3.5.1) Get Docking Booms on the starbase if you are TEC.  I've gotten run over too many times by high level AI's because my repair platforms ran out of antimatter.

If you are facing a TEC or Advent opponent, you have to watch out for the anti-structure cruisers.  If you don't have much fleet and are relying on the starbase, I've found that the AI builds lots of them.  You need to find a way to get lots of fighters into that gravity well to kill them before they get your starbase.

I always read about synergies, but i have never gotten a really good explanation on what they are. In a Multiplayer 1v1 what would you consider a good AL startup that is not a rush to kill, if i wanted to rush my opponent then i would play Starcraft 2.

Synergies are just using ships that combo together, mostly by buffing each other. I.e. having your entire fleet under shield projection while a progenitor restores the shields of the guardians, with a Rapture nearby to further reduce enemy damage, while a Halcyon is boosting your ships damage while Discordia is nerfing their armor etc. When you have a lot of advent capitalships/support cruisers/titan together, they are far more powerful than the sum of its parts.

So would you just keep the entire Advent fleet in one control group under one fleet on close position? What would you do if you were being attacked at more then one location? How do you split your fleet? What is the optimum order to get capital ships?

I agree with you, but if you don't know even the basics then it can be hard to learn what to do right. What are the most common races online? What are the most common strats?

Would you say that carrier spamming is good early game or is it better to start building up a illuminater fleet? I hear illuminaters are really good but have shorter range and less single target damage then the other LRF's.

What is a good early game fleet comp and how does it usually progress into the mid-late game?

How does culture fit into this? I really like the Advent culture, especially AL with the auto spread with Global Unity that also increases max allegiance. Is getting some culture early to much of a risk?

What are some common maps used in multiplayer games? Are random maps ever used? I mostly play on random maps, but i imagine that OLM uses specific maps that are at least remotely balanced.

Depends on what your opponent does, but all else being equal the Advent Corvettes, Light Frigates and Defense Vessel is probably their best ship comparatively. Illuminators were OP for a long time but since late in Diplomacy, and thus all of Rebellion, they're probably the worse long ranged frigate. Advent carrier cruisers are good and early but you really need a good number of them to hit a critical mass to be effective. Carrier capitalships, on the other hand, are good early for all 3 races.

In multiplayer it usually ends late game with lots of carriers, corvettes and support cruisers to counter titans. Again your fleet should be based on what your scouts reveal your opponent to have, this isn't starcraft with dogmatic build orders. I believe my previous post should give you a basis for what to work with though.

Culture... it depends. As an economic factor, it totally fails to make up for the Advent disadvantage in trade. However, culture has other uses, mainly putting pressure on close enemies, buffing your fleet, and preventing colonization, so for these things it can be useful. Global unity in particular is only for the max allegiance and to ensure you have your military culture benefits at all friendly planets. Getting anything early, trade, culture, whatever, can be a risk if you don't have the military power to protect it, as human players will attempt to take these out early if you can't repel them.

It's actually all random maps. 5v5 is the preferred though 4v4s are also common if only 8 players are available. I'd hope they're using the competitive maps by now though it seems many MPers still don't really know what they do, at least back when they were added when I checked.

I'd consider getting HCs to be the beginning of late game unless you rush for them. Desdras are good ships, but the problem for heavy cruisers in general is that late game there WILL be lots of bombers around. The Vasari Loyalists are the only ones that should really seriously consider them.

Mainly the guardian, learning to use both of its abilities is quite important. However the Domina is now much easier to use in Rebellion, it's totally worth having a few to keep your capitalships and titans alive, assuming you can spare the cost for the research.

You do not pressure them mid game. You do that early game. By mid game any competent enemy will also either have or be able to get culture, at which point you're unlikely to make a significant impact with it. Early game it works because most players focus on military labs, and may not be able to get culture, or if they can it will slowly them down or force them to scuttle a factory.

Not really, no one has time to get those. Maybe if you're in the economy (ECO) position with another eco player next to you.

To all experienced players:

I'm a very new sins player, just starting to learn the basics. I'm hugely into competitive multiplayer games such as Dota 2, SC1 & 2 and am willing to learn. Well not only am I willing but I positively encourage new players to strive to better their game. Nothing better than playing a game against equally high skill players.

Well anyway I'm on a break from Dota 2 due to the high amount of ragers and stress and I sold my SC2 account to a friend last month, so this week I picked up SOASE:R in the steam sale. I've been learning the very basics and had a couple multiplayer games which I unfortunately didn't know I could record. Anyway I saw you and several others on ICO the other day, all with high games played so figured you'd be the guys to talk to.

I was wondering if I can get in on some games which I will then record and you can advise me on where I can improve after the game. Also I notice only a small handful of players on ICO at any one time, is the multiplayer on this game pretty dead or is it all done through private matchmaking to keep leavers/newbies out?

Anyway I have a headset as well as TS3, Skype and Mumble so getting on mics is gonna be the best way to bring me up to a competitive level, pm me on the forum if you have the time to teach

ShottyMonster what is your name in game?  Mine is always Mr_Book.  If you see me I'd be very happy to play a game or two with you and give you some pointers.

Thanks for the reply Ruby. Still have to work on scuttling stuff, that's something I never think of.

Thanks,

A