Practice Thy Brains Out
Well, maybe not that much, but if there is any rule to playing complex action and strategy games, it is that oft-repeated cliche "practice makes perfect." To compete in the big leagues - that is, against experienced human players - you'll need to practice.
That means playing through the entire campaign. Of course it can get tedious and boring - roughly half the missions are "training" missions - but the whole point is to drill the principles, concepts, and nuances of the game into your brain. Once that is accomplished, you can start devising your own strategies and ideas. Sometimes the campaign scenarios can be a bit limiting, especially the early ones, so when you finally finish (or need to try out a theory), go to the Instant Action area and set up your game the way you want it.
Ultimately you'll want to spend your time in Instant Action, perfecting your ideas and concepts or attempting to (you may find that they could quite easily fall apart in a multiplayer game). Unfortunately Instant Action won't prepare you for everything you'll meet in the online world, but it should be a good start for those team strategy sessions.
Protect Thyself
Winning in Battlezone II is all about taking away the ability of the enemy player(s), whether human or computer-controlled, to collect and use Bio-metal. Ultimately that means destroying the scavengers and recyclers. However, this also means preventing the same thing from happening to you; that is, to mangle another endlessly cliched line, "a good offense is an even better defense." To win a game, you have to make sure you can defend yourself against the opposing player's attacks.
There are a lot of defensive strategies you can employ to make sure your base complex remains secure. Look at all the obvious approaches to your base and plan accordingly - the valleys and gentle slopes are prime candidates. If the base is backed up against tall, imposing terrain features, the chances of an attack from those directions will be very small. Use the terrain to your advantage - place defenses along the slopes so the enemy will not see them until he drives by (a reverse slope defense). Remember you can also use a more passive defense - proximity mines instead of turrets.
Defensive strategy is very important - use terrain, avenues of approach, and a mixture of systems to create a decent barrier. |
Besides placing defenses in seemingly random areas, try a more organized defensive pattern, or a defense-in-depth. You can form a ring-like defense oval around the base or a hedge-like alternating pattern of guns and rocket defenses along an obvious avenue of approach. The best thing about defense networks in Battlezone II is that they don't have to be rigid but can be mobile should the occasion warrant it (except for the stationary turrets, which should be on the edges or corners). Always remember that power systems will be prime targets for attacks. Try to keep roving patrols around the base, perhaps in concentric circles, to ward off anyone that may be hiding nearby.
One more bit of advice: Never put more than two defense systems in a direct line with one another. For example, you never want to have three defense systems in a straight line, where excessive overlapping can be potentially detrimental to your defensive arrangement. Try to stagger the defenses so overlapping can be minimized but not totally diminished. And always save a defensive system or two for the base interior. Power systems and relays will always be particularly vulnerable to attack (more so those of the ISDF than of the Scions).
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General and multiplayer strategies (cont.) 
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