Is there a point to infantry in RTS?

I'm not an avid RTS player and when I do play it's custom games on SC or ctrlQ select all zerging in others.

I recently purchased WiC from the D2D Sale and I'm loving the game, quality product. Since you don't have to base build and need only buy units with accumulated points it got me thinking, Why buy a half dozen infantry when I can buy a tank for a few points more? Maybe in games with a base and economy you may need to buy infantry if you're running low on resources after a base attack, but why buy infantry that usually die quickly over a tank that has armor and heavier guns?

Another thing I've noticed in RTS is, why buy anything else once you can get air units? Unmatched mobility, power of a heavy ground unit, and always unreachable by some units.

In my experience, there is normally a rock-paper-siccors link between units:

Simplified example: Infantry can kill airplanes, airplanes kills tanks, tanks can kill infantry.

But i haven't played any RTS released since 2006 or so, perhaps the need for balanced armies and intelligent strategies has changed?

Depends on the game you are playing, SC is obviously a one unit spam fest and WiC get steam rolled by the tanks, but in games like Men of War, Company of Heroes or Dawn of War 2 the infantry is versatile and dynamic.

I do know what you mean, and to be honest in some game they are early tier units, and pretty worthess later on.

Relic does a VERY good job in thier RTS keeping early tier units VERY useful throughout the game, both in DoW and CoH an inf unit, can be the worst thing a tank can ever encounter.

SC is kinda interresting... its about massing, so a mass of Marines are pretty lethal allround, but easily killed. and they cant take alot of losses before they become useless.

And I know that in C&C 3 inf units is a sound tactic to victory, but much in the same way as in SC, not like CoH or DoW where a unit with a missile launcher WILL bring down a tank if used right, ina 1-1 ratio more or less

in alot of games tho they can simply be discarded for stronger higher tier units,

As has already been mentioned, the answer to this question is different in every RTS. Using Total Annihilation/Supreme Commander as an example, air units are very powerful but will get absolutely cut to pieces by a good AA defense grid. I've had matches where I've literally built 100s of bombers, set them to a squad and ordered them to an enemy base en masse only to have the whole fleet cut shredded after only destorying maybe a few buildings.

-Byshop

Another thing I've noticed in RTS is, why buy anything else once you can get air units? Unmatched mobility, power of a heavy ground unit, and always unreachable by some units.

Anthony01355

Because if you just build air units, any remotely competent enemy will just go ahead and build a ton of anti-aircraft guns and units.

Like someone else said; rock, paper, scissors.

I don't get what your saying about Infantry in World in conflict.. Infantry are very valuable units and can easily stop any heavy unit spam.

Some RTS games encourage you to keep developing the best and the most units whilst other RTS games encourage you to make the best strategies. I would also encourage you to turn up the difficulty, seems like you're not being challenged.

Depends on the game you are playing, SC is obviously a one unit spam fest and WiC get steam rolled by the tanks, but in games like Men of War, Company of Heroes or Dawn of War 2 the infantry is versatile and dynamic.

ZuluEcho14

Sorry?

how many times have you reached the tarrasque or the battlecruiser in a starcraft match on mp really..

same can be said for warcraft 3 and to some extent dawn of war ****c & universe at war

however in many games there far more dynamic such as command & conquer, dawn of war 2, company of heroes, supreme commander, age of empires (not so much here)

You can drive your heavy tanks into the city fortified with infantry in WiC, you will see how long your tank lasts.

You can drive your heavy tanks into the city fortified with infantry in WiC, you will see how long your tank lasts.

Wasdie

YeaI just got past about the 5th mission or so in WiC, you only have access to large groups of infantry and the rocket guys were 1 shotting the tanks. Like The_Mitch was suggesting, maybe i should turn up the difficulty a notch.

If your infantry wears a terminator power armor and wields thunderstorm shields and power fist even the Baneblades should tremble. But in realistic modern warfare infantry usually has la low profile in terms of combat weight. Is all ICBMs > Air Force > Logistics and then MBTs + air cavalry.

[QUOTE="ZuluEcho14"]

Depends on the game you are playing, SC is obviously a one unit spam fest and WiC get steam rolled by the tanks, but in games like Men of War, Company of Heroes or Dawn of War 2 the infantry is versatile and dynamic.

Mograine

Sorry?

In WiC a squad of AT soldiers can take down a tank in a matter of one or two missile hits. Put six squads of mixed regular infantry and AT infantry in buildings or a forest and its game over for any tanks rolling in overconfident.

As for infantry in general in RTS games, I love them; they can garrison buildings, and I just like ordering soldiers around because it seems more satisfying. There is something impersonal about ordering a machine (tank) around as opposed to a person. I like rolling in Blitz-style; tanks up front, with infantry in back.

My infantry are my clean up crew :P. Armour scares away the able, storm troopers execute the wounded... in the barest sense.

But there are some pretty wonky balance issues more and more these days. A panther should not be in the fight of its life when it comes across a squad of Rangers. That is all I have to say.

ive played lots of rts's in my time and in my opinion i say infantry dont really do anything because they die so fas so im more of a person who only builds tanks or atleast the closest thing to it. I would only use soldiers if it was an infantry only game but in games like dawn of war infantry are important since you get little vehicles.

I'm 3-4 missions further into WiC and I prefer to have some groups of infantry(anti tanks/sniper) hanging around in some trees. I was on a mission that required defending a snowy bridge while sending the rest of my forces to the other side of the map. I left two groups of anti tank infantry hold up in houses behind to defend and they held the endless trickle of tanks no problem.

This doesn't mean infantry are great in every RTS, but I'm starting to see their potential and rock, paper, scissors usage in WiC.

Well in my experiences with WiC the Infantry are VERY underrated. Its hard not to point out the flaws such as being weak but if you get a few buildings surrounding a base then that base is as good as locked down (riflemen, anit-tank,snipers and engineers for mines and junk).... until you get pulverized by a tactical nuke that is.

So yes, but youre mainly playing a supporting role which is not a bad thing, especially the way WiC works online

All i play is infantry in WiC, trust me, if you find cover in the forest, and a buddy to take out any artillery threats, you're unstoppable

All i play is infantry in WiC, trust me, if you find cover in the forest, and a buddy to take out any artillery threats, you're unstoppable

stabthemidget

Yes - if you talk about World in Conflict ... a skilled infantry commander is very hard to beat, because of buildings, woods and sight bonuses, not to mention they can take out air units and tanks alike.

If you play online you will see it - I suspect you probably have not ?

I use almost only infantry in WiC... I find them so versatile. Add helicopters and they're the fastest moving land unit available. Also, while garrisoned they're incredibly tough. I think you just haven't given infantry a fair chance.

Play CoH and you will witness the power of infantry. You can win epic battles with just infantry. I was able to partner up with a high ranking brit player and his style is unique. Numerous infantry with about two or three lieutenants and captain partnered with sappers with PIATs. Boy oh boy they're really unstoppable. Even upgraded grenadiers have no chance. The Panz IV and even the Jagpadnther are no match. Truly the power of infantry.

In WiC, the infrantry is meant to be scattered in trees and building.