighters that causes the TIE Fighter to be so feared. The TIE Fighter is also a faster alternative for a player trying to establish aerial supremacy very early in the game.

TIE Interceptor (TIE/I): the Empire's main dogfighter, and big brother to the TIE Fighter. Fast and well-armed, the TIE/I can deal good damage while staying a hard target to hit. The Interceptor is best used to take out opposing aircraft, but can also be very effective at tying up AA-batteries while TIE Bombers and Gunboats attack. If you need aerial supremacy, and are facing mounting enemy airborne opposition, this is the craft for you.

TIE Bomber (TIE/B): armed with twin light lasers and proton bombs, the TIE/B is one of the most valuable tools in the Imperial arsenal. Tough and effective, this bomber is best used to hit defensive lines, and expensive stationary targets deep in enemy territory. The TIE Bomber has stronger armor than the Interceptor or Fighter, helping it survive surgical strikes deep in enemy territory. Its proton bombs are of little use against mobile targets able to outrun its bombs though, a role best left to Imperial Gunships. Understanding the strategic power of a bomber is absolutely essential for an Imperial victory.

TIE Drone/Droid (TIE/Dr): a relatively new fighter is the TIE/Dr, a variation on the TIE/I that relies on a complex artificial intelligence for piloting. Though computers can process information faster than living pilots, they lack the intuition and randomness that living pilots use to their advantage. The TIE Drone is small, cheap, and fast, making it a great swarm fighter, but its computer brain limits it during battle, as the Drone reveals little terrain while in flight, and does not always engage enemies as often as a commander would like. These are flaws in the computer of the Drone and sadly affect its otherwise stellar performance on the battlefield.

Low-Altitude Assault Transport (LAAT): a light gunship used extensively by the Republic during the Clone Wars. Small and agile, the LAAT sports a blaster cannon and two side-mounted laser turrets. This allows the LAAT to engage up to three targets at once, making it effective at skirmishing with large groups of infantry and light-vehicles. The LAAT's gunship capability allows it to hover while attacking,rather than having to make attack runs. This makes it supremely powerful in engaging ground troops. Adding to this already strategically ingenious unit, this ship is able to ferry up to six infantry units (Stormtroopers or Droids) through the air. This troop moving capability can be excellently used for launching surprise attacks, or commando raids behind enemy lines.

Advanced Air Base: this base constructs the mightiest starfighters known to the galaxy. Ranging from interceptors to heavy assault gunships, the Imperial Advanced Starfighters are each a sight to behold. Lessons learnt at Yavin IV and again at Endor have not gone unheeded; all ships from this lab, unlike their standard counterparts, are shielded and armed to the teeth.

CUV: the Combat Utility Vehicle is a heavier version of the TUG, whose larger memory banks allow it to build the advanced structures of the Imperial Army. Use the CUVs to build advanced structures and economic buildings. Like TUGs, the CUV can be an effective building assistant, as it builds much faster than the TUG or Construction Droid, as well as being able to access regions that the grounded units cannot.

Assault Missileboat: first deployed to counter the traitor Admiral Zaarin's fleet of TIE Defenders, the Missileboat now sees extended action as a heavy assault gunship. Hovering above the battlefield like LAAT, the Missileboat fires volley after volley of devastating advanced concussion missiles at every target in sight. It also has heavy shielding, which allows it to attack defended bases that would give the LAAT some trouble. An excellent Air-to-ground attack option; but mincemeat for any fighters that it runs into.

TIE Advanced (TIE/A): based on the fighter flown personally by Lord Darth Vader, the TIE Advanced (A.K.A. TIE Avenger) represents a drastic change in TIE design philosophy. While it retains the familiar circular cockpit design, the TIE Advanced shows no other resemblance to older models: it is equipped with a shield generator, armed with heavy laser cannons, and also sports a concussion missile launcher. Its speed is similar to that of the Rebel A-wing, making it a devastating interceptor and air superiority fighter. The TIE/A offers the Imperial general an air-superiority fighter which can dominate the skies; but is less effective when intended to engage ground, targets.

TIE Defender (TIE/D): the latest, most advanced fighter available to the Imperial general. The TIE Defender is an extremely powerful fighter, whose heavy lasers, ion cannons, and advanced concussion missiles can make short work of any other fighter or ground attack craft. Its triangular-arrayed solar panels are drastically different from traditional TIE designs, but benefit the craft with phenomenal speed and maneuverability. The TIE Defender is extremely expensive, however, and rarely makes an appearance in a battle in large numbers. The TIE defender is an excellent choice for a commander requiring a versatile fighter-class unit that is effective against both ground and air targets. However, if only air superiority is required, the TIE/A is likely the more efficient choice.

