GameSpot's Guide to Starcraft

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Missions Guide

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STARCRAFT
  Race Overview
  General Strategies
  Missions Guide
    Terran Campaign: Episode I
      1. Wasteland
      2. Backwater Station
      3. Desperate Alliance
      4. The Jacobs Installation
      5. Revolution
      6. Norad II
      7. The Trump Card
      8. The Big Push
      9. New Gettysberg
      10. The Hammer Falls
    Zerg Campaign
    Protoss Campaign
  Cheats
  Contents

Go to GameSpot's Guide to Broodwar

10. The Hammer Falls
Victory is a long, punishing battle away. You begin with a humble base in the southeast corner of a huge map. The Ion Cannon, your target, is at the northwest corner on an isolated and heavily defended island. A massive Confederate presence is stationed at the northeast and southwest corners of the map, while the middle of map is neutral, aside from enemy patrols in the area. A good defense is absolutely crucial in this mission, as the enemy will regularly send huge forces of its best units to try and breach your perimeter. And if you aren't careful, he will even strike you with nuclear weapons.

You must be ready to defend yourself against massive assaults
Build up your base as fast as possible - you won't have much time before the enemy mounts an assault. Build every available structure and build Supply Depots regularly. Set up one or more Bunkers on high ground next to each ramp and fill them with Marines. Firebats will serve little purpose in this mission, so at best, you can use the pair you begin with to scout the area. Complement your Bunkers with trios of Siege Tanks. Set Missile Turrets just in front of your Bunkers; the enemy tends to target these expendable structures first, letting your troops easily eliminate the attackers without taking damage. Expect ambushes from both the north and south passageways and defend them equally. Send Vultures to mine the area outside your base and replace the mines after every enemy attack - they're very useful here for softening up the Confederate strike forces before they reach your base. Keep several SCVs with your defenses in order for repair and try to have some Goliaths in the area for mobile air defense. Keep a cloak-detecting Science Vessel in the area as well - the Confederates will try and sneak Ghosts into your base and will nuke you if you afford them the opportunity. You may wish to use Ghosts in assisting with defense as well. Their Lockdown ability can take vital enemy units out of the battle.