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General Strategies and Tactics
The following are a set of guidelines that will provide you with the knowledge, understanding, and discipline necessary to defeat even the most dangerous opponent. These 20 lessons are subdivided into two topics: Theory and Execution. Theory refers to how you should approach a battle, the various situations you must anticipate over the course of a battle; and how best to exploit those situations in your favor. Execution presents specific information on how and when the various units in your arsenal are most important, how to properly command your forces, and the advantages of placement and reconnaissance. Understanding the value of all these lessons is the first step. But know that applying the following information in combat is a matter demanding considerable precision and practice.
Theory
The Multiplayer vs. Single-Player Disjunction
The essential difference between fighting a computer opponent and a human opponent is precisely that, in most cases, the human opponent will be more intelligent and more resourceful. The computer, on the other hand, will be more efficient in executing its rudimentary strategies.
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Be prepared to attack a human opponent early on or counter against a rush should he take the initiative. |
You must work as quickly as possible when fighting a human rival. You must use everything in your power to outsmart him. You must work faster than he does, gather more reconnaissance data, set up expansion bases sooner, attack early and often, and keep the pressure on him at all times. If there are times when you remain idle during the fight, you are doing something wrong. You can be actively involved in producing, scouting, planning, building, or researching at any given moment. If you are waiting for resources to add up, you're saving for the wrong purchase. If you're waiting for enough units to produce, you do not have sufficient structures set up with which to produce them. It cannot be stressed enough just how important it is for you to work with haste and precision to quickly set up your base, scout the area, set up another base, mount a preemptive strike, climb the technology tree, build an arsenal, attack, and win.
Dealing with the computer, on the other hand, is a matter that may be approached much more deliberately, at least with respect to the campaign missions. While you will almost always be under pressure to set up your defense as quickly as possible, once you manage to produce enough units to hold your ground, you will likely have plenty of time to consider your next move. The general rule is, matches vs. human opponents stress offense, while matches vs. computer opponents stress defense. Keep this in mind.
Next: Knowing the Battlefield and the Enemy 
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