So me and my friend play SC2, but don't play AOE2. This guy in our class basically challenged us to a 2v1 AOE2, cause we're supposed to be "noobs". I'm figuring we could win this since well, we both have SC1 and SC2 experience (C+ iccup, diamond top 8), but I don't know how good this other guy is in AOE2.
If anyone plays AOE2, could you guys give me a quick go-over of the races, main openers, main build orders, and main unit compositions / counters?
I think the further we get into the game, the harder it will be for us to win. But in the early stages, we might be ok if we have a build order planned and get some victories earlier on. Also, if there's anything like archer rush or whatever, I'll probably be able to micro it pretty well and kill some villagers. Anything like proxy archery range into archer rush?
I figure as long as we're microing, that'll also prevent him from using his superior game knowledge to kill us in the end =). Anyways, any help is much appreciated!!!
There's no special secret to learning to play strategy games, as you should know from SC. Just play and watch replays as much as you can.
If he's just a random general RTS superstar that thinks beating 2 computers on hard is the pinnacle of gaming achievement then you could probably beat him 1v1 after a couple of games. If he's played every day on Voobly (AoK battlenet) for the past 6 years then you probably won't beat him 2v1 without a good 30+ hours practise.
You will never learn AOEII in time against this fellow.
Chinese castle units are broken Persian Elephants are broken.
Shit, I forgot which civilization it is, but there's one that let's you make their castle unit from their barracks and they're made every 2 seconds (so 30 barracks makes 15 units in a second). All you need is enough wood to keep your autoreplanting farms going, and then just a ton of gold and food. Any extra food you have, just sell for more gold and keep massing units.
However, they will die to onagers really fast or proper scorpions if he's good at micromanagement.
But I do agree that the only chance of winning is do some sort of attack early, before the veteran player has comfortably set up his operation. Since it's 2v1, you guys can try exploit his multitasking ability, harassing his resources points at the same time, just remember not over extend. Just assume that he is pro enough that he could hold off your combined attack, instead just split up and harass, and retreat if enemy decide to engage you, while still putting on the pressure from other fronts.
I think it would be really hard to truly destroy him at the start because of the town hill garrison, especially with archers, so I think you guys need some kind of mid game plan too, if he managed to survive the early harass. Again, it is important not to lose those early units, as the longer they are around harassing, the more pressure is to the enemy, maybe you guys will be able to gain enough lead to even win a veteran player with a combined army.
It sort of does, you can tell your villagers (scv's) to garrison (they go into the building like going into a drop ship) in your town centre (command centre). For every villager inside the town centre it does more damage in attack, and with every villager inside it's pretty much unkillable for the first 10 minutes of the game.
Rushes are still common and effective but they're more about shutting down your opponents economy by limiting the area he can get resources to the area directly around the town centre.
I'm a pretty big noob at AoE, I really just got good enough to beat all my housemates.
Just outmacro him. AoE2 works around the idea that certain units counter other units (i.e. some units are strong against other unit types than others) in a somewhat more obvious way than others.
Macro is just as important in competitive AoE as it is in BW so I don't think that's a good option if this guy knows his shit. In some ways even more so because resources are literally everywhere instead of just patches around the map.
I was rated pretty high in AoK back in my day so I can help you out a little.(Plus I practiced castling recently =B took me a few games to get it back to about 16 minutes, but it was decent enough.)
Basic builds to learn are 15 minute castles or lower, depending on his civ and yours you may have to change strats, if he goes for I think it's the huns? Who have no housing at the start expect one of you to be bum rushed and throw the 15 minute castles out of the window.
If you know he is playing a civilization where he probably will not bum rush you, you can probably both get to castle and then take him out, problem with AoK is that it's very possible for a skilled person to take on 2v1, it's not like SC2 in where a pro will still have trouble vs 2 platinum players. A skilled AoE player depending on map choice can demolish 2-4 people who are unskilled easily.
Another thing is you don't want him to be allowed to play on an island map, there are 13 minute castles in AoK for Ocean maps and high level people can do these quite well. (Plus you won't be able to rush him.)
I recommend one party take a heavy melee race and another take a heavy archer-race, he just won't have the units to be capable of dealing with it. (Teutons and British/Turks)
Also, a rush wouldn't be a terrible idea, and depending on the map size, having certain points around it controlled might just tip the balance in your favour.
On September 28 2011 09:55 Torte de Lini wrote: You will never learn AOEII in time against this fellow.
Chinese castle units are broken Persian Elephants are broken.
Shit, I forgot which civilization it is, but there's one that let's you make their castle unit from their barracks and they're made every 2 seconds (so 30 barracks makes 15 units in a second). All you need is enough wood to keep your autoreplanting farms going, and then just a ton of gold and food. Any extra food you have, just sell for more gold and keep massing units.
However, they will die to onagers really fast or proper scorpions if he's good at micromanagement.
On September 28 2011 09:55 Torte de Lini wrote: Shit, I forgot which civilization it is, but there's one that let's you make their castle unit from their barracks and they're made every 2 seconds (so 30 barracks makes 15 units in a second). All you need is enough wood to keep your autoreplanting farms going, and then just a ton of gold and food. Any extra food you have, just sell for more gold and keep massing units.
That's the Goths. Their special unit is practically invincible to archer fire and has a respectable attack. The first unique tech (Goths have two) allows you to make them at Barracks; the second speeds Barracks production by 50%. There's a tech that everyone gets called Conscription, which speeds all unit production by 15%, and the Goths might get a team bonus that further speeds unit production. All this means that you can plant a few Barracks outside his base and kill him, if your macro is good enough.
Unlike Starcraft, the races are more or less the same with minute differences in tech and units that will determine the resulting strategy. In your case, learning what to counter with what will be more difficult.
If you want to practice, try this, although I think it might recommend you use the Vikings; don't. Don't use the Franks, either.
AoE2 is all about early game rushing. Proxy barracks rush or get to second age and the proxy rush. Both are ideal strategies, and with 2 people its even easier to do.
EPT
