Tips for getting better at 1v1?

[Kaegix]

Hey all,

I've been lurking for awhile now, just decided to make an account to ask some questions that I have. I've been playing FAF for a decent amount of time now, but I've mostly been playing just custom team games. I've been wanting to improve my 1v1 play, as when I do play I don't often do very well. I have a good basic understanding of the game, but most of my experience comes from my 150+ team games, and I only have ~20 1v1 games under my belt. I've watched high-rank 1v1 matches, but often times my opponent will pull something sneaky that I haven't seen before, and I just don't know how to properly counter it. So basically, I have a few questions.

How do I counter a turtle? Numerous matches I've played where my T1/T2 spam can destroy their forward base and send them reeling back to their main base, but then they manage to anchor themselves there with T2 PDS, shields, T1 PDS, and TMDs. After having assaulted their forward base, I don't have enough firepower to plow through and destroy their main base, leaving me sitting around with a tiny army of T1 units while they tech up and continue to improve their defenses. How can I counter a turtle once they're set up, and how can I prevent a turtle from setting up in the first place?

Another thing I'm struggling with is simply micro-managing. I've wanted to improve that greatly, are there any tips that can help me improve? Or is it just something that comes with experience? I have trouble controlling my forces, while upgrading mexes/factories and making sure that my engineers/ACU are doing work. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.

And last of all, would it be possible to find someone experienced who could sit down and give me their input, or even play against me and tell me what I'm doing wrong? I wanted to try the mentor thread, but I wasn't sure if those people were still active or not. Thanks for all the help, sorry about the long post.

[ColonelSheppard]

How to deal with T2 Turtles & frontbases:


Basic LandMicro:


Can't really help much if you have problems managing everything, let's just say that most players have, and that you just sometimes have to force yourself to pull back with your commander and forces for a minute and manage your economy, set up upgrade chains for mass extractors (press upgrade on all, pause all, sent an appropriate number of engys to support them one after another), spend most time outzoomed and only zoom in for micro or use the minimap to see big unit movements. Build sufficient radar coverage, often multiple t1 radars are better than one t2.

[Vee]

Tip: at the start of the game queue up a big base (factories/pgens) with your engie. Then you can focus on microing your tanks instead of continuously micromanging your base.

[ZaZen]

There is a guide here thats getting worked on by some guy called ZaZen, has some useful tips about getting better.
http://www.faforever.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=6613

As for what to do when you push them back to their base. You want to try and keep them there and take over the rest of the map and use your then better economy to make t3 artillery or mass t2 mml (mobile missile launchers) and destroy their shields and defences.

[ZLO_RD]

waching replays of losses and replays of good players

[Nombringer]

waching replays of losses and replays of good players

I should also add, don't just watch them. Think about them. Try to understand there decision making process, that is the most important. You will hardly ever get an exactly similar situation to the replay (apart from the start) but just think about the WHY aspect, this is one the most important things. Don't copy a decision, copy the thought process to reach that decision

[JeeVeS]

If you have questions about specific games you played and don't know why you lost or what you could have done better, shoot me the replay links or numbers and I'll take a look at them for you.

[ax0lotl]

Few things that helped for me to become a bit better:
- In a small 1v1 map, early game, spend all mass on units, so spam enough land facs. Don't start with upgrading mexes (but later on, do so).
- Move forward with your ACU and try to win terrain and get kills with it. Early tanks come in small numbers and can easily be taken out. 20 kills gives the first veterancy level: extra HP and regeneration, needed for weak Cybran ACU. On a small map when you have enough power, make gun upgrade (upgrade in a safe place) and make more kills -> more veterancy and thinning out opposing army.
- An ACU is a heavy tank (amongst other things), but can be stopped by making t1 point defense with walls. (In for example Finn's Revenge, your opponent will walk with his ACU into you base if you don't stop him with PD.)
- If the map is slightly bigger, engineers have to walk a long time before they can make mexes. When those engineers get killed, you are crippled. So focus on taking out those engy's of your opponent, with bomber or LAB's/tanks.
- Reclaim. Also dead units after winning a battle.