How do *you* play RTS's?

Topic reads How do you play RTS's? I think RTS's are awesome, but none of the gamemodes are quite right for me for a few reasons.

Campaign: Most of the time, an RTS campaign is EZ-mode. Move a convoy here, do this with these units, limited options for basebuilding, etc. The story is nice to have, and sometimes it can be engrossing (I'm looking at you WiC), but the gameplay in the end just doesn't cut it.

Single Player Skirmishes: This is where I generally spend my time given the AI is good. You have full access to all game features, gameplay is an absolute blast, but eventually its repetitive to play over and over with no driving story or motive.

Multiplayer: As much fun as single player skirmishes, PLUS has the added drive to keep you playing over and over. The only problem is that, depending on which RTS, a game can take well over an hour. Usually by that time, either I have to leave or somebody else leaves and the game is effectively ruined.

I love the RTS genre. I absolutely love to play them, but I just can't get into them as much as I can FPS/RPGs for the above reasons. Thoughts? With RTS's, which gamemode do you usually play most?

My only gripe about RTS's is that for multiplayer, most communities are insanely devoted to that game and are damn good. RTS is like, the only genre I'm almost scared to play multiplayer because of how poorly I may play, it's MUCH more noticeable than in any other genre imo. Needless to say, only online I have really done is for Warcraft 3, I always do decent but my god......I am far from a micro king like some of those guys. Gimme my FPS or MMO any day, I do much better in those comfort zones for multiplayer.

I love RTSs, especially Blizzard's RTSs. I like to play their games online because Battle.net is awesome and their game are just balanced, fast paced, and not that hard to learn.

The longer RTSs are ok too, but tend to wear thin after a while. Take supreme commander for example, I couldn't even begin to imagine playing that thing online. That game is just so darn complicated, and its all MACRO. Doesn't help that its a power hog, and my computer barely runs it.

StarCraft II is gonna be fun though. I'll be playing the crap out of that on Battle.net.

My only gripe about RTS's is that for multiplayer, most communities are insanely devoted to that game and are damn good. RTS is like, the only genre I'm almost scared to play multiplayer because of how poorly I may play, it's MUCH more noticeable than in any other genre imo. Needless to say, only online I have really done is for Warcraft 3, I always do decent but my god......I am far from a micro king like some of those guys. Gimme my FPS or MMO any day, I do much better in those comfort zones for multiplayer.

trijity

Well I use multiplayer to play LAN with friends only, as if I meet someone on Gamespy, he will be kinda pro expert veteran and will rush me in the beginning...

In RTSs it's about thinking. You don't have thousand units and buildings, but the ways you can combine them and use them are a lot. That's why I like the RTS games - unless the FPS, which you finish and leave on your PC, the RTSs you finish and can play Skirmish over and over again. And if the game has a map editor, the fun will be full. It's about getting used to the genre and be able to think your tactic longer than 30min :)

[QUOTE="trijity"]

My only gripe about RTS's is that for multiplayer, most communities are insanely devoted to that game and are damn good. RTS is like, the only genre I'm almost scared to play multiplayer because of how poorly I may play, it's MUCH more noticeable than in any other genre imo. Needless to say, only online I have really done is for Warcraft 3, I always do decent but my god......I am far from a micro king like some of those guys. Gimme my FPS or MMO any day, I do much better in those comfort zones for multiplayer.

FloydianBrad

I love RTSs, especially Blizzard's RTSs. I like to play their games online because Battle.net is awesome and their game are just balanced, fast paced, and not that hard to learn.

The longer RTSs are ok too, but tend to wear thin after a while. Take supreme commander for example, I couldn't even begin to imagine playing that thing online. That game is just so darn complicated, and its all MACRO. Doesn't help that its a power hog, and my computer barely runs it.

StarCraft II is gonna be fun though. I'll be playing the crap out of that on Battle.net.

JonChaoZ

The very first Red Alert had fantastic skrimish battles.You would have a serious trouble trying to beat a 1 computer at a medium difficulty and if your not a very good player , dont even think about playing against a hard computer.Because he will overrun you! Its not like that he will attack you with 2 tanks and 10 foot soldiers.He bombards you with a whole armies all the time , a real "zergling" :P

Too bad i dont know any game like RA1 was , i dont like any "magical" weapons , micromanagement and tall buildings/objects behind units can hide easily by the way.

Team skirmish :P 2-4 players vs bots... it takes less time then all human games, and it calles out for teamwork which I really love.

Ive never been a fan og the "rushing" kind of games, altho I do not mind getting out there, but games like WC3 and SC never really got to me.

Single Player Skirmishes: This is where I generally spend my time given the AI is good. You have full access to all game features, gameplay is an absolute blast, but eventually its repetitive to play over and over with no driving story or motive.

FloydianBrad

Pretty much this. I don't think I've actually finished the 'campaign' mode of any RTS in my collection. I do a few levels, enough to get a feel for the game (and follow a tutorial if available), then jump into SP skirmishes.

But yes, playing against the AI can become repetitive after a while, which is why I always have other games from other genres on the go.

My favourite kinds of RTS are those where you build a base and manage the economy (mining, farming etc.) and gradually build up your army and expand across the map.

I like human against bot skirmishes. While 4 on 4 all human players can be exciting, once a team gets an edge, unless it's an uber-balanced RTS like Starcraft, all the other team can pretty much do is try to hold the line. In COH, I've watched some 1v1s and man, they are intense. The map keeps changing hands all over the place. But with the big team battles, it's messy, but after early game, it's pretty obvious who is going to win. I used to play Warcraft III melee games, and it's always the same. About ten or fifteen minutes after the game starts, or whenever people start fighting with heroes and armies, it's the same. Four guys attack one guy's home base. His team mates come to his aid, and depending on the outcome, he either leaves game or this continues until one guy has enough. After just one guy leaves, there's really nothing his team can do. They're just going to be outnumbered and overpowered.