The TEN Commandments of TA and TA:CC                      Page 1


  1. Don't Lose Your Commander

  The Commander is powerfull, but not invincible. In the thick of the things,

  it's easy to lose track of where the Commander is located. Press Ctrl-C to

  immediately center the screen on the Commander at any point in the game.

  Early on, use the Commander aggressively to set up resource generators.

  He'll also have to use his Disintegrator Gun more than once when your base

  is seriously threatened by an enemy attack. Be cautious with the

  Commander once a game is well under way. If the enemies are in command

  of the skies , try to hide your Commander under water or in a nearby forest

  for safe keeping. Be careful, however; placing the Commander under water

  is very dangerous if the enemy has subs, since the Commander cannot 

  fight back when submerged.


  2. Know Yourself, Know Your Enemy

  Total Annihilation features more than 150 different units and structures.

  You should make a point of learning to recognize types of units instantly,

  and memorizing their special qualities. Otherwise, you'll have a hard time

  building an army that features the proper mix of units and organizing them

  well. Each side features more than forty Mobile Units, Kbots, Landverhicles,

  Ships and Aircrafts. The result is a battlefield crowded with diverse units,

  each of which is ideally used in its special way. Knowing the difference

  between a Triton amphibious tank and a Bulldog battle tank is knowing the

  difference between a surprise attack sea/land unit and a land based

  juggernaut. Each has his own strengths and weaknesses that you should

  understand. Although the menus presenting the units and the structures are

  easy to read and work, nothing can take the place of knowing the strength

  and weaknesses of each unit. Obviously, you should also know what's

  required in order to aquire the ability to build any given unit. Many of the

  better ones become available after you've done all the building required to

  reach the higher structure and unit levels.


  3. Expand To Conquer

  Building a defensive base with tightly clustered structures doesn't lead to

  victory in Total Annihilation. Expand! Expansion means access to more

  metal and geothermal energy resources, the key to further growth. In the

  short term, strategy based primarily on creating an unassailable base brings

  peace in mind. in the long run, however, you'll give up a lot of ground to a

  hungry and aggressive enemy. The AI is very good at finding resources and

  putting them to immediate use in its war machine. You cannot complete

  without making an old-fashioned grab for territory and the resources that go

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