Scimitar Bomber: with the appearance of heavy Rebel air defenses, the Imperial Navy needed a strategic bomber that could penetrate enemy airspace and devastate a target. The Scimitar Bomber is the result of this need: While a somewhat cumbersome ship, the Scimitar benefits from heavy armor and features high-yield bombs that plaster an area with explosions. It is the most expensive ship known to the Empire, however, and should be protected by fighter escorts wherever it may travel. But do not underestimate its bombing ability: one run by a Scimitar can destroy an entire Rebel defensive line!

TIE Phantom: this experimental fighter has only recently been deployed from secret Imperial laboratories. It carries a highly effective cloaking device, which renders the ship completely invisible to the naked eye. This makes the TIE Phantom a very effective scout, as it can patrol enemy lines without being detected. The massive power plants required to run the cloaking device mean that this fighter cannot be very heavily armed, and so is best used as a scouting or spy unit. Its cloaking abilities do make it quite a deadly dogfighter, however, as it can sneak up on enemy targets, let off a burst of shots, and then escape before it can be targeted itself.

Assault Gunboat: the Assault Gunboat is quite a formidable weapons platform, armed with medium lasers, a concussion missile launcher, and an ion cannon, as well as being armored with a shield generator. This makes the Gunboat the ultimate choice for engaging ground targets, excelling even at killing mobile targets, where other Imperial gunships fail. Its long-ranged lasers can chew through most attackers before they get in range to see what is attacking, and its ion cannon is excellent for pinning down enemy vehicles to be destroyed. They are slow, however, and so fall prey to enemy interceptor aircraft, and do not fare well in anti-air heavy environments.

Structures

Fusion Generator: This power plant produces the Empire's main source of energy, which is in turn used to power weapons and construct other units and structures. The generator will explode rather violently when destroyed, so be careful when placing many of them in one area. Fusion Generators are more efficient than their Rebel counterparts, and thus are more expensive.

Solar Collector: An alternate source of energy. This plant collects solar energy and concentrates it, powering the Imperial war machine. Available solar energy depends on a planet's orientation and distance from nearby stars, so each location's solar richness will vary. Additionally, solar energy fluctuates over time, so that the amount of energy you receive will vary. A cheaper option then a fusion generator, relying on these is a risk which could save you a fortune in resources â€“ or bleed you dry when you need it most.

Mineral Extractor: removes valuable minerals from varying sources. Minerals are used in constructing units and structures. Heavily-armored units cost more minerals to construct than those with lower armor. Mineral sources occasionally crop up to the surface of the ground, but can nevertheless be located underground by special sensors activated when a Mineral Extractor is selected.

Mineral Maker: Using complex fusion principles, Imperial scientists are able to create a small amount of mineral atoms by merging lesser atoms together. This process requires a large expenditure of energy. Mineral Makers are useful in situations where an abundance of energy, but lack of minerals, exists. While you might have ceded territorial gains to your opponent, you may be able to use Mineral Makers to regain your forward momentum. Use them wisely and in small portions; they drain energy at an enormous rate. Note that metal makers can be instructed to turn off when your energy storage is low, and on when your energy storage is high through the "select AI" button. Select "Metal Maker AI".

Energy Storage: a structure designed to hold excess energy that would otherwise go to waste. Since energy is vital to your military units, it is wise to keep large amounts in storage. The MCV and other construction units each provide a small amount of storage, but the Energy Storage structure will greatly increase that amount. The high pressure nature of storing Energy causes this structure to be somewhat volatile if it is destroyed by enemy fire.

Mineral Storage: similarly designed to store excess minerals in case more are needed at a later time. It is very common for a once-healthy economy to quickly fall into recession because of over-expansion and enemy raids. Mineral Storage structures will increase the excess minerals you can store, helping reduce the severity of such recessions.

Tibanna Refinery: natural sources of Tibanna gas exist on many worlds. By placing a Refinery over such gas vents, vast amounts of energy can be created. As Tibanna gas is highly flammable, the destruction of a Refinery is highly dangerous. The risk is well worth-it though; Refineries produce as much energy as a dozen Solar Collectors do. This makes them prime targets, however, so keep an eye on them.

Sensor Tower: the Sensor Tower will expand your radar coverage, allowing you to observe enemy movements on your mini-map. An absolutely essential part of every base. Beware, some units have the ability to jam radars, allowing units to sneak by unnoticed. It is thus wise to keep up constant patrols outside your base. The standard sensor tower is also able to create a small sensor-obstructing umbrella around it. Clever placement of these towers can be used to hide units and structures from the gaze of enemy sensor equipment.

