Chapter 4: Military
Fundamentals
No matter how adept you've been at diplomacy, no matter how hard you strive
for peace, sooner or later, a competing faction will launch an assault
against you. War in Alpha Centauri is a dangerous proposition. You'll
usually have no idea how advanced the competition is until it attacks
your units. Will your enemies come by air? By boat? Will they launch missiles
from their bases? Are you prepared for every situation? This chapter will
guide you through the basics of warfare and explain the many elements
that compose a military unit.
Unit Building
Blocks
The size and strength of your force is directly related to the technological
research you've engaged in and how well you have supervised the creation
of new units. It is recommended that the novice player set the game up
so the computer creates new units automatically when technologies are
researched. If you'd like to create custom units yourself, using the Design
Workshop, head to Chapter 7, where advanced unit design will guide you
in the steps needed.
Every unit in Alpha Centauri
is made up of several elements, including:
* Chassis
* Weapon
* Shielding
* Reactor
* Two special abilities
Let's take a look at how each
comes together to create a military unit.
Chassis
The chassis determines the amount of moves a unit will receive each turn.
Chassis come in three basic categories: land, sea, and air. These three
categories are then broken down into more detailed categories and comprise:
Garrison
A garrison unit excels at sitting in a city and defending it from attack.
It should not be used for any other activity except protecting a city
from hostile incursion.
Infantry
Infantry units are excellent at attacking enemy bases and receive a +25
percent modifier when doing so. Infantry can be outfitted with advanced
weaponry and shielding. Its only drawback is a limited movement rate.
Next:
Artillery, Tank, Scout, and more 
GameSpot is a CNET Networks Media Property. Copyright ©1995-2001 CNET Networks, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy policy.
|
|
|
