The Reef

Type: TA Map
World: Water

Created by: AndrewAce3158

Requirements: CC, v3.1 patch

Players: 2
Map Size: 19 x 4
Memory: 16MB
File Size: 782KB
Start Positions: 10

--General
Two sides are divided by a thick, impassible reef. The only way to cross this reef is by seaplane. There is no land at all.

--Resources
Wind is high, but there is no land so wind is irrelevant. Tides produce well - 30.

Metal is poor on both sides of the reef, but there are a few extra patches within the reef to access by Construction Seaplane.

--Strategy
Your basic strategy on this map is simple: Hold off enemy attacks while building a massive fleet of seaplanes. On this map there is no way to rush. To best hold off attacks build large fields of Defenders (NS). Don't bother going for the metal inside the reef. It's not worth it and it's too difficult to defend. To get metal build rows of Floating Metal Makers and Tidal Generators. Remember: 2 Tidals = 1 Maker.

--Artificial Intelligence
The Reef uses a custom AI. If you want an AI that will challenge you choose to play against Arm. If you want your opponent to be a puching bag choose Core. This difference in the sides' skill is caused by a problem in TA which I haven't yet found a way to fix. It prevents the Core AI from being able to build the Advanced Construction Sub and therefore, no seaplanes. It also causes quite a few other problems. Both AIs are unable to build Construction Seaplanes, but this doesn't effect the AI difficulty much. I've been told that TA Bugfix fixes these problems.

To beat the Arm AI you must remember to get your Defenders up before the 20 minute mark, 'cos thats when they're gonna start attacking, and don't just build one row of defenders and expect that to stop them. Keep building defenders because the AI'll be destroying them as fast as you build 'em. Don't bother attacking with 10, even 20 planes. Wait until you have 100-200 and you'll finish them off in one swoop.

The Core AI will behave the same as the Arm AI except that it will not attack. It will just sit in its base and build massive fields of missile towers for you to destroy.

--Tools Used
• Annihilator - main map construction
• TAEB - minimap rendering
• Notepad - AI Creation, fine tuning OTA settings
• HPI View/Pack - inserting AI

ReadMe last modified: 6/5/01
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