Having trouble multitasking in multiplayer

[Guardian X]

Coming back after a hiatus (and switching computers), I'm finding it difficult to cover all my bases in multiplayer. If you play the AI, they're nowhere near as aggressive or as widespread as opposing human players are (for obvious reasons), and I'm rapidly getting the feeling that I'm trying to juggle too many things at once.

For one thing, I know it's in the game's design, but without listening posts it's much easier to lose requisition points this time around. If I spread my forces too thin I know they won't win, but letting the opposing players snag my points can be destructive in the long run. Trying to juggle the micromanagement of units all over the map is something I'm having trouble with--how do the better players do it?

Furthermore, I keep getting stomped in the initial clash of forces in 2v2 matches (something that can determine the outcome of the entire match). After I lose, the opponent(s) gets free rein over the map and I can't compete, let along muster the power necessary to get to T2. Does anyone have any pointers? Should I not spend power on wargear or infantry upgrades until I can get to T2?

[Malachi]

Well, for starters:

1. Do not fight battles you cannot win. If you think a battle's going south, it's often better to retreat and come back after replenishing minor losses than to get some of your squads wiped or severely thinned. That said, clear judgment of when to retreat and when not to is one of the more important skills in this game. Retreating too early might be as bad as retreating too late.

2. If you struggle for map control, have one squad dedicated to capping, and use the rest of your army together as a fighting force. Then just keep an eye on the capping squad to see if it's under attack, and if you see anything that could threaten it, run away or just retreat it if you can't focus on microing it at the time. Also, if you don't know, use shift+right click on multiple points to queue the capping command, so the capping squad will go and cap the next point right when they're finished capping the previous.

[Guardian X]

I've seen replays where sometimes the player who is losing a battle does not retreat his troops, but instead pulls them back manually to a safer location. The opposing troops then give chase, but then also run into the "loser's" reinforcements quickly. That's a nice tactic, but how do the better players keep winning at this guessing game? I have no idea.

[Malachi]

Practice. That's the only way you learn when you can stand and fight, maneuver, or retreat.

[Guardian X]

Thanks, but I suppose that's something replays won't exactly help me with. Replays do not tell you exactly where the controlling player was looking, so they won't tell me just where s/he was paying attention on the battlefield, and paying attention to the right things at the right times is key to winning in this game.

In some ways this game is harder than it needs to be, such as the loss of the "Hold Ground" or "Stand Ground" stances from DoW1, so your own troops can't keep themselves from giving chase to retreating units unless you order them otherwise, whereas the two aforementioned attack stances from DoW1 meant that they would return to their previous positions once the enemy retreated out of range for the former, while they would not move from their positions for the latter firing stance. I suppose this "controlled chaos" is one of the draws of this game, but this particular instance was by no means necessary given what once was.

[Malachi]

More stances DOW1-style would certainly be great. Be aware that we didn't even have ranged/melee stances before CR, though.

[Guardian X]

Be aware that we didn't even have ranged/melee stances before CR, though.

By the emperor, not another of Relic's attacks of short-sightedness. I'm glad they recognized that was a problem, though.

[Vintage]

The thread in my sig will teach you efficient ways to customize your hotkeys and control groups, which in effect improves your ability to multitask. If you have a logitech mouse you can put the stop button on one of your mouse buttons which makes controlling your units much easier, if they give chase when you don't want them to you can just tap the button. If not, remember S if the hotkey for stop. Also, if you really want to get good you need to master using control groups. Every unit should get its own control group. Create a logic for control groups, by this I mean determine which types of units go where. I put my hero on group 2, a melee unit group 1, melee or ranged on 3, 4, and 5, vehicles on TAB and CAPS lock (and one of my mouse buttons) etc. Once you have your own system for identifying your control groups they become second nature and you can effortlessly position your men without ever having to actually waste time clicking on them with the mouse, just press the control group and issue the order.

If you take the time to follow what I said you will handle your micro and multitasking much easier. Beyond micro advice there is also unit composition. What race and hero are you playing?