Set Building

[dragon454]

No, it's not another noob asking for a set.:p I just want to ask all you lot how you build your sets. Because I have heard a lot of people say that self built sets are the best so I just want some tips on how I should build my set.

[steve12]

Find your main strategy (offensive, defensive, etc), and find what sets you are best with (rushes, anti-rushes, turtles). Then clog up the LOS holes to your delicate units and set your units so that you have the best possible advantage in al situations from the start.

[NicK the NiNjA]

typically, i consult Cap'n Morganski first. I then proceed to close my eyes, and a set usually comes to me.

[imagination]

well first off the bet thing to do is experiment. go into settings and put things in places youve never put them in before and just play around. here is my thought process when beuilding a set.

1) does every unit have a purpose for starting where it is or are you just putting something somewhere to fill up space? I often find myself imagining the other half of the board +1 row and counting how many moves it would take for one of my units to get to a vital position. (example. a few months ago i was messing around with turtles. i took a normal corner turtle with 2 knights and moved the knights that used to be front row in front of the cleric and the other one space to the center and moved each one closer to the center. This allowed me easier access to a same side frost golem no matter what type of turtle my opponent used and my win percentage went up quite a bit when i used this turtle.)

2) While every unit will serve an opening purpose does this unit actually have any lasting powers? My favorite example would be the wisp. i always find myself trying to incorporate this wonderful unit into my sets but i can never find a lasting role for it. it simply dies extremely easily when i use it for any type of defense at all and when used offensively it is killed within the first 5 moves of the game. in most cases it is nearly a wasted unit.

3) Now that you have a powerful and long lasting set are you weak against opening cleric kill combos or are you medium to low hp units open for early kills? Do you have a lone scout on the front row with no backup? Can your cleric be killed by a dragon burn or a centered scout with a mud golem for backup or another scout? Fix any obvious problems

4) test and revise. i always test my set on rev or against clanmates and about 70% of the time i move a unit hear or there and fix a weakness i didnt think of.

[NicK the NiNjA]

My favorite example would be the wisp. i always find myself trying to incorporate this wonderful unit into my sets but i can never find a lasting role for it. it simply dies extremely easily when i use it for any type of defense at all and when used offensively it is killed within the first 5 moves of the game. in most cases it is nearly a wasted unit.

O rly? wisp owns some face at the end of the game...

[steve12]

That may be true if you are facing some slow units with lack of range near the end, but the Wisp has low hp and blocking. Therefore, the your other attackers will have to kill the enemy down while defending the Wisp in order for the Wisp to be most effective.

Still though, on some unexpected turns a Wisp can come out of nowhere and trap a few enemies, which can turn major games around quickly.

[Reckless]

Find your main strategy (offensive, defensive, etc), and find what sets you are best with (rushes, anti-rushes, turtles). Then clog up the LOS holes to your delicate units and set your units so that you have the best possible advantage in al situations from the start.

What he said.

[Dresicos]

Find your main strategy (offensive, defensive, etc), and find what sets you are best with (rushes, anti-rushes, turtles). Then clog up the LOS holes to your delicate units and set your units so that you have the best possible advantage in al situations from the start.

What she said.

[Toledo 13]

You'll find that you will gain an advantage based on the type of set you use, more than the way that type of set is customized. That is, a rush versus a turtle will have an advantage, and the placement of the units only has a slight impact on this.

[imagination]

You'll find that you will gain an advantage based on the type of set you use, more than the way that type of set is customized. That is, a rush versus a turtle will have an advantage, and the placement of the units only has a slight impact on this.

i whole heartedly disagree. I actually must admit i am not one of the best players on this game, but i seem to win nerly all of my games. The reason is because in nearly every game i play i start off with an advantage and i hold on to my advantage. It is rare when i win by more than 3 units and in most cases i win by 1 unit or 2 low hp units, no matter who i play. The begining placement of units is actually be key in the majority of my games.

[Match Strike]

I start by placing a unit on the field. Then I stare at the unit. I remove the unit from the field.

I then place a berserker on the field, and in a rush of inspiration place a whole bunch of other units around it.

I proceed to lose the next game. Back to the drawing board.


Seriously, making sets is about half the fun of tao for me, so I make a new one after every 2-4 games. I can see the strategical advantage of getting so you know one set inside and out, but to me, it's not worth it. I must create! :wizard:

[Crimson Phoenix]

I think to myself what I'm going to be doing and then just go with it. My current set is an LW killer, for the same side games and can easily flank.

[Toledo 13]

i whole heartedly disagree. I actually must admit i am not one of the best players on this game, but i seem to win nerly all of my games. The reason is because in nearly every game i play i start off with an advantage and i hold on to my advantage. It is rare when i win by more than 3 units and in most cases i win by 1 unit or 2 low hp units, no matter who i play. The begining placement of units is actually be key in the majority of my games.


Well obviously it's easy to beat someone even if they have the set advantage, so long as they are a garbage player. But most of your losses probably have to do with set disadvantages, and luck of course.

[imagination]

Well obviously it's easy to beat someone even if they have the set advantage, so long as they are a garbage player. But most of your losses probably have to do with set disadvantages, and luck of course.

My current set actually has no weaknesses in my opinion. The only thing i can find wrong with it is it moves slower than my other creations meaning my style of play is somewhat cramped. I am sure if someone just started using my set they would lose as it is hard to play with but right now i feel it is perfect because my only losses have been to being outplayed (and luck to one certain individual, you know who you are with your 1 hp knight :p).

[NeverKnowsBest.]

It's funny but I dont remember how and when i made my current Setup, but it's a pretty typical Anti rush. I dont believe that set advantages play as major a role in wins and loses as other have pointed out. Im not saying it doesnt help one way or the other, but it's definetly how you play your setup/play your setup verse theres.

[bludhoundz]

O rly? wisp owns some face at the end of the game...
Here on FPS, with more range, wisp is easier to kill. Though I agree, it does pwn pretty hard if you can keep it alive.
My current set actually has no weaknesses in my opinion. The only thing i can find wrong with it is it moves slower than my other creations meaning my style of play is somewhat cramped. I am sure if someone just started using my set they would lose as it is hard to play with but right now i feel it is perfect because my only losses have been to being outplayed (and luck to one certain individual, you know who you are with your 1 hp knight :p).

Yo! Hater! I wasn't that lucky, and your set has an advantage against mine. It was a very good game though :cool:

Anyway, the way I run with sets is I try to find a set that has as few BIG disadvantages as possible. Anti is out of the question; an opposite side turtle crushes it. The idea is to have a set that is equally disadvantageous while playing everything, but not so advantageous that I can't win by out playing my opponent.

[*TBS*_H&]

Find your main strategy (offensive, defensive, etc), and find what sets you are best with (rushes, anti-rushes, turtles). Then clog up the LOS holes to your delicate units and set your units so that you have the best possible advantage in al situations from the start.

exactly