Lame Tactics - a History and Analysis
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- BlackLiger
- Posts: 1371
- Joined: 05 Oct 2004, 21:58
Nope. All depends on the map, really (at least in spring). Its something like about 2x sea level is plus a little bit of range....Pocus wrote:any formula to throw at me?BlackLiger wrote:Vs a defender? Not if its well placed. A defender on the same height as the comm is vunerable. But 1 on the high ground has a range boost (1 of the BEST features of spring)patmo98 wrote: Can't the commander get in D-gun or laser range before he dies?
And drone, yeah... you don't actually STICK around with your com to watch theirs. You move away....
hell, even if I'm wrong, you've bought time while they D-gun the defender to prevent it smacking their com around. Thats time for an LLT or 2, and as com is already damaged, 2 LLTs should smack him around nicely.
- SwiftSpear
- Classic Community Lead
- Posts: 7287
- Joined: 12 Aug 2005, 09:29
There are no lame tactics, only poorly developed games.
http://www.sirlin.net/archive/playing-to-win-part-1/
http://www.sirlin.net/archive/playing-to-win-part-1/
- Machiosabre
- Posts: 1474
- Joined: 25 Dec 2005, 22:56
That article's horrible, with the little pictures of people who didn't fight wars to win, since our lives aren't at stake in any way I'd rather lose a good game then win by ruining one using faults in the game.
Same with fighting games which this article's mostly about, always picking Akuma, stupid jerk, where's the fun in that= always flash rushing in 1.44
Same with fighting games which this article's mostly about, always picking Akuma, stupid jerk, where's the fun in that= always flash rushing in 1.44

- Drone_Fragger
- Posts: 1341
- Joined: 04 Dec 2005, 15:49
- Deathblane
- Posts: 505
- Joined: 01 Feb 2006, 01:22
The problem with playing to win, is it can really piss other players off.
For example the Chinese in C&C generals have several overpowered units. I jumped on the side because I loved the idea of lot's of nuclear stuff, realised there were several easy ways to win and have only evr played a few vs games with my housemates.
Or Warhammer. I play the Skaven (a race of evil ratmen with steampunk technology). It is perfectly possible to pick an army that is completely overpowered and will either annihilate the enemy (if I roll moderately well on the dice) or explode (if I roll very poorly).
I guess there's no 'easy' answer really, except in somehting like spring where bugs and imballences can be reported.
For example the Chinese in C&C generals have several overpowered units. I jumped on the side because I loved the idea of lot's of nuclear stuff, realised there were several easy ways to win and have only evr played a few vs games with my housemates.
Or Warhammer. I play the Skaven (a race of evil ratmen with steampunk technology). It is perfectly possible to pick an army that is completely overpowered and will either annihilate the enemy (if I roll moderately well on the dice) or explode (if I roll very poorly).
I guess there's no 'easy' answer really, except in somehting like spring where bugs and imballences can be reported.
Re: Comnapping
I once had my comm napped in a castles game. I thought it was vs noobs,so i was very careless, but one of the noobs was a ta veteran, it seems.Pxtl wrote:Can someone explain to me all this worry about comnapping? Are there people out there who actually keep their comm away from the defensive emplacements? In my game the comm stays near the HLTs, radar, and anti-air launchers. Or is this a start-of-the-game problem? Seriously, I woudl think a hover transport would have trouble getting close enough to the comm to nap him and live to tell about it.
I congratulated him for succeeding in it, and became a bit less careless. After that, it never happened again.
If somebody is able to do it consistently, you are seriously doing something wrong.
- Fat Zombie
- Posts: 61
- Joined: 31 May 2006, 19:16
Hi. I'm new to Spring.
I've so far only played against AI (AAI), as most online games have either maps I need to download, are too laggy, or need a password. Anyway, I have enough trouble with the AI; it beats me everytime unless I have an AI on my side, at which point it becomes too easy. I've got to find the perfect ratio; perhaps three to two?
Anyway. I guess that it's mostly because I suck at Strategy as a whole. In most RTSs, I prefer to hedgehog (or Porce, as it's known here; what's that phrase from?), building up a large army of small units, then rushing in a huge smash. I like the repeat order. :D
Anyway; I reckon i'm going to have to change my tactics, and probably even my temperment; when I start to lose, my temper frays and this leads to me making more mistakes. Would there be any hints that you could suggest?
I've so far only played against AI (AAI), as most online games have either maps I need to download, are too laggy, or need a password. Anyway, I have enough trouble with the AI; it beats me everytime unless I have an AI on my side, at which point it becomes too easy. I've got to find the perfect ratio; perhaps three to two?
Anyway. I guess that it's mostly because I suck at Strategy as a whole. In most RTSs, I prefer to hedgehog (or Porce, as it's known here; what's that phrase from?), building up a large army of small units, then rushing in a huge smash. I like the repeat order. :D
Anyway; I reckon i'm going to have to change my tactics, and probably even my temperment; when I start to lose, my temper frays and this leads to me making more mistakes. Would there be any hints that you could suggest?
Eat. Personally, i dont get as angry on a full stomach.Fat Zombie wrote:Hi. I'm new to Spring.
I've so far only played against AI (AAI), as most online games have either maps I need to download, are too laggy, or need a password. Anyway, I have enough trouble with the AI; it beats me everytime unless I have an AI on my side, at which point it becomes too easy. I've got to find the perfect ratio; perhaps three to two?
Anyway. I guess that it's mostly because I suck at Strategy as a whole. In most RTSs, I prefer to hedgehog (or Porce, as it's known here; what's that phrase from?), building up a large army of small units, then rushing in a huge smash. I like the repeat order. :D
Anyway; I reckon i'm going to have to change my tactics, and probably even my temperment; when I start to lose, my temper frays and this leads to me making more mistakes. Would there be any hints that you could suggest?