E-web Blaster Emplacement: the E-web is a powerful anti-infantry battery. It fires very rapidly, allowing it to destroy masses of infantry before they even get in range to fire. However, the E-web's cooling technology is very basic, forcing it to slow its rate of fire after an extended period of fire. At this point, the E-web becomes susceptible to the lightest of attacks and can easily be overwhelmed. You can force the E-web to fire at its slower rate, saving the fast-firing mode for when it is needed most, by turning it Off. Clever placement of E-web defenses are essential for the survival of the early game.

Sandbags: while seemingly useless, Sandbags are perhaps your greatest defensive structure. Sandbags will utterly stop any enemy ground movement, allowing you to cut off passages and force enemy troops to traverse certain well-defended areas, or "kill-zones". Defensive structures are greatly improved with the presence of sandbags, which deflect and prevent enemy fire from hitting the defensive structures.

Missile Turret: stationary anti-aircraft battery. Fires Concussion Missiles at incoming aircraft that are able track targets to a degree. Though they fire slowly and have difficulties tracking faster aircraft, Missile Turrets are essential to any base defense, a basic response to aerial assaults. Bare in mind that the best form of anti-air defense in SWS is to have your own air units patrolling your airspace!

Ion Turret: fires pulses of ionized energy that are intended to overload mechanical systems. Ion Turrets do no damage to any unit, instead relying on supplementary defenses and units to destroy targets it disables. Ion cannons, therefore, do not harm biological units. Heavier vehicles are shielded against such attack, and require a number of shots in order for the ion cannon to be succesful in stopping the unit. While often scoffed at because of its lack of any destructive power, the Ion Turret is actually the most important part of the Imperial defensive line. Cheap and easy to produce, it can stop a concerted mechanical attack dead in its tracks.

Turbolaser Battery: heavy base defense battery featuring a pair of high-energy blaster cannons, so powerful that they are more commonly found aboard capital starships like the Star Destroyer. Turbolasers have been converted to ground use by Imperial designers in order to defend ground installations, where their high-powered, long-ranged lasers make short work of any enemy units in the area. They are expensive and take an extensive amount of time to build, preventing them from being used too heavily. Beware of the amount of Energy they use in order to fire; without logistical support, they become useless. Often cowardly Rebel commanders will seek to deprive Turbolasers of their Energy supply rather than face them in the field.

Energy Generator: recent engineering advances have resulted in the Energy Generator, a high-yield power system that provides more power to your army than three-dozen Fusion Generators. Use these generators to power your late-game armies, gradually replacing your Fusion Generator fields. Keep them well-guarded, though, being fragile and important makes them a prime target for enemy bombers; and they tend to produce some spectacular fireworks when destroyed!

Advanced Mineral Extractor: a more efficient version of the Mineral Extractor that bores deeper into the planet to remove greater quantities of valuable minerals. One Advanced Extractor produces minerals three times faster than a standard extractor. You should begin a transition to these extractors as your army grows in size, using their extra output to produce larger, more expensive armies.

Heavy Missile Battery: based on the successful AT-AA walker, this advanced structure is the Imperial Army's heaviest anti-aircraft structure. It features a burst rocket system that fires extremely powerful missiles in groups powerful enough to incinerate all but the heaviest aircraft. You will need to make use of these batteries to defend against Rebel advanced aircraft, whose shields are too strong to take down with only Missile Turrets. Again, this system is still inferior to a good screen of patrolling interceptors.

Stationary Artillery: the recent deployment of the Rebel Heavy Tracker and Mobile Proton Torpedo Launcher left the Imperial Army in a desperate situation: while our Turbolasers could make short work of any Rebel craft foolish enough to close within range, the aforementioned vehicles feature weapons that outranged our Turbolaser defences! The Stationary Artillery was designed specifically with these threats in mind: it lobs high-energy shells across the battlefield, far outranging any mobile unit the Rebellion (or Empire) can muster. An Artillery piece situated on strategic high ground can dominate the approach to an Imperial base.

Build Tree

TMB: builds Fusion Generator, Mineral Extractor, Mineral Maker, Energy Storage, Mineral Storage, Sensor Tower, Barracks, Air Base, Droid Production Facility , and E-web Turret.

Construction Droid: builds all TMB structures, plus Tibanna Refinery, Vehicle Plant, Sandbags, Missile Turret, Ion Turret, and Turbolaser Battery.

TUG: builds all Construction Droid structures, plus Advanced Air Base.

CUV and Construction Walker: builds Energy Generator, Advanced Mineral Extractor, Heavy Missile Battery, and Stationary Artillery.