March 27th, 2008
While reading an article at Twenty Sided i got hooked on one phrase: “Real Time Logistics” game.
As Real Time Strategy game advanced, they became more and more complex. At first, simple “tank rush” strategy was enough. Rock – paper – scissors relationships of later games created a more balanced and easy to understand games. But every recent game (recent as last 5 years) added new layer of complexity. I didn’t really played them much, but games I played were like that. Warcraft III added hero units, Age of Empires III included Home City concept and most games added neutral races like native tribes in AOE III or creeps in Warcraft III. In reviews, those concepts are named as innovations but to me they are just complications of the original concept.
There’s also use of the word strategy, a misnomer because RTS games are actually combination of tactics and logistics. You start on empty map and create some buildings and produce units. That could be strategy but what makes a difference between players are their logistics skills. Organize peasants to work on different resources and balance them between different sites, watch for depleted resources and send workers somewhere else immediately, build storage spaces near resources… These is logistics. After some time you need to switch accent from supply units to military. When you have the army, use your tactics skills to divide or flank the enemy, exploit opponents vulnerabilities and use advantages of terrain and abilities of your units.
In such games i don’t enjoy in combat part. I find logistics part far more interesting. Building a base, exploiting resources, advancing through ages… I wish i could just send supplies to some other guy who prefer to destroy things and hates the building part. Can you imagine this scenario? It could be a multiplayer game where what is now one player is divided in two: builder and warrior. Every team starts with one scout and one settler.
Warrior: I use the scout unit to quickly inspect the surroundings.
Builder: Scout discovered some nice flat land so I use the settler to build a town center.
Warrior: I try to discover nearby resources and explore as much terrain I can without fighting.
Builder: I produce some peasants in town center and start to exploit nearby resources. When I have constant inflow of resources, I build some basic military units and send them to rally point.
Warrior: Finally, I got some new units. I attack wild animals I’ve discovered and allow the builder guy to reach all resources without casualties. I mark some places for the builder where he should put watchtowers.
Builder: Village is growing nicely. We advanced to next age, raised some watchtowers and sent new military units to the warrior. He requested more archers so I’ve sent them; we have enough wood.
Warrior: My army has found enemy mine protected with the watchtower. We killed some workers but he already upgraded his towers and it would be suicide to attack it with archers. I request some catapults!
Builder: Stone is scarce here. Warrion requested some expensive units but we don’t have that much stone. I’ve managed to build some catapults but without upgrades. He’ll wait until next advance.
Warrior: We destroyed the watchtower and killed peasants and some guards near them. We had too much casualties because gay at home didn’t send me all catapults i requested. Stupid farmer.
Builder: Shit, we’re under attack and stupid warrior is chasing chickens at enemy farm. Get the hell over here! Send knights immediately. I have only some pikemans here and he came with axemans.
Warrior: Damn, so that’s why he didn’t retake this mine. Knights are returning to town. Build some catapults down there and I’ll attack them from behind. My catapults will terrorize his village and try to destroy his stables.
Builder: We stopped their attack but they destroyed our farms.
Warior: Send me more fire throwers! We got him now!
Builder: I can’t, we don’t have food. I’ll create some more workers first.
Warrior: No, no, no. Build some fire throwers and we are the winners.
Builder: Wait a little.
Warrior: Argh, it’s too late now. He upgraded his stables now. He’s too strong now. Upgrade us, now!
Builder: I have no money for upgrades. I spent everything on fishing boats.
Warrior: How the hell will this boats defend you from knights? Will you splash them or what?
Builder: But we need food.
Warrior: We need castle.
Builder: I didn’t research it yet.
Warrior: Build many pikemans then.
Builder: Shouldn’t we save the gold for upgrades?
Warrior: No, we’re doomed. He’s coming with knights and catapults.
WE LOOSE
Builder: You didn’t have to attack so soon.
Warrior: If you sent me what I requested we would won.
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