Newbie w/some Questions

[Bilge Pump]

Howdy, I just got the game a few days ago, and I have since beaten the single player campaign. I still have a question or two about the game though that I would preferr to know before I started up multiplayer.

The biggest question that I have has to do with upgrades. Let's use the Space Marine Predator as an example. On the list of units that it is effective against, I believe it lists Infantry and Vehicles. So, if I "upgrade" to the laser cannons (or even just one of the three upgrades), Infantry disappears from the list. Does that mean that the tank is not as good against infantry as it once was? There are many units that you can "upgrade", but it is always really an upgrade, or is it just a change in what it's good against? Should you always get these upgrades, or keep what you think will be most useful in whatever situation? Sorry, I know this must seem like a dumb question, but I'm a little vexed with the way this all works (unit effectiveness and such).

Another good example is on the Dreadnaught. The list shows "heavy infantry, infantry, vehicles" (I think that's what it says), but when you upgrade it to have the machine gun, then heavy infantry and vehicles disappear, and it just shows that it's good against infantry. Does that just mean that it's now SPECIFICALLY really good at infantry and not so much against other things with its new gun? or that it is now only good against infantry?

For my Space Marine squads, is it always good to upgrade the weapons? Or are there times when you would actually want them all to just have bolt guns?

Thanks a lot. By the way, I truly love this game. It is easily the best RTS I have ever played in my life, and I haven't had this much fun with a game in a loooong time. I'm looking forward to the online experience.

the new guy,
Bilge pump

[Magus_42]

Lesson 1: Don't believe the in game help text, or the manual. Both lie.

You can find detailed stats on all weapons here: http://cguerin77.free.fr/stat/

If there's a reason you would want a SM squad with just bolt guns, I can't think of it.

[Haribo2k5]

'if I "upgrade" to the laser cannons (or even just one of the three upgrades), Infantry disappears from the list. Does that mean that the tank is not as good against infantry as it once was?'

Yes.

There are many units that you can "upgrade", but it is always really an upgrade, or is it just a change in what it's good against?

Either and sometimes both.

The list shows "heavy infantry, infantry, vehicles" (I think that's what it says), but when you upgrade it to have the machine gun, then heavy infantry and vehicles disappear, and it just shows that it's good against infantry.

Easy rule: Lascannon upgrade makes it better against vehicles and buildings, Autocannon upgrade increases its use against infantry of all kinds.

'For my Space Marine squads, is it always good to upgrade the weapons?'

In my opinion, a definitive yes.

[CrossOrion]

Well, in my point of view 'upgrades' are taken from the TT game. If you have say, a unit with an assault cannon, you can choose to 'upgrade' it to a lascannon for more points. I suppose you could look at it this way. Your pred has been upgraded to take out tanks, but has been 'downgraded' from its effectiveness against infantry.

For space marine squads, its not only good, its important. If your facing against a certain type of unit, I won't go into detail because theres thousands of threads in the strat section for it, then upgrading them to a certain weapon will prove a win or loss.

As for the dread, its still one nasty piece of work no matter what you do with it. Upgrading its arm to an assault cannon means it can mow down infantry like it did in the intro movie, but it won't have that huge of an effect on vechicles and heavy infantry. Its close combat however, will be halved, but still pretty good against all types of units.

To sum up, its pretty much 'do as the situation requires'.

[Moe]

Hi, welcome to the forums.
You may want to check out the space marines guide for beginners in our strategy library.

[Solution9]

Basically it works like this. Any unit that has a upgrade should be upgraded generally because the defult weapons arent allways as good as what you'll be faceing in game. There is alot of stragety, to much to explain,but basically a fully upgraded 4 man space marine squad + sergent is BETTER then any squad of the same size or even bigger sometimes. Just keep in mind in general, get some heavy bolters on your squads early game (1-2) and then upgrade to plasma or rocket launchers depending on who your playing against. Oh and play the tutorial for the other factions :P