Matrix Games Forums

Hello,

I'm new to the game and have become addicted quickly... Does anyone have a list of suggested readings...preferably online, to help in developing effective combat strategies?

Skryking the new cannon fodder

Well, you have the manual and the guide, which have a lot of information. Not everything of course, but part of the fun is to find out new stuff.
Standard military strategy and tactics apply to this game. Stuff like concentrate firepower, divide to conquer, support platforms, use of cover for ambushes and undetected approach, indirect missile fire, ... all work extremely well in the game.
I'd say playing will be your best teacher, but sharing experiences with other people often brings enlightenment, and reading (*really* read, not just look at) the game's documentation is also very helpful, at least in the beggining. And above all, common sense applies in almost every situation, which is one of the best aspects of this game.
Hope this helps a bit.

A few tips for beginners :

1. Fire when you are stionary, not on the move.
2. Fire when your target is stationary, harder to hit it on the run or even worse while dodging.
3. Take a look on your titans strength/weakness. Select a good medium/long range fire position with your snipers or missile boats. Keep in cover with your close combat titans.
4. If you play a non random team take care your manager has a decent business skill and participates in battles too.
5. Make good use of the terrain, don't scatter your team.
6. Beginners should take a defensive approach.
7. Don't play the AI at levels better than your team average.
8. Use weapon reloading intervals for active scans if these do not take too long.
9. Good scanners and battle computers are important, other equipment like E.C.M.s and flares are not so important in the beginning.

10. Have fun !

Watch your heat!!!!
This game is driven by heat and the limitations it puts on your Titans.
I personally fire 95% of the time on heat black (recycle,heat,black) just because you have 8 weapons firing all of them at once is usually not a good idea. That temp gauge on the lower right hand side is there for a reason.
While Larkin is correct in suggesting that (especially with beginner pilots) you fire while stationary, when waiting for weapons to recycle try walking. This makes you 5% harder to hit and is better than being a stationary target for someone else <img src="smile.gif" border="0">
PS: there is no skill check for breaking a move when walking.

I beleive there is also an actual GUIDE to the strategy of ToS, which was left in the capable care of my good friend Lyhrrus. What he has done with it I know not, but I had hoped he would have finished it and given it to you all.

I don't know,but are you making referrence too the 50 pages of tutorials (that i have printed up and sit within arms reach),in this it explains the Movements,Factory,Battle, and some tactics? if i never printed this up,i would have been thoroghly lost,dazed and confused more then i already am(LOL),if thats what your looking for,i found mine while online and browsing the ToS files,i clicked it (Online Manual) and it took me right too it,so i promptly printed it up,it's been a great guide and a lifesaver!!

PC is talking about something different.
I know of 4 written resources for ToS :

1. The online manual. It is the official documentation written by Vicious Byte and extended by various fans.

2. The ToS guide written by Iceman is a more indepth guide to game mechanics.

3. The strategy guide by Prince Corrin which I asked to be melted with

4. The titan design guide by Lyhrus

The last two never made it to the download section as a complete work.

I can email them on request ( also by email ).

Please use henriks@matrixgames.com as our @viciousbyte accounts are down at the moment.

There's always Hetzer's school of Hard Knocks.
Look at it this way, some people charge an arm and a leg for instruction, with me, well.......you weren't using your head for anything anyway, right <img src="smile.gif" border="0">