Oh, and sleep good as well.
- unpossible
- Posts: 871
- Joined: 10 May 2005, 19:24
- SwiftSpear
- Classic Community Lead
- Posts: 7287
- Joined: 12 Aug 2005, 09:29
If it's broken it should be fixed. If it isn't broken then there's a counter to it and you don't help anyone by not using it, because they need to learn the counter anyways. Either way, it's the game developers fault and not the players, the player isn't responsible to mask the faults of the game by following imaginary rules. Rules are hardcoded, and if they can't be hardcoded then they can't be followed so they shouldn't exist.Machiosabre wrote:That article's horrible, with the little pictures of people who didn't fight wars to win, since our lives aren't at stake in any way I'd rather lose a good game then win by ruining one using faults in the game.
Same with fighting games which this article's mostly about, always picking Akuma, stupid jerk, where's the fun in that= always flash rushing in 1.44
- Forboding Angel
- Evolution RTS Developer
- Posts: 14673
- Joined: 17 Nov 2005, 02:43
- Fat Zombie
- Posts: 61
- Joined: 31 May 2006, 19:16
Ahhhh. I see! Anyway, I just got my first taste of Online Spring!Forboding Angel wrote:Porc zombie. As in porcupine. It is a term the cavedog dev team used.
As in, I started building a base, then my connection hiccuped and I was removed from the game. So it looks like the majority of my fun's going to be with bots.

What is this? Some kind of...fat zombie?
Wird.
Well, ironicaly, I also porc. But I've found something very usefull...
You build your base as normal, but rather then just porcing...you EXPAND! It takes will power, but NEVER be satisfied with JUST the area you have. And always build units. Have them congregrate at the front lines and use them to stopper the enemy. Its not just a defenceive game till one big battle at the end. Its one LONG battle, with a final push at the end.
ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS HAVE MOBILE UNTIS! I can not stress this enough. ALWAYS! If you don't have mobile units then you'll be stuck in the position of Helms Deep. As the defenders. WITHOUT GANDALF!
Wird.
Well, ironicaly, I also porc. But I've found something very usefull...
You build your base as normal, but rather then just porcing...you EXPAND! It takes will power, but NEVER be satisfied with JUST the area you have. And always build units. Have them congregrate at the front lines and use them to stopper the enemy. Its not just a defenceive game till one big battle at the end. Its one LONG battle, with a final push at the end.
ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS HAVE MOBILE UNTIS! I can not stress this enough. ALWAYS! If you don't have mobile units then you'll be stuck in the position of Helms Deep. As the defenders. WITHOUT GANDALF!
- Fat Zombie
- Posts: 61
- Joined: 31 May 2006, 19:16
First; yes, Fat Zombie. If you've played Doom 3 you'll know what I mean.Zoombie wrote:What is this? Some kind of...fat zombie?
Wird.
Well, ironicaly, I also porc. But I've found something very usefull...
You build your base as normal, but rather then just porcing...you EXPAND! It takes will power, but NEVER be satisfied with JUST the area you have. And always build units. Have them congregrate at the front lines and use them to stopper the enemy. Its not just a defenceive game till one big battle at the end. Its one LONG battle, with a final push at the end.
ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS HAVE MOBILE UNTIS! I can not stress this enough. ALWAYS! If you don't have mobile units then you'll be stuck in the position of Helms Deep. As the defenders. WITHOUT GANDALF!
Anyway; I'll start trying base expansion in future. My only problem is I'm a neat freak; so I always like having my buildings in neat rows or squares. A problem if there ever was one. But I will try.
As well as this, I have a problem in that I always stick to using the low-tech units. I'll always just have a kbot factory repeat producing AKs and Rocket Bots, and a vehicle factory constantly building Instigators. If I do build high-tech units, i'm always careful with them, to make sure they aren't destroyed. I should really change my thinking.
SwiftSpear wrote:There are no lame tactics, only poorly developed games.
http://www.sirlin.net/archive/playing-to-win-part-1/
Seconding this article
It changed the way I play RTS, or anything (to a way I win far more)
Hold down shift to to place a row of buildings, you can alter the spacings by using Z & X or the 4th & 5th mouse buttons. Hold down shift + ctrl to place a square of buildings.Fat Zombie wrote:First; yes, Fat Zombie. If you've played Doom 3 you'll know what I mean.Zoombie wrote:What is this? Some kind of...fat zombie?
Wird.
Well, ironicaly, I also porc. But I've found something very usefull...
You build your base as normal, but rather then just porcing...you EXPAND! It takes will power, but NEVER be satisfied with JUST the area you have. And always build units. Have them congregrate at the front lines and use them to stopper the enemy. Its not just a defenceive game till one big battle at the end. Its one LONG battle, with a final push at the end.
ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS HAVE MOBILE UNTIS! I can not stress this enough. ALWAYS! If you don't have mobile units then you'll be stuck in the position of Helms Deep. As the defenders. WITHOUT GANDALF!
Anyway; I'll start trying base expansion in future. My only problem is I'm a neat freak; so I always like having my buildings in neat rows or squares. A problem if there ever was one. But I will try.
As well as this, I have a problem in that I always stick to using the low-tech units. I'll always just have a kbot factory repeat producing AKs and Rocket Bots, and a vehicle factory constantly building Instigators. If I do build high-tech units, i'm always careful with them, to make sure they aren't destroyed. I should really change my thinking.
- Fat Zombie
- Posts: 61
- Joined: 31 May 2006, 19:16
- PenguinMaster
- Posts: 25
- Joined: 04 Jun 2006, 04:18
- DrowningFish
- Posts: 10
- Joined: 04 Jun 2006, 03:21