Hi. Cliver here, the rover fan and the tank enjoyer. I was looking for ways rovers can beat tanks in the early game. The mid game seems to be the hardest for the rovers, because I failed to pump out tanks fast enough to counter other tanks, and tanks don't synergize well with rovers (meaning that my best option is to commit to transitioning). So I was thinking of better transitioning forces.
I was thinking that rovers & tanks are usually plopped on flat maps. This means that advanced radars, when fielded, get unlimited vision range. This means that plane radars are not a necessity. Furthermore, every tank has massive health, so fire support is required.
So far, I think that the best choice is the gunship factory with mass harpies. Harpies have the range to deal with kodachis and ogres alike. Harpies are an effective defense tool. Harpies deal heavy damage to individual targets. Furthermore, their slow damage can allow heavier units to take favorable fights, say... ravagers. Or even let slower forces, like scorchers, to engage! Some might say that 20 harpies will lose to 5 thrashers, but I say, "3 harpies need 5 thrashers to be defeated." The tank opponent, no matter how many harpies I build, will be forced to overspend on vulnerable anti-air defenses other than ogres. At worst, the
thumpers ettins?... tank flak will be yet another target to pick off.
My goal is not to destroy all of the enemy with gunships, just their tank army they were building from the start, which I left uncontested due to rover plays. After the army is destroyed, and metal is reclaimed, I can transition into a tank force myself.
Additional benefits of a gunship army:
- Gnats can invalidate heavy units
- A single charon can speed up retreat of rover assault units, ravagers
- Even if I don't plan to krow rush, the enemy will be wary of the potential threat
- Gunships have the most mobile (and effective) anti-air, rivaling rover anti-air.
- Revenants are an option
- an opportunity to use gunships more
Cons:
- Gunships cannot dive deep into the enemy's base (especially with tanks. Rovers cover this weakness)
- Gunships are worse as spies (Rovers & tanks usually play on flat maps. Advanced radar gives infinite vision on flat maps. Flat maps lighten this weakness)
What do you folk think of this transition plan? Are there better options?
