Although Supreme Commander Forged Alliance has been out for some time now, it is still arguably the best large scale RTS game you can find. Huge maps require far different strategies and techniques than the smaller theatres that most RTS games typically have. Now this game may not be for everyone as it does have a fairly steep learning curve and requires a fairly decent gaming PC. But for those willing to put the time in to learn the game it can be very rewarding. Here are a few tips to get more enjoyment out of this fun strategy game.

Tip #1 - Get the Core Optimizer

The original release of Supreme Commander Forged Alliance does not work efficiently with computers that have more than one processor. Core Optimizer is a small software utility you can download for free that can allow the game to better utilize dual core and quad core systems. In Supreme Commander you often end up with hundreds of units on the screen at one time. At some point the game can begin to seriously slow down once there a lot of units. The core optimizer helps this problem and can often allow you to run a much smoother game.

Tip #2 - Download Sorian's AI modification

Like most RTS titles the computer AI in Forged Alliance can never match the skill level of a good human opponent. The original AI that comes with Forged Alliance is pretty much average for an RTS title. Depending on the player's skill level it will probably take a few dozen games or so to get where you can beat the computer AI in nearly every circumstance. On some maps the original AI is particularly bad. Fortunately, a brilliant coder has written a much improved AI that can be downloaded for free. This AI is much better at expansion, building shields, and anti-air installations. Like any AI eventually you will find some weaknesses you can exploit but Sorian's AI nearly always fights much harder and gives the game a much more satisfying difficulty level for many players. There is also a Sorian cheating AI that is very difficult and would give all but the best players a run for their money.

Tip #3 - For added difficulty, give the computer a startup handicap

One little trick you can do to make the game more challenging is simply to sit on your hands for a given time at the beginning of the game  If you are always winning, try waiting 30 seconds after the game starts before beginning to build. If you are still always winning try waiting a minute or more. At some point you will find a starting time that makes the game challenging for you. Even waiting a minute or two before starting can make a huge difference in the difficulty.

Tip #4 - Give the AI room to get started if the game is too easy

If sitting and doing nothing for the first few minutes is just too boring you can also work on just building up your base and capturing only the closest metal deposits. Spend the first 10 minutes of the game only inside your immediate base. This gives the AI time to go out and get plenty of mass extractors and build up their base. I find it fun to use air scouts to watch them expand and keep an eye on their operations so that I know when I will need to ramp up my attacks and start taking over their resources.  Recon is one of the exciting aspects of the game and you can do those missions with your spy plane or intercepters while allowing the AI to get to a point where it can be competitive. Naturally it is unfortunate that we have to give the AI a head start to be competitive, but in the real world no war ever starts on an even playing field. So just think of your delay of starting as putting you in an underdog position that you must fight out of to survive.

Tip #5 - Try different maps to find ones that work well for your play style

The strength of both the stock AI and Sorian's AI mod vary greatly depending on the map you have chosen. On some maps the AI is not half bad, on others the AI is downright awful. It is tough to say which map is clearly the best because it often depends on your play style and which of the many weaknesses you are exploiting in the AI. I may exploit weaknesses in the AI's anti-air capabilities. In my opinion the ability for the AI to put up enough air defense in the face of massive aerial assault is a big weakness on most maps. Each player will likely have maps that work well for their play style and how the AI is stacking up against your strategy. Take the time to try different maps because it will often help you uncover new strengths in the AI and at the same time, new weaknesses.

Tip #6 - Save a starting position

One of the complaints many players have is that the game does take a little bit of time to get ramped up to where it gets really fun. This is more the case on very large maps. One trick I will use is to save a good opening sequence four or five minutes into the game. I may not know until 10 minutes later that I have in fact saved a very good starting point in which the AI has gotten a good start and can put up a very good battle. Now, rather than having to start over all at the beginning I have a good save point that will allow me to play that exciting pitched battle a number of ways. If you combine this tip with tip #4 in which you allow the AI some extra time in the beginning to get started you can sometimes get a good save that allows you a very challenging starting point for waging future battles.

Tip #7 - Leave out a unit or structure that always gives you the upper hand

I'm not a huge fan of this one as it kind of takes away some of the fun for me personally, but I thought I would mention it for those hardcore players that can whip the AI in nearly all circumstances. Sometimes I have decided at the beginning of the game I will simply not make a given unit and pretend it is just not available to me. One I have left out a few times is the battleship. It is pretty much the unit I go to if I'm battling the Sorian AI on a water map. On many occasions even just one of them has secured victory. So, if I feel that I'm way up on the AI or the game is feeling too easy I will not build that unit.

Tip #8 - If you want to be daring, trying going all land, air or naval

Most often you do much better by having a good mix of land, air, and sea. If you lose the naval battle to your opponent it can be tough when they get a formidable navy off your shores. Lose the skies to their air power and you can have a lot of trouble on your hands. Same goes with land. For fun and more challenge, you can try a game where you omit an entire segment. I personally like going heavy air power on some games. Trying to go without any land factories is very tricky and I can't say for sure I've won on a large map with only air power. But one thing I do enjoy is going with one central land factory and have every other factory I make an air factory. Then I can use transports to shuttle in land units to strategic points when they are absolutely necessary to hold a position.