playing online

[hooahguy14]

so considering im about to finish my american campaign (mid-way through mission 15), im going to start playing online soon, i guess. but im a bit nervous considering i came in so late to the game. i saw a few good replays and i know the very basics of how to play a skirmish game, but i want to practice before i play with real people.
considering most people who play online are advanced, what level AI should i consider for the matches against the computer, in order to somewhat prepare me for the slaughter im about to suffer against human opponents?

[The0ne]

Best advice is just to play people. The Ai is just dumb even on hard (or whatever it is). Just look for newbie games. And don't give up. I know I wanted to when I first started.

[CaptHurricane]

Yeah TheOne is right.

If you can beat normal AI without using pause you are ready to play against people and will learn faster provided yu have the personality to take a few knocks along the way.

In some ways playing against expert AI is counterproductive. You will learn bad habits that will have to be painfully unlearned (?) later.

Avoid 'noobs only' custom games. You will be smurfed to death. Play 1v1 automatch. You can always delete the profile and start again when begin to get the hang of things.

Don't lose your rag when you lose and you will be surprised how many people will help you out if you ask. Expect the occasional arsehole but give everyone else a chance to be a nice guy.

[stopgap]

many of the better players are very willing to help, just because they play ruthlessly doesn't mean they won't help you.

[hooahguy14]

ok, thanks guys... as soon as i defeat the german counter-attack i wil be online, getting whipped by you guys... :P

[kenty900]

Try the strategy threads boyo.
Linky!!!

http://forums.relicnews.com/showthread.php?t=113952

There are some links in that sub thread of basic walk throughs, but sure if you browse the strategy thread or even youtube people have done replays with talk over's of how games play out online. Your only trouble may be finding an up-to date one.

Other than that try getting a few normal games. See if there’s someone who will kindly (without bossing you), give you some pointers of general online playout. If not take, then watch replays of losses and see what it is people are commonly doing.... then think of a good counter?

Good luck and good hunting !

[jujumbura]

You might actually want to spend a little time playing the Computer, if only to get familiar with the Maps.

Knowing the Map is absolutely critical in CoH, more so than any RTS I've ever played. You need to know all the strat points, all the routes, the buildings and their blindspots. There's no way to guarantee what Map you'll be playing with Online, so getting the general layout in Skirmish is a good idea.

Then again, you won't really understand how the maps work until you play against people online who know how to play on them properly. But it's nice to at least know where the Fuel points are, etc.

[Sureshot324]

The 1v1 automatch does a pretty good job of matching you against someone of your skill level. You'll really learn the game much faster playing against people then you ever could against the computer. By the sounds of it your already better prepared then the average lvl 1 newb you'd be automatched against.

[Phlegm]

Yea, try not to get discouraged when someone smurfs you.

I just recently started playing online. It's a whole nother world against a thinking human opponent. The only thing playing against the 'puter is good for is learning how the different units work.

I've played folks that appeared to be at about my level and got wiped out. Sometimes it even appears they are cheating. Just try to learn something from each game.

I sometimes go online knowing I'm gonna lose because I'm going to try a new strategy I haven't tried before.

[Buguba]

I just started playing online recently, and I've run into pretty easy players. I almost feel bad because I've won all my first 3 games with above 480 tickets left on the Victory Point condition.

I'd say it helps a lot if you've already done online gaming before though (like I have). Remember there are people out there who are just like you and don't know every single strategy known to man-kind. I may have just gotten a bad crop, but it's more than likely those guys I beat have just booted up CoH and are trying an online game for the first time ever. If you've ever played other RTSs online, you'll find that it'll be easier to adapt to online play. Those guys probably haven't played an online game in their life. I've done some online gaming with Dawn of War and other RTSs though, so it was easier the first time for me because of my "online gaming" experience.

Even if it is your first time though, maybe make a "practice" account where you just throw yourself into the mix and learn along the way. Once you're done getting the crap kicked out of you, make a new account so that you don't have a lot of ugly losses. Good luck!

[ViiKumi]

The most valuable lesson is not losing your squads. Never let entire squads get destroyed, or you're not going to win.

[Fishy]

Your best bet is to play peapole online from the beginning, because the AI is pretty damn stupid. I've personally beaten level 12 US compstompers with a record of like 200-2 when i was level 3 Wehr with a record of 4-2.