How can I become a better strategy (RTS) player?

Question

My housemate and I have been playing a lot of strategy games recently (e.g. Company of Heroes, Empire Earth, TA, Homeworld). I'd like to consider myself to be an okay-bordering-on-good RTS player in that I manage to "not suck" at most of those (at one point I was even ranked reasonably high online in Supreme Commander), my housemate however is just better than me!

Its not a completely one-sided battle (I do win some games), however the part that infuriates me is when he beats me within a couple of matches of me introducing a new game which he has never played before, and I had previously considered myself to be reasonably good at!

Clearly my housemate has some deeper mastery and understanding of strategy (beyond build orders and rush tactics) that I lack.

What can I do to become better at strategy games in general?

Answer 1

This is a very broad question, so I will provide a very broad answer.

1. Scout, Scout, Scout: Most RTS games have a very fast cheap unit you can use as a scout to scout the enemy. In AOEII you get the scout horse right off the bat, in Warcraft III build a wisp or worker unit and try to position him near the enemy base. Always have a scout on the map watching your enemy so you know what course of action they are taking. They might be rushing, they might be building up their base. You can base your course of action and unit structure against what you scout. If they aren't making offensive units and you have some, rush.

2. Learn the Units: Knowing the ability of all of the units and thier strengths and weaknesses is what makes your army. Going back to scouting, if you see your enemy is making primarily one unit, counter it. Unit weakness and army construction is what seperates the good from the great.

3. Keep your army diverse: Just because you scouted and you know the enemy and his weakness don't just build soley to counter him. Make sure to keep diversity in your army. For example in C&C Generals adding just 3 or 4 long range weapons (tomahawks or scud launchers) will really do some damage. If you can cut them off and just drop hard hitting missles on them you will have a very big advantage. In your case in CoH bring along a few anti-tank guns and keep them in the back of your army. When a skirmish begins move them to your flanks and unleash hell.

4. Know your maps: RTS games usually have distinct choke points and powerful combat positions. Know them and take advantage of them. For example in CoH there may be an area of buildings that is very easily defendable and offers great map control. You can use this position offensivly and defensivly. You want to be able to control the map and its resources. Making your oponent have to foriet due to lack of resources is not a bad way to win.

5. Micromanage: Make sure you are grouping up your units into specialized groups. (Long range, seige, ranged, melee, ect...) You will need to have them specified for when your enemy pulls a fast one. For example in Rome Total War if you have several phalanx troops and your enemy suddenly changes direction with their calvary you need to be able to grab your formation and move it, quickly or you're sacraficing the whole battle. Staying organizing and micromanaging your army and your units is a skill that every RTS player has to have. If you have a way to heal/repair micro out the hurt units to save money if you have units that cast spells micromanage WHO they are casting on and when to conserve mana. For example in Warcraft III it is important to take those Shamans off auto-cast and bloodlust who you want to. Your heroes and hard hitting units should be getting it first no those silly witchdoctors.

Answer 2

This is a very broad topic, so I will try to break it down to the very basics, depending on your level of play.

Beginner (if you pick up a new game): Try to get a basic build order. Create building / gathering units constantly to push your economy. Learn the most often used Hotkeys and use them. Try to understand what your meaty and damage dealing units are and mass an army with them. From time to time make sure you upgrade your units. Push as soon as you have some big advantage (say good upgrade finishes).

Advanced (you understand the mechanics): Make sure you can execute a few build orders, that complement each other (e.g. rush, expand and tech). Try to use the best BO for the current map. Make sure you spend your money all the time. Push when you have an advantage. After you push get expansions to secure future income.

More Advanced (solid execution): Use the right BO, create units regularly etc. Use your fighting units to their potential. Use ther special abilities in fights and try to activate them again as soon as the cooldown wears off. Build good arcs, pull back injured units. But the most important thing is: Create new units while doing this. Try to act strategically: get expansions if you can defend them, prevent your opponent from doing the same if he overextends himself.

Professional (playing 4+ hours regularly): You have to consult forums / websites for your game and get better at execution and multitasking.

To be good you have to have at least a certain amount of Actions per Minute (>= 50). This does not mean you should just click random buttons. You need to have a certain speed to execute your strategies properly (synchronizing building and unit production, Micro Managmeent etc.). My point is: If you have less than 50 APM you cannot be good, otherwise you might be good. I state this because many RTS games support this measurement unit and for beginers it is a starting point to measure their performance.

Answer 3

It all goes down to experience. Yes I know, you mate just got to know the game, but that's not what I mean. He probably has been playing other sort of strategy games or involved in any "strategy thinking" process for quite sometime.

I've been playing chess with my older bro since I was 8 (I'm 20 now), and for the most part, he kicks my a** 80% of the time. He has been playing it for quite sometime before me. He's not "smarter", rather experienced.

Strategy games are like programming languages, once you grasp one game/language, the other games/languages will follow on the same rules. You'll eventually be expert in strategy, not a particular game.

Good luck on your battles ;)