Games you don't get

[Blu]

I've never grasped the hard counters to Warcraft III and the Starcraft Series. I also am unable to grasp the basics of the macro/micro game. I have an admiration for those that do it very well.

[ZeroAX]

I don't "get" what the "strategy" elements of RTS games are. To me it seems just like a case of big pile of soldiers vs bigger pile of soldiers.

[Ack]

I don't "get" what the "strategy" elements of RTS games are. To me it seems just like a case of big pile of soldiers vs bigger pile of soldiers.

Yes and no, it depends largely on the game. Total Annihilation is my favorite example of an RTS where things like this matter: terrain and landscape has an effect, debris from explosions can damage nearby units, destroyed units leave wreckage on the field that must be maneuvered around, battles can rage on land, sea, and air, so on and so forth.

Yes, swarm tactics are always an option, though they don't always work: case in point in TA, the Core's base kbot unit, the AK, is not as effective as the Arm's base kbot unit, the PeeWee. AK's do more damage on a single shot than PeeWee's do, but the PeeWee's rate of fire is much, much higher. So while the AK makes a decent foot soldier to send in, en masse he won't last against a smaller force of PeeWees. Throw in some decent base defenses and a Commander backing it, and an AK rush just won't work.

So what do you do? You soften them up from afar: long-range artillery and naval strikes, bombing campaigns, nuclear strikes if necessary and if the game goes on that long. You then send in your troops, though you have to time it a bit: vehicles are generally faster, so you can start a wave with fast attack vehicles, followed by your kbot infantry supported by armor. Or you can send in slower infantry with your fast attack vehicles waiting in the wings to take the field if your infantry gets bogged down. Sure, massing might work, but you'll suffer heavy losses(which means your opponent could still win based on points) and you may fail horribly, leaving you potentially exposed for a counterattack.

Depending on the game, you may simply not be able to mass units fast enough, or your individual units may be too weak to effectively mass. In Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War, massing Imperial Guard is how you use them, but improperly arming them and misusing a Commissar may result in the massive casualties you experience not being effective(and you will suffer massive casualties with them, it's kind of the point with them). Compare this to the Space Marines, where a single loss in a squad can be much more damaging to their overall effectiveness, and you'll never have the ability to mass units like the IG can. Another game with a similar mass army is the Russians in Age of Empires 3. You get far more units than anyone, but they're quick to die, and a well-planned army with artillery support and cavalry can route an unruly mob of soldiers quite easily.

Massing tactics are only so effective, and if you're facing an opponent that properly plans and builds an army and maneuvers it, your force is probably going to be chewed up and spit out, leaving you defenseless in the face of an oncoming army.

[Violent By Design]

I don't "get" what the "strategy" elements of RTS games are. To me it seems just like a case of big pile of soldiers vs bigger pile of soldiers.

Have to decide what types of soldiers you will field. Need to plan what type of technology to invest in, and whether you will have resources.

Need scouting, need to prioritize certain targets in fights etc.

Kinda like saying you don't get what the strategic elements are in war, it's just a big pile of soldiers fighting other big pile of soldiers.

[ZeroAX]

Have to decide what types of soldiers you will field. Need to plan what type of technology to invest in, and whether you will have resources.

Need scouting, need to prioritize certain targets in fights etc.

Kinda like saying you don't get what the strategic elements are in war, it's just a big pile of soldiers fighting other big pile of soldiers.

In real war a superiod tactic can win over greater number, and sometimes even better tech. In RTS games I never see formations have a big effect. The only exception is the Total War series, and from what I understand from Ack's posts TA too. Terrain just doesn't matter in most mainstream RTS games I think.

[Retrogamer0001]

2. Resident Evil and Silent Hill. I hate the tank controls and find both games clunky as hell and awkward to play. I can never seem to make any progress. That said, I was recently given a Resident Evil strategy guide so I may give the original another shot (Summer Games Challenge 2015?).

Having beat Silent Hill 2 and 3 within the space of this year (as well as Resident Evil 6, but I feel dirty admitting to that), my best advice involves 1) running from enemies as much as possible, and 2) using the map constantly to plan your routes. Check every door, locked or not, in these games as they will get crossed out on your map as possible places to go. The more doors you cross off, the more obvious your next destination. Both games are fantastic entries in the horror genre, you're really missing out if you pass them up.

[graffix_13]

I don't get Minecraft.

I know a lot of people love it (my nephew included) but to me it just sounds....boring. You build stuff. Ok? What else? Yeah, sure, there is a mode where you kill zombies/creepers or whatever but the overall premise is still the same.

Besides building something and then admiring your work, what's the point?

I like being a little more destructive in my video games

[BogusMeatFactory]

I don't get Minecraft.

I know a lot of people love it (my nephew included) but to me it just sounds....boring. You build stuff. Ok? What else? Yeah, sure, there is a mode where you kill zombies/creepers or whatever but the overall premise is still the same.

Besides building something and then admiring your work, what's the point?

I like being a little more destructive in my video games

Initially, you may be right, but after years of updates, there is an actual objective and ending to their survival mode, which can be very challenging.

I think with the game it has always been about the story you create for yourself. Also, playing multi-player with friends enhances the game a million fold as you guys can just have fun trying to survive and blundering along the way as you make stuff.

It isn't for everyone and I get that, as it is a style of play not suitable for everyone, but for me it is amazing. I would love to play with some people though

[ZeroAX]

Guys let me repeat the OP. This isn't a thread about games you don't like, it's about games you don't understand :/

[Tanooki]

I kind of don't get Minecraft either yet I kind of do. I mean on the casual mode with no enemies and all items at use, it's digital Legos which is pretty damn bad ass without the mess or chance of some little kid playing with it or kicking it over.

But the main game? I can't tell if it's a random generation crap shoot or what, but I've made a couple maps on it since getting it months ago, never had one where it was me sitting in water or a piddly spot of uselessness, but what gets me is that the best I can typically dig to find is iron ore and maybe a spot or two of gold. I know reading up there'es many gems, redstone too, yet I never see this stuff. Also I can't seem to figure out how to create a system of food growth from plants or breeding/fencing off animals and I end up then playing the main game in non-challenge mode which sucks as there's no enemies, but just so I don't starve which sucks. Ultimately I end up playing a few days, digging pretty deep of a hole, or start making linear caves through stuff, yet never getting anything of awesome enough value to do much. I've got at this point a cobble stone home, iron door, iron tools, and glass windows along with the usual pot, craft table, kiln, the basics. I just end up pulling it up once or twice a month to chip away until I get bored again as it seems to have no direction and is just aimless. I even bought this little scholastic book for a couple bucks used around a 100 pages with some basics and crafting basics on it and that helped, but it's only good for so much. I think what's killing me is I never can find any iron ore for better gear, mining cart/rail, and so on and redstone too.