Video:Basics for Playing Real Time Strategy Games

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Transcript:Basics for Playing Real Time Strategy Games

Hi, I'm Shane Murphy, your technology Guru for About.com. Today we'll discuss the basics of playing modern RTS's. Almost every Real time strategy game has a built in system of rock-paper-scissors counters, where different units are designed to best each other.

Tips for Playing Real Time Strategy Games

The first step towards mastering any RTS is learning these unit relationships front and back so you can take advantage of them. This goes hand in hand with scouting, since you can't properly plan your army's composition if you don't know what your enemy has. Constantly exploring is essential to maintaining your advantage in almost every RTS out there, both for unit and resource scouting.While exploring you'll reveal what is commonly called the fog of war. In RTS's, this refers to a cloud over your vision of sections of the map that your units cannot currently see.

Facts About Playing Real Time Strategy Games

Most games have specialized units with long range vision or structures with specialized abilities related to the fog of war. A basic pitfall of many RTS beginners is not being sufficiently ambitious with expansion and resource management. Other than a certain amount you store in reserves, you should never be just sitting on resources. Use them to constantly expand your base; both your initial home base and your expansion bases to take over new resource deposits.

Additional Information About Playing Real Time Strategy Games

Finally, the most universal skill you'll need to excel in competitive RTS gaming is speed. You must be able to react quickly, make snap judgements, and have excellent hand speed to excel in online play, no matter what title it is. There are a few titles you can immerse yourself in to get a baseline feel for what every RTS has to offer. The original Starcraft, Command and Conquer: Red Alert, and Warcraft 2 will get your feet wet with the basics while providing a glimpse at how RTS games have developed over the past 15 years.Whether you want to eventually play competitively or are just building basic competency, these tips will help you build up the skill base and confidence to pick up any new RTS and feel at home. Check out About.com's dedicated gaming channel for more information on everything video games.

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