> Player notes: Whoop-ass  aka T-mac  (Ted)

 Team Color (of choice): Green “for the money”

 2004 GD Wins: 2 

Favorite Offensive Unit: Phoenix Bomber. There is simply no defense against a swarm of 50 (or 150) or so of these bad asses. I usually try to stack them and then attack a specific target - fusion reactors or a threatening Bertha.

Favorite Defensive Unit: The Brawler Gunship. Whaaaaa??? The Brawler as a defensive unit?!!! I must be crazy? Yeah well, crazy like a Painted Desert fox. With a continuous stream of Brawlers patrolling the parameter of my base, any ground attack is quickly thwarted.

 Favorite Construction Unit: Advanced Construction Aircraft - see Phule’s explanation.

 Honorable Mention Unit: Advanced Radar - ever try to walk around blindfolded? You can’t win if you can’t see. Unless you can dodge a wrench.

 Primary Strategy Type/Summary: Offensive.

My strategy can be summarize in one simple word “Bring a world of Whoop-ass to their doorstep.” O.K. that’s three words…anyhow, the way I like to play T.A. is to make sure that when the fighting happens, it happens in somebody else’s backyard. Therefore, an offensive approach - being on the attack is useful because when the explosions happen, they blow up the other guy’s stuff.

 The method I usually employ to go on the offensive is a sprint to level 2 combat units - usually Phoenix Bombers or Pelicans and Mavericks if the game allows ground attacks. As soon as I can mount an attack which I think can damage the enemy’s resources (the fusion reactor is usually the goal) then I attack. I keep bringing it until I wear down the enemy by stalling his production. Eventually this will lead to a win.

 Strategy Summary:

As any seasoned T.A. veteran (five kills or more) knows, the game is about resources. Simply put, if you have more metal and energy, you can build faster than your opponents. If your opponent has 5 aircraft plants and you have six, you will win - but achieving an advantage always comes down to resources.

 Early, I like to try and gain a metal advantage by sending an extra construction unit out on a “daring” metal reclaiming/extracting mission. If I can gain even the smallest advantage in metal early then I can achieve level 2 units more quickly.

 An obligatory row of Dragon’s Teeth, Flash Tanks and anti-air units provide ample protection until the level 2 units are built.

 Once I have adequate fusion energy and Moho metal being made, I have Brawlers patrol the perimeter of my base to stave off any ground/sea attacks. Then I concentrate on maintaining a 50/50 balance of offensive and defensive units. This 50/50 approach allows me to attack with enough force as I like keeping pressure on my opponent’s base and, at the same time, defend against any attack. As soon as I have enough offensive units to make a damaging attack I send them, and send them and send them and send them. I never want to fight the battle on my territory - it is just too costly for me. The way I see it, since units are an unlimited supply, why not sacrifice as many as necessary - it’s not like they care. I’m not concerned if my opponent is beating me in kills - even if they are up 5 to 1 in kills, as long as I am able to take the fight to his doorstep, then I know I have a strong chance at winning. Attack! Attack! Attack! That’s what I keep telling myself.

 Favorite Tactic # 1: “Message Heckling”

I like to send multiple heckling and annoying messages out to distract my opponents. If I can get Len thinking about Southern Comfort, Danny laughing at stupid jokes or Phule (Ed) thinking the game isn’t running correctly, then I know I have the upper hand.

 Favorite Tactic # 2: “Secret Alliances”

There is nothing better than developing a pre-game/pre-T.A. tournament alliance with someone and then blowing the fuck out of the guys left out. I have gotten away from this lately (probably due to reputation) but I hope to resume my sneaky tactics soon - anything goes suckers!

 Favorite Tactic # 3: “The Mini-Base”

Can you have 3 favorites? I guess it’s a 3-way tie. This is a “real” tactic however. During late game play, when things get bogged down in a defensive stalemate, I like to try to develop mini-bases under the cloak of radar jamming units. The mini-base usually consists of a few flakers, a bertha, and maybe an advanced K-bot plant for protection and of course the radar jammers. The great thing about the mini-base is that you can build one in a matter of minutes with a few advanced construction aircraft and when it is found and destroyed, just throw up another one. If done right, you can take out major resource units and at the very least, you will distract your opponents and maybe throw off their game plan.

 Favorite T.A. memory:  When I was introduced to T.A. at the first ever Guy Day in Lem’s basement. “Find a shiny rock and build shit on it!” Was the detailed instruction I received. After playing for an hour, I had an aircraft plant (level 1) built on a shiny rock (that’s what I was told to do). I had one (yep one) airplane and Lem steamrolled me like the Nazis goose-stepping through Poland. Fun. In the next game, I realized my Commander had a D-gun and 30 seconds into the game I wandered into Danny’s Commander and D-gunned us both to death - again…fun.

TA Advice:  Be creative. It is easy to fall into your T.A. routine (something every guy should have) but the player who is willing to try the unusual by building an unexpected unit or attacking in a unique manner will be the one who eventually sets themselves apart and have the chance to win..

Last Updated on
November 22, 2006