Possible inequalities in Generals

Post by **Joose** » November 16th, 2005, 18:08

It may just be my inability to controll the subtleties in this game, but it really does seem that the americans are a little overpowered compared to the other nations. For instance:

The GLA stealth general. Rendered pretty much useless due to the copious detection units the americans have (spy drones, spy satellites, pretty much all vehicles when used with a spy drone).

Chinese general: If you use the infantry general, then the planes will rape you and the base defenses will rape your choppers.
If you use the tanks, the....er....same happens.

Im not just basing this on online play, mind. I know im allways playing non american when online and getting my ass kicked most of the time, but thats not it. Because when i play against the computer, if im american its a lot easier than if im either of the others.

Is it crap design, or is there some cunning trick im missing out on here?

Post by **Grimmie** » November 16th, 2005, 18:23

Well, the online games come out at 33% 33% 34% usually. So there really aren't any inequalities. It's just that the American horse is most like the traditional RTS horses you used to get. A nice array of units that have to thinking in a linear fashion.

China are a little more sneaky - They want you to think less about micromanagement, and more about making insanly large amounts of medium units and upgrade them.

GLA are sneaky shits who want you to build everywhere, cheaply, and control the entire map as quickly as possible.

Everyone else online seems to be balanced perfectly, when I check, which I suppose is reassuring for EA's quality assurance.

Post by **Joose** » November 16th, 2005, 22:13

Grimmie wrote:Well, the online games come out at 33% 33% 34% usually. So there really aren't any inequalities.

I did suspect it was more me than the game

China are a little more sneaky - They want you to think less about micromanagement, and more about making insanly large amounts of medium units and upgrade them.

large amounts of men that then get slaughtered by area affect weapons I cant stop. Unless I make millions of just men really early and do the earliest rush that i can. Which doesnt strike me as a great desin feature.

GLA are sneaky shits

sneaky shits that become unsneaked by the over-abundance of stuff the Americans have to unsneak them.

The problem i have isnt the units, its the speial abilities. The vast majority (in fact i cant think of any that aren't) you cant counter. Even the spy drone, which you can detect and shoot down with the anti-aircraft guns, work for a couple of seconds before they can be shot at.

Whereas a lot of the others are a bit shite. Ambush: make a few really rubbish men appear, who then get killed before they can do anything. Mine drop: if the slow as hell plane makes it to anywhere usefull, the mines are easily and quickly cleared away by the building units.

Whereas the americans have stuff like the aurora bombers, and the A-10's, that are pretty much unstopable. What are you supposed to do against them?

Post by **Grimmie** » November 16th, 2005, 22:54

Okay, I lied.
It's just 'cause I'm ub3r l337.

Anhamgrimmar · Post by **Anhamgrimmar** » November 17th, 2005, 19:32

once you have the 'angry mob' upgraded ("AK47's for EVERYBODY!"), they are supprisingly deadly in large gangs. jarmen kell is extremly useful, cos he will neutralise any enemy ground vehicle in seconds, which can then be used by your own forses. toxin tractors are always good for a laugh as well

Post by **Grimmie** » November 17th, 2005, 19:43

Joose was narked off because I usually play as the Superweapon lady. And I dispatch infantry groups (Like the mob..) with huge Fuel-Air bombs provided by my Aurora Alpha's. I also use very few vehicles.

When I play as SW General I defend like mad, build up, and attack from within.

Post by **Joose** » November 17th, 2005, 20:49

I suspect my idea of huge amounts of angry mobs coming at you from all directions at once could have worked well. Theres a limit to the amount you could get with fuel air bombs before they got to you, and they are surprisingly effective even against snipers.

However, as we discovered, the poor little computers like not this idea. I suspect suddenly going from calculating paths for a couple dozen units to calculating paths for over a hundred probably is what made it cry. I have since tried it in skirmish against the computer, and ye gods, do they deal out the damage?

They do, yes.

Post by **deject** » November 17th, 2005, 20:57

JOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSE wrote:the americans are a little overpowered compared to the other nations.

duh, that's how it's supposed to be...

Post by **Grimmie** » November 17th, 2005, 21:39

Not only that, but the mobs have an insane amount of coding going into them. If a mob gets too dispersed whilst running around then a random member of the mob dies, and when you've got five or six mobs all spread out running at full pelt, it has to desicde which 12 to kill at any one time. And when they stop still it has to decide which members of the mob respawn. It's an online nightmare!

Post by **Grimmie** » November 17th, 2005, 22:32

Well, I disproved that little theory.
GLA Demo-General FTW!

Post by **Joose** » November 17th, 2005, 22:44

Disproved my arse. I almost had you right at the start, and if it wasnt for a schoolboy error on my part (namely, having zero defences actually within the base), it could all have been very different.

It was easily the closest game we have had, and it was the first time I had played against GLA (not counting the computer, who is...somewhat basic in its tactics).

If you really want to disprove it, Ill be american SW next time

Post by **Grimmie** » November 17th, 2005, 22:49

>) Maybe..
Though I was able to chuck out about 10 tanks while you were faffing around. You didnt spot I had all the oil dericks and a second base though! Eh? Eh?

Post by **Joose** » November 18th, 2005, 12:33

You were able to chuck out 10 tanks because thats the GLA strength: Being able to make cheap things quickly. Its balenced by how shite those tanks are compared to...well, any other tank.

Post by **Grimmie** » November 18th, 2005, 20:11

That.. And I had three motor-pools.

Post by **Roman Totale** » November 18th, 2005, 20:19

Grimmie wrote: You didnt spot I had all the oil dericks and a second base though! Eh? Eh?

Second bases for teh win!

Post by **Joose** » November 29th, 2005, 10:44

Ive just come up with a game winning tactic in a game against Ty.

particle cannon can only take out a nuke silo in 2 hits. Im chinese, and have hackers racking me in money...well, *everywhere*. he has 6 cannon (i think), therefore I need only 3 to effectively nuter their usefullness.

So I built 2 extra bases, and a squagillion nukes. It got a bit warm in Ty land

Woo Elephant Yeah · Post by **Woo Elephant Yeah** » November 29th, 2005, 10:54

Joose wrote:So I built 2 extra bases, and a squagillion nukes. It got a bit warm in Ty land

Post by **Grimmie** » November 29th, 2005, 16:23

Problem: 4 unstopable auroras can kill a nuke canon.

Hehulk · Post by **Hehulk** » November 29th, 2005, 16:44

Grimmie wrote:Problem: 4 unstopable auroras can kill a nuke canon.

Unstopable eh? you sure?

Post by **Joose** » November 29th, 2005, 17:01

thankfully, aurora's are not unstoppable if yuou have enough minigunners :D