So what goes into a review? Why do I say what I say? After all, one who’s never played online doesn’t know anything about playing with the big boys, right? We’ll see. This is meant to show you what I’m looking for when I watch you own that newbie with a Warg rush. Here is my normal layout for reviews, and descriptions of different things on it.
Build Order:
Alright, so I can make a review look pretty, but what about the stuff I’m saying? After all, how could I understand strategy, right? “Those negative comments don’t matter for me! I won, after all!” Here are the Top Ten mistakes for players that I’ve reviewed, and how it should be done (in my opinion , of course, which doesn’t matter to those too prideful to see their own errors):
You’ve heard me a million times criticizing people for refusing to use them. Why, though? Who cares if my rushing cavalry unit runs straight through a defending unit in Normal stance? I’ll tell you why: It’s all a matter of keeping your units alive and destroying as quickly as you can. You don’t have infinite resources (unfortunately!), so to charge through enemy lines without every possible protection you can get is just stupid. You don’t have half an hour to destroy outlying enemy buildings, so to add precious seconds to the time it takes you to raze it is stupider! It’s all part of the grand scheme of micromanaging; it takes you a millisecond, it helps more than you know, and it shows me that you’re past basic playing. Why not?
Many don’t understand this aspect of the game, but Bendak did. He was probably the placement master using Mordor. He would take his Orc pit and put it on the back
A new word created by me. It drives me crazy to see players who have a game in the bag, an army big enough to wipe his enemy on the virtual dirt, and they wait. And wait. Then, when his opponent had regained his footing, they attack. Or another scenario, they have a host of units at their base at the same time they’re attacking and crippling the enemy. If you have a chance to take out your enemy by bringing in your defense units, do it. Just do it while building more for defense, and seven times out of ten you will win.
If you see that your opponent is not using pikemen, take advantage of that. Buy more cavalry and archers. Be aware of what he’s buying and what he’s using so you can choose the appropriate counter.
Some powers that are way underpowered, such as Summon Hobbits or Summon Wights, should not be used. Period. they waste precious PP that could be used to buy a Balrog.
Ever heard me say “Attack the builder, not the building”? I’ll tell you why: A builder costs 500 resources, and then after that, it needs to build the building, adding even more time and resources to your enemies cost. If you merely destroy the building, you’re losing the chance to cripple your enemy more.
Many think that upgrades are only a late game thing, but I say differently. In the replay on Rohan from Sir Snoopy, his enemy got Forged Blades very early for Isengard, then proceeded to destroy his enemy. If you feel your economy is strong enough, go for them to give yourself an edge over your opponent.
We’ve all done it, but I don’t care about that. What I care about is what you do after that shocking realization that after the dust settles from your raid, you have a large amount of money. Most immediately spend it on more units, but I think that a more expensive building, such as a Forge or Stables, or a more expensive hero, such as Aragorn, is the better rout. Your opponent doesn’t see such a unit so early, and that can help your cause.
We’ve seen it done countless times: the player gets his base destroyed, but one builder makes it out. He goes to a hidden region of the map and builds a barracks. After he has some influence over his enemy, he builds more, eventually taking control of the map again. Never give up.
This is simple: Help your partner. Send a builder over there, and help him out.
I hope this helps to you understand better the terribly difficult life a Replay Reviewer has.
- Smeagol
World in Conflict Heaven Cherub
Battle For Middle-earth II Heaven Replay Reviewer and Ledgend
Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend somewhere along in the bitterness.
Oh, I would have stayed up with you all night, had I known how to save a life...
[This message has been edited by Smeagolfan24 (edited 07-05-2007 @ 07:58 PM).]