Thou Shalt Attack
This brings us to the final idea in this little guide: attack. That may sound simple, but there are many different ways to attack, many different reasons behind attacking, and many different things you want to get the opponent to do once you attack. You should always attack for a reason or an explicit purpose, to get the defender to start playing by your rules instead of vice versa.
In some games an early base attack or quick strike can really set the tone for the rest of the game, especially against impressionable human players (it should be noted that such attacks impact more on the psychology of the human players than on the AI). A quick, damaging strike on the enemy's base infrastructure may put the enemy in a defensive mindset, letting you quickly expand and reach scrap pools you may not have gotten to previously. Follow-up attempts may not be as successful but can keep the enemy mindful (even more so if you engage in the infrequent sniper attack on the enemy compound from outside of your vehicle - that'll keep them on their toes).
Speaking of bases, try to build at least two or three scavengers at the outset, two for the nearest two scrap pools and one to scavenge around or be a spare. One thing you don't want to do is overextend your ability to defend the scrap pools, at least at the beginning. Then build up your power base and relay bunkers (or antenna mound) before concentrating on the bigger buildings. The ISDF should then concentrate on the factory and service bay, while the Scions should probably look at the kiln and the forge. After that it all depends on your own personal preferences: building up a strong, slow-moving assault force or a faster, lighter strike group.
Eventually battles will settle around the scrap pools and their environs in an attempt to get a Bio-metal upper hand. You can start early by placing defenses around pools you haven't even gotten a scavenger to reach yet. Or place some mobile turrets by enemy scavengers - a truly annoying tactic. Ultimately you want your scrap pool defenses to be a balance of heavy hitters and light, fast attackers - a form of combined arms. Or you could use the scrap pool as an expensive lure, to get the enemy to waste resources in trying to use it while you wait in ambush (similarly you can draw enemy forces to a new hidden defensive grid).
Now you've come to the point where you want to attack the enemy's base. You can do some harassing things - bombing attacks if you're the ISDF or annoying long-range mortar barrages from any number of platforms. One tactic is to fire at extreme long ranges - pester a base from a spot where they can't easily hit you back. Or you can try to draw away the enemy's more mobile defenses in a lightning-fast attack, while you move in with your heavy hitters to do some real damage. Again, power systems should be a prime target, as without them a structure (or three) can't function. And of course the recycler is the ultimate objective - don't be afraid to peck at it early if the enemy doesn't have the capacity to repair it easily.
Try not to make your groups too big, as they start getting too unwieldy to control and operate effectively. Small groups, no more than five or so vehicles, should provide a decent enough mix. You can also change the mix by building different weapon types and installing them in the vehicles if you so desire - you don't have to be stuck with the basic stock vehicles.
In essence, the overall idea of Battlezone II is to play the game your way (assuming your way can be successful) while preventing the opposing force from setting the pace of the battle and ultimately winning the game.
Next:
ISDF campaign walk-through 
|
