As We Inch Toward Beta...

...what are some things that a player such as myself should know about PA? My only experiences with the RTS genre has been some dabbling in some Starcraft (didn't much care for it) and many hours in both SupCom games (really enjoyed both). I've never been exceedingly good at the the genre, but I've always enjoyed playing its games.

Now, obviously this game isn't SupCom. Just from the few videos I've seen and posts I've read I can garner that much. That being said, what are some core differences between this game and the SupCom series that someone coming in basically blind should know? I've seen that there's no such thing as mass deposits for a certain kind of income, so any kind of resource generator can be placed anywhere. Also no adjacency bonus concept, which as an OCD gamer, I always liked, but I think I'll grow to like the freedom of placement better.

Anywho, if any of you can offer advice or information, it'd be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Uh, there are mass (metal) deposits ingame?

If you can get your hands on a copy of Total Annihilation I think playing that would give you a good idea of what to expect. Also, watching some gameplay videos of PA.

There are? I'd seen metal generators placed on seemingly barren ground, so I was under the impression that PA didn't have a deposit mining system. From what I'd seen, I thought mass was generated like energy.

EDIT: Huh, yeah, you're right. Odd. I dunno how I missed that. I guess the metal deposits just blended in too well with the ground, so I thought they were rocks.

The first option is pretty out of the question due to a lack of funds. Second option is what I planned to do. Any recommendations on whose videos to watch?

well it does you an extreme amount of good to have played Sup Com. PA is, as has been stated, the spiritual successor to both TA and supcom. (and to those who wanna be pedantic saying it was never stated it was the spiritual sucessor to supcom, only that of TA, it has).
the feel is the same, and as I've stated before in this post the key is really spreading endlessly.

As an average FA player I do not have to worry about the eco, but for someone who has never taken the time to get used to and master streaming eco, this will be the toughest endeavor you face.

Watching Zaphodx on youtube or any of the other casters listed in the PA Community Media: Streams and Channels! and alternating with practicing practicing practicing is your best route. maybe you can also hang out in the PA irc.

Type in 'TA Spring' into google, click the link marked 'Spring - RTS'.
It's free. You're welcome.

Thanks! Glad to hear I won't have to forget everything I learned from the SupCom games. I definitely plan on practicing as soon as I get the beta comes out, and I'll try and watch what I can for games to study what people commonly do first.

I'll check that out, thanks!

The extractor points are grey, just like the rest of the planet.

It probably needs some work.

Watching Zaphodx is highly advised. You'll get a feel for build orders, as well as macro and micro strategies.

use this. https://forums.uberent.com/threads/rel-red-mex-52973.50030/#post-774079

I watched a few vids and they started to stand out more. I do think they could perhaps stand out a bit more. Nothing overly garish like a giant M or anything like that, just perhaps a bit more of the grey showing instead of a few shards poking out.

Hitting ctrl-n places a green dot on all the metal spots, provided you're a little bit zoomed out.

Recommend you try a metal visibility mod, Cola and I have both made one.
Mine:
https://forums.uberent.com/threads/rel-green-mex-mod-v52973.51055/
His:
https://forums.uberent.com/threads/rel-red-mex-52973.50030/

I will get out a really useful tutorial when I get the chance but I'm not sure when that will be.

or this ↥ ^^

It's $5.99 on gog.com
If you can't stretch for that then, in your shoes, I'd be more concerned about my cashflow problems than Planetary Annihilation's Beta.

The first option is pretty out of the question due to a lack of funds. Second option is what I planned to do. Any recommendations on whose videos to watch?[/quote]
http://www.gog.com/game/total_anihilation_commander_pack
6$, just imagine you trade a bigmac for a game.

Am I invisible or something?

...

Neat. If you'll excuse me... I must test out my newfound powers.

I would say if you were that short on money I wouldent buy a big mac because you could very easily make multiple meals for $6

And you get way more enjoyment out of TA than a single bigmac

It's not that I'm at a loss for money, it's that I'm at a loss for money to spend on things like games.

sup com FA is 2,49€ on steam sales, so you choose, either you get that frisbee you've always wanted so dearly your whole life or the best game ever (to come out).