Infantry/Squads and Shock Troops

[Leon Trotsky]

After reading through the forums, I got the impression that rovers are the chassis of choice for attacking. While I share the idea that speed is an important factor in order to carry out a succesful attack, I feel uneasy using only one unit type. At first glance, double movement rate, bonus in open terrain and an extra attack seem too good to even consider dragging an infantry unit along the road to the enemy installations. But there are some benefits; besides the bonus when attacking bases, infantry units can afford armouring (especially after fusion power), they can bypass ECM jammer, and can get protection from rugged terrain. So am I so stupid for using infantry for the offensive?

(Of course, all this is before Mind Machine "Gamebreaker" Interface shows up).

Sorry for the newbie question.

[Chaunk]

Rovers are great for early attacks. They can cover a lot of ground fast, and so can easily attack an enemy undefended. However, infantry are indeed better at attacking bases, defending in the open, so when to choose which?

Well, any amphibious assault I would always fill with infantry. A 4~-1-1 is IIRC, cheaper than a 4~-1-2, and more effective at taking bases.

Any time that Elite infantry are available, it's a no brainer. Infantry every time.

With respect to armour though, It might be preferable to have a 1-best-2 travelling along with the attack force rather than a best-best-1 stack. Specialisation is a good thing!

I think a lot depends on the purpose behind your attack. If it's just to disrupt production, and harrass the enemy, then rovers are better. If you're looking (and able) to land a killing blow, then infantry may be better.

[Lazerus]

rovers can move + attack on same turn, infantry generally can't (granted elite and against very weak defenders you can) and this leaves them vulnerable to being shot before they can do anything

[smacksim]

SMAC really differentiates between the cavalry and infantry units. Infantry mainly get there to hold positions if you are really moving fast through a war. However, in more evenly matched affairs, the infantry get there, and they do prove their worth with versatile combinations especially. Of course, one should never choose to fight an 'evenly matched' war.

The only thing more frightening than getting taken by an early rover rush is blushing your way out of an early scout rush! If you can field enough units (infantry and high support), you can overcome in sheer numbers, but this is a pretty rare tactic IME.

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

Spartans with morale bonus a command center and running Fundy get elites with either a trained or stop at a monolith. In this case its a huge boon to go with Best weapon -1-1 infantry as the cost of mins is two rows up to (6) missile techs.

A no brainer vs. 3 rows for impact rovers and 4 rows for missile rovers (IIRC).

[cal_01]

I used to think infantry were kind of bad because of the obvious "sitting duck" scenario when they're about to attack a base.

Then I realized the joys of stacking a defender with an offensive infantry unit.

[Lazerus]

that doesn't really work though because attack nearly always beats armour, so if they can hit you then you're still going to lose units

[Mart]

Originally posted by cal_01
I used to think infantry were kind of bad because of the obvious "sitting duck" scenario when they're about to attack a base.

Then I realized the joys of stacking a defender with an offensive infantry unit.

1) attacking with Marines from sea (amphibious units)
2) land transports for land bases. they can approach bases with infantry loaded on them, that can further attack using its full move point. And when your infantry is elite, you can choose:
1 to approach, 1 to attack
land tranie to approach, 2 attacks