Everyone knows how to click structures to build them and once they are complete place and them to create your base. However, did you know placing these structures in specific ways can vastly improve your game by making it easier for you to defend and harder for your enemy to attack? All it takes is a little know-how in where to place things! This guide is designed to help you understand more about base building, defending and production. Enjoy!

The Basics      What is the difference between these two bases? Both of the bases have the same amount of structures but they are built completely different. The top one’s buildings are spread out over a greater distance making it over all more difficult to defend. Since GDI tends to boast some good firepower but not a lot of speed, reaction time is crucial when responding to a threat. In the beginning of a game it’s important to be able to respond to threats quickly and efficiently as an attack as small as a few Attack Bikes can determine the game before you really start playing!

     Look at the way the refinery is positioned in the bottom picture. It is facingtowards the tiberium. I see many players simply placing their refineries close to the tiberium but not taking the extra time to face it towards the tiberium. Facing it towards the tiberium (left click then hold+drag) allows your harvesters an easier and quicker time gathering resources. Typically, I like to have 3 harvesters per refinery and I usually have just one ref on a tiberium field.

     Now take a look at the each war factory and how they are positioned differently and also turned differently. The reasoning behind placing the war factory the way it is in the bottom picture fills a number of important roles. First of all it is close to my refinery which is where my harvesters are usually harvesting. If they are attacked I can quickly send them towards my war factory to being repairs at once to make it harder for my aggressor to kill them. The war factory in the bottom is also facing the general direction of my opponent. when a threat is knocking at my door step and a tank of mine is rolling out I want it to immediately be able to fire and respond as soon as possible. Keeping my units around my war factory also enables mine to constantly be repaired as my opponents are not. Of course if he leaves that area and threatens another part of my base I will have to leave the repair radius (The circle around your war factory you see if you click on it, which is the range of your repair drones) of my war factory and engage him, but as long as he stays around it I can fight him with an advantage. One last trick I like to do with my war factory, though I could not efficiently do it in the bottom picture, is place my war factory in such a way as that repair raduis bleeds over into where my harvester unload. This way, if I survive an attack, they will keep mining and get automatically repaired once they bring a load of tiberium in.

     Finally, take a look at the barracks in the bottom picture. It’s further away from the tib to prevent tib exposure to my infantry and cause unneeded damage. It is also facing my opponent so the moment my infantry are trained they are fighting or able to respond that much quicker.

Mid Game
     Due to a construction yard’s very high armor, early game protecting it from attackers isn’t such a high priority. Only in rare cases will it be very important to heavily defend it as players typically do not put a lot of pressure on it at first. During mid game however, armies begin to get larger and more lethal units are fielded such as the flame tank. If a few flame tanks are ignored in your base it will be game over.

     At this point in the game this kind of base is still very functional and safe. Be sure to have enough detectors to catch hidden and unwanted baddies from hitting you from your South side. I’ve put up a communications center and am working my way up the tech tree. I will sometimes put up my sonic field around my tech buildings if I feel they could use the extra protection. This is a very easy to use and efficient ability. It prevents enemies from capturing your things that are affected by the fencing with an engineer, they cannot use explosives on it such as the C-4s from commandos or shadow teams and doubles the armor of the structure!

     As the need for power increases the number of power plants will also increase. Noticed how all my power plants are not in one place. This is key because quick players may find that spot in your base and take out the weakly armored power plants and give you some real trouble. When your power is offline, production is slowed, any research or upgrades halt and the higher your power requirement is above your actual power level production time will increase until times are doubled! If your power goes offline and your in an emergency remember to power down structures that aren’t immediately useful to focus power where you really need the power such as your defenses.

     Some games you may want to acquire an air force at this time during the game. I typically do not place my Air Fields close to an entrance. Landed aircraft are very vulnerable to enemy attack from the ground. Keeping them centered in your base or off to the side will offer some protection and distance between your landed craft and your enemy. Be sure to keep a few units further outward to spot incoming threats that may be trying to eliminate your air force. I always try to keep my air units in the air when they are loaded full because if an enemy kills your air field when your ships are landed they will all be destroyed.

High Tier Bases

     If a game gets to the point in which we are unlocking the highest of our faction’s technologies then the battle will get fiercer yet and keeping your base healthy becomes even more important. My power requirements are through the roof at this point (Not to mention at this point you will most likely have build a number of defenses which are not shown here) so my power plant count is getting high. I can ease this by upgrading my power plants once I have a communications center. Notice how I’ve only upgraded the power plants in the center of my base. These power plants, since they have been upgraded, are more precious and deserve more protection. Power plants also make a nice cushion for my tech center. It creates a wall like effect and my defenses and units also protect it. (Better to lose that power plant than my Tech Center!) It’s also a good habit to create more power then you actually need so if your opponent targets your power you will have enough extra to compensate for their attack and attempt to put you offline. Also try not to build all your tech buildings in the same place. Even putting a little bit of distance between them can help. If your enemy find them and catches you off guard he can eliminate them all versus only getting one.

     The super weapon, if you decide or manage to get one, should be placed in the deepest part of your base. When that counter gets closer and closer to 0:00 the enemy will begin to use desperate attempts to destroy it. Make sure to protect your investment! Just when you think it is protected it might not be and a player will find very sneaky ways to get rid of your super weapon. Keep ample defense, detection and be alert and prepared. Keep it away from the outsides of your base so it isn’t easily picked off. I placed mine there because I know to my East is the edge of the map. Air can swoop in and kill it so I know to place enough air defenses around. Don’t just place defense directly around it either. Keep it in a wide area and make sure your entire base is covered. Getting a super weapon employs a defensive strategy and one that can easily win the game but you have to play the defensive role correctly, especially when it comes to base building!

Here are examples of both a Nod and a Scrin base:
Notice how my war factory’s repair radius is within my harvester’s drop off point.

Growth generators are very useful over the course of a game, particularly during late game but are weakly armored so keep them well defended. A passing enemy can easily dispose of them in a few seconds just on his way by or out of your base!

Building your base quickly and efficiently is very important for Kanes Wrath’s fast paced game-play. You will get better with time and a little practice but not by just reading this tutorial. The best way to get better is to actually play it so get out there commander!

 

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