Grunt rush! Momentum strategy go!

[Leusugi]

Hello all, I discovered the Apolyton Moo 2 forums a while ago and it helped my gameplay tremendously (thanks Originalbork!!) and I noticed there is some very good information on these forums as well for SMAC.

My favorite way to play SMAC in SP is to be highly aggressive; trying to win in as few turns as possible. I believe that type of strategy is called a 'momentum strategy' around here? I am wondering if any brutal warlords here could give me some pointers?

I don't know how much of a difference it makes, but my favorite faction is the Spartan Federation.

Thanks in advance to any replies.

Leu

[RedFred]

My recommendation is to switch to herbal tea, take up yoga, rid yourself of your destructive aggressiveness and start playing the Gaians more often.

But if that doesn't work...
I personally find the Hive, Drones or even the much maligned Cult as more natural momentum factions.

The Police Planned version of the Hive lets you build lots of stuff and you don't have to worry about drones much. You can crank out a ton of units with your great support rating.

The biggest problem I have with the Spartans is that it takes forever to build stuff. The Cult has the same problem but at least you can capture a native army quickly.

Vel's strat guide is a good starting point for improving your game, but if you really want to get good you have to bite the bullet and start doing some MP games.

[Lazerus]

Yeah Santi's momentum can hardly be described as grunts considering how much more expensive they are, and for the sake of that little extra morale i'd say stuff it and go with the Hive or Drones, attack weapons normally outnumber defensive armour by enough so that you don't need morale anyways.

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

I have heard of Miriam going early with the rush 1-1-1's. Her support and +25% fanatical attack may allow for this.

Personally I think it a dangersous gambit. A lot of factions have decent early defensive capability.

Morgie can start with synth.

Yang is hidden behind perimeters.

Zak researches so quickly that by the time you find him he is bound to have something that counter mere 1 weapon strength.

and so on.

[JustinSane]

With his natural defensive tactic (probe conversion) taken away, and considering his support problems, predisposition to FM/wealth and the expense of Synth defenders when compared with scout patrols, I'd think the Believing scout rush would simply bury Morgan, level two armor notwithstanding. Two attackers could take out one defender, and three would be overwhelming.

[Jamski]

Yes, Morgan can't produce Synth Garrisons fast enough to beat a 1-1-1 rush from Mim, if she's on the same continent. I find the CyCon. however, with the starting tech for 2-1-1 units, also very good for an early rush. The best time to rush is almost always with impact rovers howver 4-1-2 units are pretty unstoppable when used enmasse at the right point in time.

-Jam

[Lazerus]

Yeah, having 40 impact rovers going crazy is fun

(though even 5 or 6 really early do the trick, considering you'd need a perim+plasma to even slow them)

[Capt Dizle]

Naw, you just need one probe team to stop them. And a little energy.

[Sarxis]

I don't care for playing too aggressively, and often concede to the AI's wishes. I just don't like short games.

[Enigma_Nova]

I'm all up for long games. Conquering all but a size 1 base in a polar desert and surrounding it with 20 units to stop it gathering resources.

Then I take my sweet time transcending.

[Illuminatus]

Originally posted by Enigma_Nova
I'm all up for long games. Conquering all but a size 1 base in a polar desert and surrounding it with 20 units to stop it gathering resources.

Then I take my sweet time transcending.

Why don`t you just disable Total war rule? Then you can transcend in peace.

[Enigma_Nova]

Game seems to pronounce me as the winner when I'm the only person left on the map.

[Illuminatus]

Originally posted by Enigma_Nova
Game seems to pronounce me as the winner when I'm the only person left on the map.

Even if you have disabled military victory right from the start?

I remember game giving you message on about uniting the planet under you banner (monument), but it didn`t recognise it as a victory if the Total war rule is disabled.
Are you sure that the game name you a winner even if the Total war rule is disabled?

[Frankychan]

I use "rolling wave" attacks.

Send in the obsolete units first, like Impact Infantry, followed by Missile Infantry, followed by Chaos Infantry.

While having that many units is a drain on your economy, its fun to watch a sea of your units rolling over the hill while you have Lal screaming at you via comlink and......well, I've said to much.