Chapter 4: Military
Fundamentals
Defending Your City
It's one thing to be a warmonger, instigating attack after attack against
enemy bases, but sooner or later, you can expect to be attacked back.
At the risk of losing your valuable cities, you should take precautions
to ensure you're prepared.
No Defense Equals No City
This may sound obvious, but you'd surprised how many players neglect the
defense of their cities. This usually happens for one very simple reason:
you want so badly to create base improvements that you've neglected a
military buildup. Remember, while you may not want to expend the funds
required to launch a full-scale assault, you shouldn't do so at the expense
of a solid defense. Specifically, you should have plenty of strong garrison
units sitting behind the walls of your city at all times.
Air Defense
Once you have attained the air power technology, you should create at
least one air defense unit at every base. Air defense lets you attack
air units before they cause too much damage. In this situation, you would
launch your air defense forces at first sight of an incoming air assault.
Protect the Coasts!
Your empire is growing. Your cities sport huge populations and each has
a nice stable of garrisons acting as defense. Unfortunately, the arrival
of an opposing naval unit parks off your coast and begins the bombardment
phase. If you don't have an air force or naval power, you're in big trouble.
For the ultimate in defense, you should have a nice compliment of both
naval and air power protecting your coastal cities.
Build Sensors
Formers have the unique ability to construct sensors on any land tile.
Sensors can peer out for two squares and give you early warning about
enemy activity. Optimally, you should place sensors near your cities and
at various points along your coast, especially at points that may make
good landing points for an enemy transport.
The more warning you have about
an enemy attack, the more time you must adapt to the situation and get
your forces into their proper place.
Hurry Production!
An often-overlooked button on the city screen is the Hurry Production
button. In those times when the enemy is pounding you and you have a unit
in production you know will turn the tide in your favor, press the Hurry
button if you have the energy available to cover the cost. This could
mean the difference between waiting ten turns for the unit to be produced
and having the unit available on your next turn.
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TIP
Always
keep as much energy available as you can in the later stages of
the game to cover the cost of rushed production.
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Recap
* A unit comprises the following elements: chassis, weapon, shielding,
reactor, and up to two special abilities
* Chassis determines how fast a unit travels in a given turn
* Weapon determines how powerful a weapon is
* Shielding represents the strength and defensive ability of a unit
* Reactor determines how much damage your unit can sustain before being
destroyed
* Special abilities are invented through the research of technologies
* Unit rating represents the overall effectiveness of the unit; that is,
12-3-8 translates into a 12 weapon rating, 3 defense, and 8 movement
* The higher the unit rating, the more expensive it is to build
* Use garrisons to defend your cities
* Air assault units cannot fight other air units unless they have the
air superiority special ability
* Soften up hostile cities with bombardment and air raids before taking
them over with ground units
Next - Part 2: Advanced Tactics
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