Thought process of top deathmatch players in their “game-play mode”.

Every top gamer has their unique and individual style and speed, to each gamer there is a mindset that is tough to break. Top gamers utilize speed, strategic thinking, and constant change “Ä”. To break into the mind of Dr3aM, Swinger, Chromage, Hope, is to win the game. Some key tactics that are common knowledge to the top gamer.

Constant flow of units
Constant flow of economy
Constant build of buildings
Constant attack of enemy weakness points
Constant protection of weaknesses
Immense knowledge of the enemies train of thought
Prediction of the enemy and his units
Prediction of the enemy and his game-plan

What do these require… constant movement around the map, and a mentality that controls all of these things at once.

Key pts to understand when making a military

Never have an overpowering force of a single unit
This would mean armies of over 75% archers aren’t such a great idea, 75% infantry or cavalry are not as great as one might think.
Mix of 4-5 units keeps the enemy on his toes and forces more micro on his part, allowing u more time for other things.

Keep your army shifting
This keeps the enemy guessing as to what you will do, also allowing u to keep one step ahead of the enemy and his actions, this also keeps the enemy on the defensive.
Never be suicidal when you shift your military when attacking various locations, if the opponent has 12 towers and 2 castles in range, don’t attack the area with 12 towers and 2 castles.

Keep your army shifting (2)
Always regroup units into tight regions, especially if you’re using a lot of ranged forces.
Backup to regroup military when the opponent is larger in force than u, try to play defensive until the opponent goes defensive, then make your move to offensive.

Try to make random attacks at enemy tc’s
If u get an enemy tc down, try to keep the tc down in a cost efficient way.
Try to build ranged buildings around the opponents tc to make an offensive pt that forces defensive strategy on the opponent.
Use ranged siege as a mandatory, to keep opponent off tc, this allows u to play more defense in an offensive way.
If the enemy tc is down, and u have secured it, make random raids at other tc’s or weak spots to disrupt enemies population, since you will be + in population and military, allowing u to overpower the enemy.

Key points towards making a base

Always attempt to place the enemy in a bad map position
This means making the opponent play in the worst possible position for his civ.
For Greek the position is early on near the second and third tc’s
For Egyptian the position is towards the outer sides
For Norse the position is mid center/sides

Always place your base in a defensive form
This allows u to protect economy and tc’s.
Never build a straight line across
Never place towers and castles singularly across the map.
Build military buildings in front of the town centers with a castle amongst them. In front of these buildings place towers, and in front of the towers place barracks, then walls. This allows maximum annoyance for enemy raids, military and siege attacks.

When u take over an enemy offensive position, BUILD!
Don’t lose a map position that you have won, build on it.
An easy way to build in the position is to spam it with walls and barracks if supplies are at hand.
There is nothing worse than fighting back wasted land full or barracks and walls. These buildings allow u to bring in new military from bases farther off, and slow down the enemy advance.
These buildings also create my style of “Choke Point”, which forces enemy units into small areas, which is great for my ranged attack 50/50 units. These units consist of ½ ranged ½ infantry with 1-2 long ranged siege.

Constantly repair damaged tc’s
I see more people lose games because they let the damage on a tc increase over periods of time, this will lose u a game if you do not pay attention.
If the enemy is close to killing the tc and raiding it constantly build a defense of barracks and walls around it.
If the opponent is using ranged siege use heavy units to come in at the side and take it out.
Exploit the civ’s weaknesses to their fullest and your strengths to yours

1. For Greeks as Egyptians

· Try to out number Greek units with mass produced cheap ones

· Try to Raid the enemy tc’s to keep him from building them early.

· Use ca’s spears or slingers to constantly raid economy and houses

· Exploit the great ranged siege of this civ. One of the best tactics of swinger is to plop a castle with a siege workshop behind it and to pump out ca pikes and slingers, maybe eles depending on your situation. Swinger will then get out the great siege onagers and kill your offensive points while being very defensive. When this happens one of a few options is to attack from the sides or behind, or to attack with long ranged siege. Or you can avoid the offensive point and raid the Egyptians tc’s and econ (mainly gold)

To be continued this weekend…